The 2016 Australia-Japan Relations Essay Contest for New South Wales and Northern Territory Secondary School Students aims to encourage an understanding of Japan and Australia-Japan relations among NSW and NT secondary students. We received many strong essays from across both states last year, and the Consul-General is looking forward to receiving even more interesting entries this year.

As always this English language contest is open to all high school students, not only those studying Japanese. Submissions close on Wednesday 24th August 2016 and must arrive at the Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney by this date.
 
The flyer, entry guidelines and essay cover sheets can be downloaded below or at www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp

This exchange program offers students (15-17 years) the opportunity to live with a Japanese family, attend school with a host sister/brother and participate in a camp with international students. The exchange program takes place from 16 December 2016 until 9 January 2017. Further details can be downloaded below.   
The application form must be completed and returned to Mitsui Travel by 31 August. 
Please contact Ayako Mitsui at Labo International Student Exchange office if you have interested students or for further details. Ph 0408 442 614  

​The following information is from Julia Zhu, Secretary, Japanese Teachers' Association of NSW.

Beginners, Continuers and Extension student holiday workshops (4-6 July)  
JTAN is offering a series of student workshops during the upcoming school holidays. It is open for both member's and non-member's students. Students will receive instruction on HSC examination skills. Payments are due on Sunday 5 June.
Year 12 Beginners Day (Saturday 23 July)
A reminder to all members that the payment due date for Beginners Day is Thursday 23 June. This is a great opportunity for students of Japanese Beginners to immerse in a Japanese-speaking environment and practise their oral examination skills. Please apply under the 'Events' tab on our website http://www.jtan.org.au. 
Tutoring job opportunity - Northern Beaches
A Japanese tutoring job opportunity is available at the Northern Beaches. The student is in Year 10 and wishes to extend her Japanese conversation abilities. Please contact Merrilyn at brad.merrilyn@gmail.com.
ABC News podcast - Kumi Taguchi's life in two cultures
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2016/05/17/4463634.htm​
Sydney Film Festival - Oyster Factory (2015)
"An exquisite observational documentary filmed at an oyster factory on the Inland Sea, directed by Kazuhiro Soda, that embodies the changing face of Japan." 
Tickets: http://tix.sff.org.au/session_sff.asp?sn=Oyster+Factory​
Dates: Sun 12 June (3:00PM) and Sat 18 June (12:20PM)
Venue: Event Cinemas George Street​​

Dear Teachers,
Thank you very much for your continued support.
Excursion for a small group of Year 8
We are looking for a small group (maximum 16 students) of Year 8 to combine with another school group on Monday 6 June. If you are interested, please contact us.
Year 12 HSC July Workshops
Beginners - 6 and 7 July 
Continuers - 12 and 13 July  
Extension - 15 July 
We have received many applications but we have some places still available. 
Continuers and Beginners - 5 places available
Extension - 10 places available
If you are interested, please contact us at your earliest convenience.
Further details and the registration form can be downloaded below.
As soon as the places are filled, we will close the application.         
We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Booking for Excursion
We would be very grateful if you could send us the booking form as soon as you confirm the excursion date with us.
If you are interested in bringing your students or have any queries, please contact us.
Terms 2 and 3 are fully booked but if you would like to be placed on the cancellation list, please let us know.
We still have a number of dates available in Term 4. If you have any dates in mind, please contact us at your earliest convenience.
Should you need to cancel your booking, please inform us as soon as you find out so that we can offer the date to other schools.
Please kindly note that we require minimum 4 weeks’ notice for cancelation (The cancelation charge, $10/student, will apply if it’s less than 4 weeks’ notice).
Please kindly note that our minimum number per excursion is 20 and the maximum number is 32 for high schools and 36 for primary schools for safety reasons.
If your group is smaller than 20 students, we will try to find another school to combine. We have more chance to find another school if you give us sufficient notice when submitting your preferred date.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Mieko Shida
Coordinator
Nihongo Tanken Japanese Language Centre
Learning & Teaching Directorate
T: (02) 9542 5745 F: (02) 9542 5749
E: nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au   

The Nagoya Sister City Art Exchange is an annual exhibition opportunity offered by the Arts Unit for all students of NSW Public Schools K-12. The Exhibition will feature outstanding art works and will be an excellent showcase for Visual Arts Programs in our public schools. 
The exhibition provides students with a wonderful opportunity to participate in international friendship and cultural exchange activities, which in turn promotes the further development of sister city relationships.
Schools can nominate a maximum of 4 outstanding student artworks suitable for consideration for the “Nagoya Sister City Art Exchange”. ​
For further enquiries contact Dianne Reichelt, Arts Coordination Officer Public Schools NSW on (02) 68836328 or email dianne.reichelt@det.nsw.edu.au
The information and nomination form can be downloaded below. Entry nominations are due by Friday 29 July.

Stephanie Jung (Teacher at Open High School) is seeking a Japanese tutor for a university student (who lives in Sydney's north west). The student is hoping to study masters in translation and interpreting. She has completed the Continuers course for her HSC a few years ago but does not feel capable enough to undertake the course. Please email stephanie.jung1@det.nsw.edu.au if you are interested. 
 

Please see the flyer promoting Samurai performance and workshops in August in Sydney. 
For further details go to: jcsrainbow.com/samurai2016

The entry for Student Art Contest - Art Speaks Japanese comes alive! 2016 is now OPEN!.
The deadline for entries is Friday 23 September.
 
Art Speaks Japanese Comes Alive! is an annual art and language contest for school-level students of Japanese. Students create their own artwork inspired by the Art Speaks Japanese 日本の美術　Japanese Language Education Kit (from the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales).

The contest is easy to enter. Students can create individual artworks, set up a matching artwork display in their classroom, or work together with classmates to create a group artwork display at their school or at a school event. Simply, send in the photo/s of the artwork by email with the Online Entry Form. 

Details can be accessed at http://artalive.jpf-sydney.net/
For further enquiries, please contact the coordinators at The Japan Foundation coordinators@jpf.org.au.
 
Kind regards,
Maki Russell-Smith | Program Coordinator
Japanese Language Department
The Japan Foundation, Sydney
02 8239 0055 (Reception)

Muirfield High School, located in North Rocks, is seeking a Japanese teacher to take a long service leave replacement from 17th June until 1st July (commencing Friday Week 8, Term 2). The teaching load includes Year 8 and Year 9 Japanese and Year 11 Japanese Continuers.
Interested teachers should email Joanne Wong at joanne.wong10@det.nsw.edu.au attaching any relevant documentation.​