Community: Indonesian diaspora in Australia shares identity stories through meaningful objects

Participants of the 'Barang-Bareng' event sit on mats at Carlton Gardens, sharing stories about their identity through meaningful objects from Indonesia. Credit_ SBS Indonesian_Anne Parisianne.jpg

Participants of the 'Barang-Bareng' event share stories about their identity through meaningful objects from Indonesia while sitting on mats at Carlton Gardens. Credit: SBS Indonesian/Anne Parisianne

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At the 'Barang-Bareng' event, members of the Indonesian diaspora and those with connections to Indonesia gathered to share identity stories through meaningful objects.

Nongkrong Festival held the 'Barang-Bareng' event on Sunday, 14 December 2025, at Carlton Gardens in Melbourne. Nongkrong is a festival organised by a group of Indonesian-Australians as a space for the diaspora to gather and maintain cultural connections.

Participants sat on mats, enjoying Indonesian food and sweet tea, while sharing objects that tell stories about themselves and their connection to Indonesia––like books, rings and local Indonesian brand lipstick.

Tito Ambyo (L) from Nongkrong Festival and Myriam Larasati at the 'Barang-Bareng' event in Carlton Gardens, Melbourne. Credit: SBS Indonesian/Anne Parisianne

Listen to SBS Indonesian's conversation with Tito Ambyo, co-founder of Nongkrong Festival, to discover the concept behind ‘Barang-Bareng’, why spaces like this matter for Indonesia's diaspora community in Australia and the significance of the object he brought along.

Also listen to our conversation with Myriam Larasati, one of the participants, to hear why community events like this are important to her and what she misses most about Indonesia.