Robbie
Gaspar

Tell us about yourself! 

Dad of two from Fremantle, Western Australia, current President of the Indonesia Institute* and board member of the Australia Indonesia Institute. I was a former professional footballer of 14 years, and 8 of those years were in Indonesia, and that experience changed my life. I am passionate about building closer relations between Indonesia and Australia primarily through sport or football.

Where does your interest in Indonesia stem from?

When I first arrived back in 2005 to play professional football in the Indonesian top league. I had not been to Indonesia previously, but as soon as I arrived, I became hooked and have been a passionate Indonesianist ever since.

What is the nature of your engagement with Indonesia – are you an academic, a professional, an alumni?

Australia's first professional footballer. I spent 8 years playing in Indonesia and have been passionate about building closer relations or people-to-people links ever since, mainly using sports. I travel there regularly, and I am also the co-host of the Katalis Podcast, a government-backed business development catalyst helping realise bilateral commercial opportunities. I am a proud ACICIS and CAUSINDY Alumni, and I was the Chair of the Australia Indonesia Business Council WA, currently the President of the Indonesia Institute. I have recently been appointed to the board of the Australia Indonesia Institute.

How do you think organisations like the Indonesia Council can improve Australia-Indonesia relations?

Organisations like the Indonesia Council play a crucial role in strengthening Australia-Indonesia relations. Any initiative that enhances awareness fosters academic collaboration and improves understanding of Indonesia among Australians, which is a step in the right direction. With Indonesia being one of Australia's closest neighbours and a key regional partner, increasing knowledge and education about Indonesia is vital—not just at the academic level but across all sectors. The more we invest in education and meaningful exchange, the stronger the bilateral relationship will become. Initiatives like these should be championed and expanded wherever possible.

What are some of the challenges and opportunities in the Indonesia-Australia relationship?

In my opinion, the major challenge is the declining number of students learning Indonesian, which affects long-term engagement and understanding. Additionally, media portrayals often focus on negative or narrow perspectives, limiting Australians' awareness of Indonesia beyond Bali. Without deeper knowledge, business and collaboration opportunities remain underexplored. However, there are significant opportunities. Strengthening Indonesian language education in schools will foster greater cultural understanding and meaningful engagement. With the right mindset and effort, we can build stronger bilateral ties, enhance P2P, G2G and B2B connections, and develop the cultural literacy needed to realise the potential of the Australia-Indonesia relationship fully.

Tell us about your favourite Indonesian food experience.

My favourite Indonesian food experience is having Coto Makassar and Sop Konro after home games with the team when I was in Balikpapan, and Makassar—is my favourite dish in Indonesia. We would go to the restaurant together as a team and have the best Coto Makassar and Sop Konro together. Such a great time!  

Do you speak Indonesian, and where did you start learning it?

I learnt how to speak Indonesian during my time playing football in Indonesia. Not many players knew how to speak English, so I had to learn Indonesian. It was great because it forced me to learn Indonesian, and I am grateful that I did, as it allowed me to develop closer relationships with my teammates and friends.  

What's your favourite Indonesian music/song/writer?

I first arrived in 2005, and around that time, the song Demi Waktu by Ungu came out, and never forget all the boys were listening to it. I also can't forget Peter Pan and Dewa 19 and the songs they released were pretty cool as well. 

What's your favourite Indonesian idiom?

I love "Masuk Angin", or wind entering the body when you are not feeling well, have the flu or cold or when someone might burp! Lol 😊

Have you ever made a mistake when using Indonesian numbers and/or currency?

Have I ever made a mistake with Indonesian numbers or currency? Not that I can recall—I've always been pretty good with numbers. However, I remember a funny language mix-up when I first arrived in Indonesia. I used the word "pusing" during training to tell the players to turn when they were on the ball. In Malaysia, "pusing" means turn, so I thought it was the same in Indonesia. Turns out, in Indonesian, "pusing" means headache or dizziness, while the correct word for turn is "putar". So, there I was, this crazy Australian shouting "pusing!" on the field, thinking I was telling my teammates to turn, when I was actually yelling "headache!" at them. After a while, one of the players came up to me and said, "Robbie, 'pusing' means sakit kepala (headache). 'Putar' means turn!" It all made sense then—no wonder everyone was looking at me funny and laughing! It's one of those moments that still makes me chuckle when I think about it. 
 

And don't forget to suggest a pay-it-forward question for next month 😊:

What is one piece of advice you would give to an Australian travelling to Indonesia for the first time?

Editor’s note: what’s the difference between the work we do at Indonesia Council, and the work Robbie and his colleagues do at The Indonesia Institute? Great question! 

Indonesia Council
Established in 2000, the Indonesia Council is a professional association for scholars and educators to promote and support the study of Indonesia within higher education. Education happens within the context of a larger community. Our approach extends beyond the school to help ensure students have the necessary support to do their best learning. Our members are drawn together by a common interest in Indonesia and a commitment to promoting the value of that knowledge through education and research in Australia and Indonesian institutions and beyond. The Indonesia Council sits within the Asian Studies Association of Australia, the peak body for university experts on Asia in Australia.

The Indonesia Institute
Founded in 2010, The Indonesia Institute is Australia’s leading independent voice on the Australia-Indonesia relationship, advocating for stronger ties between our two nations. Its diverse board, all fluent in Indonesian, brings deep expertise and a shared passion for fostering greater understanding, collaboration, and engagement. Through research, advocacy, and public dialogue, we strengthen people-to-people connections and promote meaningful opportunities across business, education, sports, arts and culture.