The National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies (NATFED) has been awarded a significant grant from the Australia-Japan Foundation, under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), to support the Gala Dinner at Parliament House, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan (the NARA Treaty).
As co-hosts of this landmark event, the NATFED is honoured to play a leading role in celebrating five decades of one of Australia’s most enduring and successful bilateral relationships.
Signed in Nara on 16 June 1976, the Treaty laid the foundation for the deep and enduring partnership that Australia and Japan enjoy today—one built on trust, shared values, and growing cooperation across government, business, education, research, culture, and the community.
This generous support from the Australia-Japan Foundation is a strong endorsement of the important role that Australia-Japan Societies continue to play in strengthening people-to-people links between our two nations. It also reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to fostering initiatives that celebrate our shared history while building the relationships that will shape the future.
On behalf of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies and our member societies across Australia, I extend our sincere thanks to the Australia-Japan Foundation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their confidence in our organisation and their continued investment in the Australia-Japan relationship.
We look forward to celebrating the depth of the people-to-people connections over the last 50 years. We will also be welcoming distinguished guests from government, business, industry, academia and the broader Australia-Japan community to what promises to be a memorable evening celebrating our shared achievements over the past 50 years, while looking ahead to the opportunities and partnerships that will define the next 50.
Diane Fitzpatrick | Acting President