Consul-General’s Opening Remarks 2012 JET Participants Send-off Function Friday 27 July 2012
Mr Colin Brooks, State Member for Bundoora, and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education,
Mr Yasuhiko Tanabe, Director of CLAIR, Sydney,
Mr Norihito Tanahashi, representing JCCI, Melbourne,
JET Alumni,
Departing JETs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.
It is my pleasure to say a few words on the occasion of the 2012 JET Participants Send-off Function.
I would like to begin by thanking all those who are contributing to the JET Program.
I particularly acknowledge the presence of Mr Colin Brooks, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education as well as Member of the Parliamentary Friends of Japan in Victoria, who has been supporting the JET Program for many years.
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, or JET Program, now in its 26th year, is aimed at enhancing foreign language education in Japan and promoting grass-roots exchange between Japan and other nations.
Last year, 4,330 young people took part in the program, including 265 from Australia, 51being from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
This year, 41 JET participants or JETs of 40 Assistant Language Teachers(ALT) and 1 Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) will participate from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
As JET participants, your experience in Japan and encounters with Japanese people should not only be personally enriching, but also constitute valuable contributions to the relationship between Australia and Japan.
Last March I hosted a reception for JET returnees, and there we heard many beautiful stories.
Despite the difficulties after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, JETs who were themselves the victims were helping other people.
Certainly I don’t intend to intimidate you.
I am confident that each of you will enjoy your stay and make the most of your time in Japan.
Before concluding, I should like to express my sincere gratitude once again to the organizations and people who have been supporting the program; CLAIR, the JET Alumni Association (JETAA), the interview panel of judges, and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development of Victoria, and again Mr Brooks, amongst others.
As JETAA is an important network of the JET returnees, I would like to express my hope already now that new JETs will actively participate in JETAA events upon returning to Australia.
In conclusion, I wish all the participants of the JET Program good health and a fruitful time in Japan.
Please enjoy the evening.
Thank you.