Pre-Departure Reception for Participants of the 39th JET Programme

On July 3, a pre-departure reception was held at the Consul-General’s Official Residence for the new participants from WA, who will depart Perth later this month to work in Japan on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme. In addition to our 8 participants, we also have one CIR (Coordinator for International Relations) who left in April, making a total of 9 participants from WA this year.

The reception was attended by Mr Daniel Pastorelli MLA, representing the Premier of Western Australia, members of the business community, and former JETs, who all gathered to help wish our departing JETs well before they head to Japan.

The reception was kicked off by Consul-General Karimata who congratulated and encouraged the participants. His speech was followed by Mr Daniel Pastorelli MLA, who spoke on behalf of the Premier of WA, also offering his congratulations and speaking of the key role that JET participants play in the great friendship between Japan and Australia. Finally, the participants were encouraged by the JET Alumni Association of WA President, Ms Cecily Arkell, to make the most of every opportunity and meeting while on the Programme, drawing on her own experiences and touching on the idea of ‘Ichigoichie’, or making the most of every moment or chance encounter.

Our new JETs will go to Japan shortly to begin working in places such as our sister state of Hyogo Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture. Nara Prefecture, and Kumamoto Prefecture. They will take up their roles working in foreign language education, while contributing to internationalization at a local community level.




In the days prior to the reception, the participants also participated in a pre-departure orientation held by the Consulate-General of Japan, which included presentations from a representative of the CLAIR Sydney office and the official JET Programme travel agent. This was followed by a Q&A session held by the JET Alumni Association of WA.