Welcome to the application portal for the Congressional Staff Program on Australia (CSPAUS).

To complete this application, you will need to fill out this application form and upload a copy of your current CV or resume, detailing your educational and professional experience.

If you encounter problems using this application, please contact Abbigail McCarty at hulla@EastWestcenter.org or Aryan D'Rozario at drozaria@eastwestcenter.org. 

Congressional Staff Program on Australia (CSPAUS):

This bipartisan educational certificate program aims to equip congressional staffers with the information and analyses necessary to appreciate the significance of Australia and the US-Australia alliance. By focusing on crucial forward-looking issues, CSPAUS is designed to provide staffers with a more comprehensive understanding of Australia and its significance to US Indo-Pacific policy. This program is in partnership with and sponsored by the ASPI USA.

Key Program Elements:

• A certificate program consisting of a series of six, 90-minute, in-person discussions held twice a week. Certificates of Completion are awarded to participants who attend at least four of the planned sessions.
• Each session features a single theme/topic, and includes speakers from government agencies, think tanks, universities, and other policy institutions.
• Session topics will include issues related to the US-Australia Alliance; engagement in multilateral fora such as AUKUS, the QUAD, and NATO; the US-Australia FTA, economy, and investment; regional engagement across the Indo-Pacific; and Great Power Competition.

Eligibility Information for Applicants:

• Applicants must be current congressional staff, employed by either a member of congress or congressional committee, and can come from either chamber or a congressional commission. Previous Indo-Pacific experience is preferred but not required.

Dates for the Sessions are as follows: March 18, March 20, March 25, March 27, April 1, April 3 -- all sessions will take place on the Hill over lunch, except the last session which will be post-office hours! 

The Pacific Islands Development Program's quarterly publication Visions & Voices welcomes submissions of essays, articles, commentary, and concise pieces that pertain to the Pacific Islands region.

Submission guidelines: pireport.org/submissions

Applications are now OPEN for the Young Professionals Program for summer (June- August) 2025. Please apply by 11:59 pm (Hawai‘i Standard Time) on Sunday March 9, 2025.
 

The East-West Center in Washington (EWCW) offers a chance each semester for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates, to gain first-hand training experience at a US-Indo-Pacific research and education organization in Washington, DC.
 

We strive to provide participants with a broad range of education and training opportunities during their time with EWCW. These may include acquiring and analyzing large datasets for our Asia Matter for America publications, writing articles for AsiaMattersforAmerica.org, attending webinars or seminars, and delivering briefs.

 Applicants typically have a strong interest in US-Indo-Pacific relations and may be studying international relations, Asia studies, international economics, international political economy, public policy, international business, journalism or other similar areas of study. However, all students and recent graduates who are interested in learning more about US-Indo-Pacific relations are encouraged to apply.

       The following proven skillsets are beneficial (though not required):

• Research experience with open-source data and working with data in Excel.
• Experience analyzing quantitative data and concisely communicating data outputs.
• Experience living in, studying, or researching the Indo-Pacific
• Experience tracking multiple media sources for news or developments about a particular topic
• Interest in researching and communicating complex international relations topics (i.e., international trade) into a local perspective (i.e., Maine exports of lobster to China).
• Developing graphs/charts/infographics for use online and in print form in support of various research, policy dialogue, publication, and outreach projects
• Basic understanding of economic data analysis (FDI and Greenfield investment)
• Asian language reading fluency
• Experience writing policy analyses, briefs, press releases, or other professional communications
• Public relations/brand management experience

We do not sponsor visas for this program, so non-US-citizen applicants should already be authorized for such a position through US citizenship/permanent residency or existing visas sponsored by a university or other valid third party.
 

Full-time (40 Hours/week) participation in the Young Professionals Program comes with a $2,000 per month stipend for the summer of 2025, subject to applicable taxes and withholding. Stipends are prorated for part-time participation and may count as university credits if your school permits.
 

Applicants located both inside and outside of the Washington DC area are welcome, though residing in the DC metro area is preferred. Participants located in the DC area for the spring term have the option to join either remotely, in person, or hybrid. Participants must be able to attend at least one weekly zoom meeting, dedicate 20-40 hours per week to the program, and be able to be online for the majority of Eastern Time working hours (9 am-5 pm).

In 2025, the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center (EWC) and the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) will host a seven-week program that includes three-weeks in Honolulu, Hawai'i and four-weeks in Taiwan.

This program will provide individuals the opportunity to enhance their leadership capacities and build a network with other leaders from across the Pacific and Taiwan. Participants will engage in experiential learning in a cohort of 24 early to mid-career professionals from all sectors. PILP attracts participants possessing high leadership potential and a commitment to serve their national and regional development goals. The curriculum for these rising leaders will be centered around the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and thematically organized in the following areas identified in the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan: Political Leadership & Regionalism, Peace & Security; Oceans & Environment, Climate Change & Disasters; Resources & Economic Development, Technology & Connectivity; and People-Centered Development. The program strengthens participants’ knowledge and understanding of key regional economic, social, political, health, educational and environmental issues, and cultivates culturally sustaining leadership capacities.

Program Dates:  August 1 - September 19, 2025 (Dates are tentative and subject to change)

Eligibility:

• Citizen of the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 
• Bachelor’s degree. Exceptions may be considered on the basis of other relevant experience and qualifications.
• The program is aimed at early- to mid-career professionals.
• A minimum of 3 years demonstrated impact in your professional career and/or local community.
   

 AI Transparency

We are looking for authentic and genuine submissions that reflect your individual experiences, perspectives, and unique writing style. We understand that AI (artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT) can be a helpful tool in crafting your application, and applicants are not forbidden from using it to help with responses. However, essays that are generated primarily or solely by such tools will be rejected. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• 11:59 pm, March 1, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)

NOTE: Reference forms will be due no later than March 8, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)
 

 IMPORTANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
 

• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• The application software does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser.  Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your application account especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application after submitting, make sure to review your application before submitting.  If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time.  The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If, after submission, you need to change something in your application, contact the PILP team at PILP@eastwestcenter.org