About Us
How does INTAN support teachers?
INTAN provides practical support that improves classroom learning. We:
- Advocate for sustainable programs
- Share quality teaching resources
- Facilitate professional learning and peer collaboration
- Connect educators with Indonesian-speaking communities
- Support exchange and engagement opportunities
Our focus is clear: confident teachers, engaged students, and outstanding Indonesian education in South Australia.
Meet the committee
The committee comprises of dedicated volunteers charged with the mission to raise the profile of Indonesian language and culture, supporting teachers and students at all levels and in all education sectors in SA.
Blake White (President)
Blake teaches Indonesian at Open Access College and has been teaching since 2012 after studying at the University of Adelaide. Inspired by her own Indonesian learning journey through Largs Bay Primary and LeFevre High, she is passionate about language, culture, and supporting the future of Indonesian in schools. Blake also teaches Psychology, enjoys knitting, plants, cinema, and brunch with family and friends, and loves Indonesian music, tropical fruit, and sunsets at Jimbaran Bay. Her teaching philosophy centres on predictable routines, gratitude, brain breaks, and small daily habits that build language learning success.
Tanya Zerk (Vice-President)
Emma De Brabant (Secretary)
Emma is a passionate primary Indonesian teacher who believes language learning is about far more than acquiring words and phrases—it is about opening minds to diverse perspectives, building understanding, and developing respectful, responsive communication. She is committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that foster curiosity, intercultural understanding, and genuine connections with the world beyond the classroom.
Having worked exclusively in primary schools, Emma is passionate about making language learning engaging, inclusive, and accessible for all students. She particularly enjoys creating rich cross-curricular learning experiences and exploring the cultures and backgrounds of the students she teaches, recognising the value that diverse perspectives bring to learning. An important aspect of her teaching practice is meaningfully embedding Aboriginal perspectives, encouraging students to explore connections between cultures, histories, storytelling, and community. Through Indonesian, she strives to help students become respectful, curious, and globally minded learners.
Emma values collaboration and connection between educators and is committed to supporting the ongoing growth and advocacy of Indonesian language education.
Dr David Nutchey (Treasurer, Webmaster)
David has a strong interest in Indonesian language, culture, and regional education. His first exposure to Indonesia was as an exchange student in 1992, and since then has worked and travelled throughout the archipelago. Through his teaching and curriculum work in the STEM teaching areas, he has supported the development of Indonesian-focused learning experiences that strengthen intercultural understanding and regional awareness for students. David values collaboration between educators and is passionate about promoting high-quality Indonesian language and cultural education.
Carly Vause
Leah Wardle
Leah is a passionate Indonesian teacher who is dedicated to inspiring young people through language and cultural learning. She began learning Indonesian at St Mark’s College in Port Pirie and became the inaugural Year 12 Indonesian student. A life-changing school trip to Indonesia in Year 10 sparked her passion for the language and culture, inspiring her future career in education.
With experience teaching in both primary and secondary school settings, Leah is a strong advocate for strengthening Australia’s connection with its closest neighbours through meaningful language education. She leads biennial sister-school trips to Gowa in Sulawesi, providing students with authentic cultural experiences beyond the classroom. Leah also has a strong appreciation for Indonesian arts and culture, particularly traditional ikat and batik textiles. She has been a member of Intan since 2009.
Ashley Gill
Ashley is an EALD/Languages Coordinator at a secondary school in Adelaide’s North, and works with staff and students from a vast variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including many Indonesian Australian students. Ashley has experience teaching Bahasa Indonesia in primary and secondary schools and is a passionate advocate for language education. She finds joy in bringing intercultural and interlinguistic experiences to learning communities, growing global perspectives, coordinating intercultural celebrations, and helping people make genuine connections to promote empathy and understanding. Prior to becoming an educator, Ashley worked as an Indonesian interpreter, and as Personal Assistant to the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin. Ashley also has experience teaching English as an Additional Language in several countries, including Indonesia.
Megan Thomas
Since beginning her teaching career in 2007, Megan has gained experience in early childhood through to lower secondary educational settings. Her love of Indonesian language and culture began while studying Indonesian at St John’s Grammar School and was further inspired by a Year 11 school trip to Bali and Yogyakarta, which led her to continue her studies at Flinders University. Megan is committed to creating engaging learning environments that foster both student growth and wellbeing. Having come full circle in her professional journey, she is proud to now be teaching Indonesian at her former school, St John’s Grammar School.
Georgina Boucher
Georgina’s connection to Indonesia began in early childhood when her family lived in Java for several years. After returning to Australia at the age of five, Indonesia remained an important part of her life and continued to grow through return visits during her teenage years.
After graduating as a primary classroom teacher in 2023, Georgina was unexpectedly offered the role of an Indonesian teacher — a role that quickly deepened both her passion for the language and her appreciation for the culture and people of Indonesia.
Georgina loves inspiring students to learn more than just the language, but also the culture and people behind it. She enjoys sparking creativity through games, interactive learning, and meaningful cultural experiences in the classroom.
Her dream is to visit as many islands of Indonesia as possible.
Passionate
We are passionate about teaching Indonesian
Deeply Committed
We are commited to supporting Teachers and Students
Community
We are building a community of like minded members
