An inspiring discussion with Indian para-athletes to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities 

On 3 December 2024, Deputy High Commissioner Nick McCaffery hosted Indian star para-athletes, Tarun Dhillon, world number 2 para-badminton single’s and gold medal winner (para badminton doubles) at the 2022 Asian Para Games along with Nidhi Mishra, Bronze Medal Winner, 2018 Asian Para Games (discus), for an enriching conversation about their professional and personal journeys, in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  Recognising sport as a vehicle to deepen Australia-India ties, the discussion also considered opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the area of parasports. The event also marked the launch of Australia’s new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy which was released by Australian Foreign Minister Senator the Hon Penny Wong, which supports an active and leading role for people with disability, by engaging with partners at all levels, including the public and private sector.

(The Deputy High Commissioner, Nick McCaffrey speaking with Indian para-athletes Tarun Dhillon and Nidhi Mishra)

All eyes on Australia at the International Film Festival of India, Goa

Australia was all the buzz as the country of focus at the International Film Festival of India in Goa in November 2024. A strong Australian presence at the film festival included a contingent of over fifty Australian filmmakers and senior officials from Screen Australian and Ausfilm. There was standing room only at the seven Australian films which premiered at the festival, and masterclasses by legendary Australian cinematographer John Seale and veteran filmmaker Philip Noyce drew big crowds from film industry enthusiasts. Phillip Noyce was presented with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in cinema, as a tribute to his remarkable cinematic career. Meanwhile, performances at the festival by First Nations dance troupe, Jannawi Dance Clan, and the Voice Australia 2024 winner, Goan-born Australian Reuben De Melo, highlighted the deep cultural and diaspora links between Australia and India. A special panel discussion with the cast and crew of the Australia-India TV series, ‘Four Years Later’ highlighted the opportunities for co-productions and the incentives available under the Australia-India Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement. Watch this space as creative industries engagement between India and Australia continues to soar! 

(The Australian delegation at the International Film Festival of India in Goa)

Visit to Australia by India’s Minister for External Affairs 

In November 2024, India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, concluded a productive visit to Australia, marking another important step in the Australia-India partnership. The visit centred around the 15th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Senator the Hon Penny Wong, where they reviewed the progress of bilateral ties and mapped out priorities to advance Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Dr Jaishankar also participated in ‘Raisina Down Under’, the Australian edition of India’s renowned Raisina Dialogue. During his visit, he inaugurated the new Indian Consulate in Brisbane, met with members of the Indian diaspora, and toured Australia’s Humanitarian Logistics Capability warehouse. In Canberra, Dr Jaishankar met with Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister the Hon Richard Marles. The Sydney leg of Dr Jaishankar’s visit included meetings with Parliamentary Friendship Groups, business leaders, foreign affairs and strategy experts, Members of Parliament, and supporters of the Australia-India relationship at the New South Wales Parliament.

(External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Australia)

Under the Stars: A Night of Australian Jazz in Delhi

The lawns of the Australian High Commission in Delhi came alive in September 2024 with the rhythmic, immersive sound of instrumental jazz as the Melbourne-based band, Surprise Chef, delighted an audience of diplomats and music lovers. Their distinct sound had guests dancing along to the vivid tunes, inviting listeners into their world inspired by 70s film scores, the funkier side of jazz and hip-hop samples.  The band was visiting India to perform at the third edition of Jazz Weekender in Delhi, an international festival celebrating local and global jazz talent.  Surprise Chef’s performances in Delhi presented an opportunity to showcase Australian musical artists, and for the band to be discovered and enjoyed by new audiences in India. 

(Melbourne jazz band Surprise Chef at the Australian High Commission in Delhi)

From Jaipur to Sydney with love: celebrating Australia-India cinematic bonds with a special screening of ‘Four Years Later’

In October 2024, the High Commissioner hosted an exclusive screening of the Australian-Indian television series 'Four Years Later,' turning the High Commission’s gardens into an outdoor cinema. Guests were treated to two captivating episodes of this poignant story, followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring lead actors Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh, along with producers Ian Collie and Stephen Corvini from Easy Tiger Productions. Set against the rich cultural landscapes of Jaipur, Mumbai, and Sydney, ‘Four Years Later’ intricately captures the journey of Yash and Sridevi as they navigate the complexities of love and distance, reflecting the experiences of many Indian diaspora as they settle into a new country. The Indian community is Australia’s second-largest and fastest-growing diaspora, with over a million people — one in every 25 Australians—proudly claiming Indian heritage. The series is a genuine representation of this dynamic connection and the multicultural tapestry that defines contemporary Australia. Created by Mithila Gupta, an Indian Australian, the TV series serves as an excellent example of the flourishing creative and cultural ties between Australia and India, and the opportunities available under the Australia-India Audiovisual Co-production Agreement signed in March 2023.

(High Commissioner Philip Green with the cast and crew of ‘Four Years Later’)