Australians and Indonesian language lovers are being invited to put their favourite Bahasa Indonesia words and phrases in the spotlight, with the launch of the 2026 Bahasa Sesh Challenge by the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (acicis).
Now in its fourth edition, the challenge is designed to encourage people to engage with Bahasa Indonesia in a simple and highly shareable way, with participants asked to record a video featuring a favourite Indonesian word or phrase and explain why it matters to them.
And there is no requirement to be fluent.
acicis says the idea is to bring Bahasa Indonesia into people’s everyday social circles, recognising that a short video shared by a friend, colleague or family member may reach people who might never otherwise encounter the language.
“Most of them will never sit in an Indonesian class, but they’ll watch a 30-second video from someone they know,” acicis says.
For a sector that spends plenty of time talking about the importance of Australia’s engagement with Indonesia, there is something refreshingly uncomplicated about the idea. Pick a word, learn what it means, explain why you like it and share it.
The challenge is open to anyone aged 18 and over, regardless of nationality, and participants can submit as many entries as they like.
Entries open on 5 October and close on 31 October. Videos can be posted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or LinkedIn, with participants required to tag acicis and use the #bahasasesh hashtag.
There are several prizes up for grabs.
The grand prize is a 2027 Indonesian Language Short Course in Salatiga, Central Java, while the most creative entry will receive a one-year Duolingo subscription. Weekly winners will also receive $25 vouchers, with weekly winners announced on 17, 24 and 31 October.
The overall winner will be announced on 12 November.
Entries will be judged on the choice of word or phrase, enthusiasm and clarity, the quality of the explanation, creativity and social media engagement.
Importantly, acicis says entries must be original and not generated by AI.
The challenge comes at a time when Australia’s ability to build deeper language and cultural capability in Asia continues to attract attention. acicis has long focused on the value of in-country experience and language learning as a way of developing stronger connections between Australia and Indonesia.
The Bahasa Sesh Challenge takes a rather less formal approach.
You don’t need a semester overseas, a scholarship or even a particularly impressive vocabulary. You just need a favourite Indonesian word.
And, perhaps, a willingness to share it.
Submissions for the 2026 Bahasa Sesh Challenge opened yesterday, 5 October, with more information available from acicis here.
