JET Programme

Applications for the 2026 JET Programme will open by the mid-September 2025. 

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme is designed to promote mutual understanding between Japan and other nations, foster international exchange at the local level and enhance foreign language education in Japan.

There are two types of positions*:
⇨ Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
assisting in English language education at Japanese schools (teaching experience and Japanese language ability not essential).
⇨ Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
assisting in international activities carried by Japanese local government offices (high level of Japanese language ability required).

* Contracts for both position types are for a minimum of 1 year and start in April (some) or July (majority).

The 2026 JET Programme Information Sessions will be held in person as follows:
 

Date: Monday 29 September 2025
Time: 18:00-19:00
Venue: Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne（Level 25, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000）

Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025
Time: 14:00-15:00
Venue: ED2-212, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd, Bundoora, VIC 3086 

Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: Building 80, Level 4, Room 18, RMIT (445 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000)

Date: Thursday 9 October 2025
Time: 13:00-14:00
Venue: SANTOS Pet Eng G13, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, SA

Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: Language & Teaching Building (LTB), Room 331 (Building 92)
Monash University (19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton)

Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025
Time: 15:45-16:45
Venue: Room 321 Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University Building 158 
The University of Melbourne, 783 Swanston St, Parkville

Date: Friday 17 October 2025
Time: 13:00-14:00
Venue: Room 319, Social Sciences, Sandy Bay, Hobart, The University of Tasmania

Any questions- please contact the JET Programme Coordinator below.

Tel: 03 9679 4510 or Email: meljapan@mb.mofa.go.jp

Further information is also available on the JET Programme website.

The scheduled timeline for the 2025 JET Programme recruitment was as follows:

• Application closing date was Friday 8 November 2024 for reviews by the Embassy of Japan in Canberra. Notification of progression to the interview stage was given in late December 2024 to successful applicants and the interviews was held in late January and early February 2025 in Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide.
• Applicants selected for April departure were short-listed and announced on 7 March 2025 and arrived in Japan on Sunday 6 April 2025. 
• Other interview results were announced on 4 April 2025 (i.e. notification was sent to those applicants selected as either a shortlisted participant or alternate for July departure, as well as to those who are unsuccessful)
• Placement notification was sent on 22 May 2025 to those applicants selected for July departure, who then arrived in Japan on Sunday 27 July 2025.

* Please note that applicants must be an Australian citizen (i.e., an Australian passport holder, not just a permanent resident) where recruitment and selection procedures will take place. Interviews are not conducted outside Australia, including Japan.