Please register your interest in either Hosting or travel to Japan by using the "Register Your Interest" button . You can also send us an email using the "Email Us" button below. We will reply as soon as possible. Please note this is NOT the application form. Application documentation can be downloaded via the Register Your Interest page
Sutherland Shire - Chuo City Program Overview
The Sutherland Shire-Chuo City Sister City Student Program has multiple aims. These include:
-Reconnecting students with their own community
-Fostering intercultural understanding and friendship between Sutherland Shire and our Sister City of Chuo.
This program offers its participants the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture through hosting Chuo City students here at home or traveling to Japan not only as a tourist but to become part of daily life and culture in Chuo city, Tokyo and Japan.
Students who are selected to participate in the program will be representing not only themselves, their families and their schools, but they will be ambassadors of Australia and the Sutherland Shire. Our program is a lot of fun, and it allows participants to see many exciting places and sights. But as a cultural exchange the Sutherland-Chuo Sister City Program also focuses on fostering:
-personal integrity
-cultural sensitivity
-social awareness
-community participation.
The Sister Cities movement believes that;
"the most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures."
International Youth programs provide thousands of students with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures leading to better intercultural understanding and encouraging a peaceful future.
How the Program operates Overview:
The Student program between Sutherland shire and Chuo City, Tokyo is registered and approved as a Sister Schools relationship with the New South Wales Department of Education and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is also approved by Catholic Schools Sydney. Sutherland shire - Chuo Japan Sister City Association Incorporated is a fully incorporated Non-Profit organisation registered with New South Wales Fair Trading.
There are two sections to the program: You can host student/s from Chuo City here in Sutherland Shire and give them a taste of Shire life and/or you can apply to travel to Japan.
If you think you may be interested in either hosting or traveling - or both - please submit your Expression of Interest via the link button at the top of this page before accessing the formal application documents
1) Access information about hosting Chuo City students here in Sutherland Shire here
APPLICATIONS HOST CHUO CITY STUDENTS for 2026 ARE CLOSED
2)Access information about traveling to Japan here
Please carefully read the information on the Travel to Japan page.
Expressions of Interest to TRAVEL to Japan are now closed for the 2026 Student Program. Expressions of Interest for 2027 may be lodged at any time and Application documents for 2027 will be available from December 2026