Modeled after the US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program, the Australia-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program was launched in 1991 under the auspices of JCIE and the Australian Political Exchange Council (APEC) to foster greater understanding, dialogue, and network formation between the next generation of leaders in both countries and to promote a sound, cooperative relationship between Japan and Australia. 

For 20 years, the bilateral exchange program brought multiparty delegations of young federal and local politicians and their staff to visit their counterparts’ country for briefings and meetings with political, business, nonprofit, and opinion leaders to enhance their understanding of the politics and the domestic issues in that country and to discuss issues of mutual concern.