The Government of Japan is inviting applications from young Australians who are university graduates and who would like the opportunity to spend at least one year in Japan under a successful international exchange program.  Host institutions provide JET participants with the transportation costs to Japan and approximately 3,600,000 yen remuneration per annum (after exemptions from income tax).

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program seeks to enhance internationalisation in Japan, by promoting mutual understanding between the people of Japan and those of other nations.

The Program aims to enhance foreign language education, and promote international exchange at the local level through the fostering of ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth alike. The objectives of the Program are being achieved by offering JET Program participants (hereinafter, participants) the opportunity to serve in local authorities as well as public and private primary, junior high and senior high schools.  There are two types of positions offered in the JET Program. One may apply for either of the two but not both: 

• CIR (Coordinator for International Relations): Participants engaged in international activities. CIRs are placed in offices of local authorities or related organisations. 
• ALT (Assistant Language Teacher): Participants engaged in language instruction. ALTs are placed mainly in local boards of education or publicly run primary, junior high and senior high schools. 
• SEAs (Sports Exchange Advisors): SEAs work for local governments, coaching and promoting internationalisation through the universal language of sports. SEAs are sports professionals whose role is to assist with sports training and the planning of sports related projects. 

Deadline(s):      01/12/2010

Sponsor:          Embassy of Japan in Australia

Citizenship/Country of Applying Institution: Australia Citizenship

Appl Type(s): Predoctoral-Non-Student Researcher/Investigator

Duration: 1 YEAR(s)

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be Australian citizens under forty (40) years of age as of 1 April, 2010. Applicants must have excellent English pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and voice projection skills in addition to other standard language skills, and have good writing skills and grammar usage. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject by July of the year of departure, be a citizen of Australia, not have lived in Japan for six or more than of the last ten years, and not have participated in JET for the past three years.

FUNDING: Participants will receive approximately 3,600,000 yen per annum in stipend support, after Japanese taxes are deducted.  Out of this payment, participants must pay for health insurance, employment insurance, pension fund costs, and accident insurance, totaling about 40,000 yen per month.  Participants must also pay for adequate housing, with rents normally running between 50,000 and 60,000 yen per month.  Round-trip air tickets to Japan are usually provided by the sponsor separate from the stipend.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Embassy of Japan

E-mail:           jet@cb.mofa.go.jp

Web Site: http://www.au.embjapan.go.jp/e_web/JET.htm                                            

Program URL: http://www.jetprogram.org/                                                                          

Tel:              02-6273-2679                 Fax:              02 6273 4332