'Founded in 1989, the Association for Australian Studies is a politically independent, interdisciplinary organisation devoted in the public interest to furthering scholarship concerned in the broadest way with Australia and to promoting Australian studies, both in teaching and research, in German-speaking countries. The association works at the same time to intensify academic, scientific and cultural relations between German-speaking countries and Australia and to overcome any cultural barriers that may exist between these areas. In furtherance of these goals the association organises specialist congresses and lectures, publishes academic papers and studies and engages in a regular exchange of views and experiences.' Source: www2.uni-wuppertal.de/ (Sighted 12/07/2012).