The Centre is creating a dedicated website as an international resource for information on the Asia-Pacific. The website is intended to bring together in one location information for students, researchers, teachers, government, business, industry and NGOs on matters relating to Asia and the Pacific. Among other things, it will profile Australia’s existing expertise in Asia-Pacific studies and the initiatives funded under this program.

The ASAA report Maximising Australia’s Asia Knowledge (2001) recommended the creation of “a unique Asia-Australia Knowledge Portal” as a “practical, new method of deepening, extending and exchanging Australia’s Asia knowledge and reaffirming Australia’s place as a world centre for knowledge of Asia.” The Asia-Pacific website could be considered to be one phase in the evolution of such a portal.

The Centre proposes to establish a network of scholars and institutions to enhance availability, accessibility and presentation of key Asia-Pacific collections (books, manuscripts and documents) for research and teaching. Particular emphasis will be placed on the acquisition, housing and cataloguing of valuable Pacific collections that might otherwise be dispersed or lost for research and scholarship. The intention is to integrate national resources through the development of mutually beneficial relationships with national institutions as well as other universities in Australia and the region. Plans for access technology including databases linked to the Asia-Pacific website will need to be established.

The Centre plans to assist with the integration and interaction of the major Asia-Pacific library resources at ANU, the National Library and the National Museum. In particular, support will be given for enhancing database resources and digitisation of existing materials. This program is designed to draw together Australia’s library resources for scholars and students.

The Centre is keen to promote Asia-Pacific arts, heritage and cultural activities where they intersect with the Centre’s programs. The Centre will allocate a small portion of its funding for cultural activities that promote Asia-Pacific Studies in Australia.

Recognising that Australian universities have separate and competing student recruitment and marketing programs, the Centre plans to establish an Asia Pacific Education Forum. The aim of the Forum is to increase Australia’s intake of undergraduate and postgraduate international students in Asia Pacific Studies. The Forum will invite student recruitment agents, the international marketing arm of Australia’s universities (IDP), and the Government’s AEI to discuss practical ways of increasing the number of international students in Asia Pacific Studies. This should also include identifying existing undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship schemes for students as well as seeking sponsorship for new scholarships.