Australia will send a senior diplomat to Indonesia to be a permanent representative to the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed on Wednesday that Simon Merrifield would be Australia's first resident ambassador to ASEAN.
His appointment has official approval from ASEAN foreign ministers, Ms Bishop said.
The position is based in Jakarta and Mr Merrifield will officially take up his role on Friday.
Mr Merrifield is a career diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has spent 13 years living in south east Asia, including three in Myanmar.
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He has previously served as deputy high commissioner to Malaysia, first secretary in Jakarta and second secretary in Manila.
Mr Merrifield speaks Indonesian and Malay.
Ms Bishop said Australia and ASEAN have a long history of cooperation on trade, investment and "people to people" links.
