Sister City Student Exchange Program

Sister City relations bring excellent mutual benefits in the areas of trade, tourism and cultural exchange.

On a global level, the Sister City program is generally recognised as an important means to build international goodwill and to further global social and economic development based on co-operation at the local level.

Expand the sections below to find out more about Council's exchange program and application process.

ACTIVE SISTER CITY CONNECTIONS

Dubbo has active Sister City relationships with two international cities and two Australian cities:

Minokamo , Japan (June 1989)
Wujiang China (June 1995)
Newcastle, NSW (March 1995)
A friendship link with Warringah, Sydney was established in October 1994.

Wellington has a Sister City relationship with Toyama/Osawano, Japan (August 1992)

EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Dubbo Regional Council runs a reciprocal student exchange program with our Japan sister city Minokamo in 2024. In July and August, DRC welcomes ten students and 2 chaperones from Minokamo for the annual student exchange visits. In the September/October school holidays a group of specially selected high school students and their chaperones visit Japan and Minokamo as Dubbo Regional Councils representatives on the sister city student exchanges.

The advantages of Council’s sister city student exchanges when compared to other overseas trips for students and chaperone leaders are:

Its affordable - the cost to each participant for a 12–14-day visit is $4,158 (cost based on 2023) plus spending money as the visit is subsidised by DRC.
Unique travel opportunities as all participants live with a local family in Minokamo and attend school with their host student, immersing them in the local culture.
Dubbo Regional Council has several years' experience in organising reciprocal exchanges; and is responsible for all aspects of the visit including travel arrangements and providing the successful applicants with cultural and language training prior to their exchange visit.
It offers the Dubbo exchange participants and local families the opportunity to home host students and chaperones from Minokamo when they visit Dubbo in July and August.
Minokamo exchange includes side trips around Tokyo city and to Tokyo Disneyland.

"The Minokamo exchange was a wonderful experience, the people were extremely welcoming, I believe I have made friends for life. Japanese culture is very interesting and I would love to go back one day. I would recommend this program." 2019 Minokamo Student - Tyerell Ferguson

"Visiting Minokamo in 2019 was a truly memorable experience. Watching the student from Dubbo completely immerse themselves in the everyday culture and with their host families was really humbling. Our group was lucky enough to be part of the 30th anniversary between the Sister Cities which provided a unique experience to the overall trip. From the welcoming barbeque to climbing Inuyama Castle, the Minokamo exchange was an authentic and fantastic way to encounter Japan!" Minokamo Chaperone - Alice McKechnie