MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, AUSTRALIA – Muhammadiyah is taking another step in expanding its global education mission with strong support from the Australian government. This support is seen as a recognition of Muhammadiyah commitment to building inclusive, multicultural, and globally-minded education.
Secretary of Muhammadiyah Muhammad Sayuti expressed his gratitude and shared plans to establish the second Muhammadiyah Australia College (MAC) following the success of the first MAC in Melbourne.
“We’ve already opened a school in Melbourne. Now, we’re looking for a new location near Sydney to open the second one. This plan is backed by strong support from both the government and local communities in Australia,” said Sayuti.
Sayuti explained that opening the first MAC came with major challenges. Muhammadiyah had to meet strict regulations from the Australian government, especially dealing with infrastructure.
“The permit process was very tough. For example, school zones have a speed limit of 40 km/h, which meant we had to redesign the road system. We also had to meet land and asphalt standards, all of which had to be documented. We even had to go to court to get approval. But once the permit was granted, the Australian government reimbursed all the expenses,” explained Sayuti.
The Victoria State government has provided support worth around 38 billion rupiah to help MAC grow. This funding supports infrastructure development, better learning facilities, and increased student capacity.
With this support, Sayuti said Muhammadiyah is preparing to meet the school’s staffing needs.
“We’re getting ready to recruit teachers and drivers to support MAC’s operations. We hope this expansion goes smoothly,” he said.
Sayuti also expressed his pride in Muhammadiyah’s growing presence on the international stage, noting that its efforts can serve as an example for other organizations in Indonesia.
“Muhammadiyah is truly remarkable. So far, no other Indonesian school has been established in Australia apart from the one built by Muhammadiyah. Its achievements in the global arena are something to be proud of and should be seen as a model,” he said.
