Cities / Bali / Australian Independent School Bali
Australian Independent School Bali
Inclusion-focused school founded in 1996 offering the Australian Curriculum from Early Years to Year 10, then IB Diploma for senior students.
In brief
The Bali campus of AIS Indonesia, opened 1998 in Kerobokan and now in Imam Bonjol, Denpasar, running the Australian Curriculum through Year 10 and the IB Diploma in senior years.
AIS Bali sits on a single Denpasar West campus after moving from Kerobokan in 2018. It serves around 320 students across Preschool to Year 12 from more than 25 nationalities, with the Australian Curriculum through F-10 and IBDP authorised in 2018 for Years 11 and 12. CIS accreditation is in place. Fees run roughly IDR 45 million to IDR 191 million depending on year, mid-market for Bali international schools.
The school's clearest identifier is inclusion. AIS has a long-standing reputation for taking children with learning support needs, English language gaps and physical disabilities seriously, and is widely seen as the strongest inclusion option in Bali. The small-school feel cuts both ways: families know everyone and pastoral care is close, but co-curricular and senior-year breadth are narrower than at the larger Sanur and Canggu schools. Families typically weigh AIS against Bali Island School, Canggu Community School and Green School.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years 3 | 3 | IDR 75,930,000 |
| Early Years 3 (3 days/week) | 4 | IDR 45,560,000 |
| Early Years 4 | 4 | IDR 84,480,000 |
| Foundation | 5 | IDR 107,540,000 |
| Year 1 | 6 | IDR 128,750,000 |
| Year 2 | 7 | IDR 128,750,000 |
| Year 3 | 8 | IDR 134,370,000 |
| Year 4 | 9 | IDR 134,370,000 |
| Year 5 | 10 | IDR 142,310,000 |
| Year 6 | 11 | IDR 158,390,000 |
| Year 7 | 12 | IDR 165,470,000 |
| Year 8 | 13 | IDR 165,470,000 |
| Year 9 | 14 | IDR 167,470,000 |
| Year 10 | 15 | IDR 167,470,000 |
| Year 11 | 16 | IDR 190,720,000 |
| Year 12 | 17 | IDR 190,720,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | IDR 2,000,000 | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | IDR 5,000,000 | |
| Enrolment Notice Deposit (refundable) | IDR 5,000,000 |
Reviews
An Australian-curriculum school built on inclusion, with deep continuity at the top. John Milliss has run the campus since 2007 and was part of the founding team in 1999. Families value the small-school feel and the willingness to take in students with learning differences and English-language needs, a stance written into the school from the start. The campus sits on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Denpasar, not Sanur, and runs a southern-hemisphere timetable. The reading-room sense is of a steady, modestly sized community school that has just stepped up in scale.
Positives
- Inclusive ethos. Founded in 1996 specifically to take students that other international schools in Indonesia would not accept. Specialist support for learning differences, EAL, and physical disabilities is built in rather than bolted on.
- Leadership continuity. John Milliss has been principal since 2007 and joined as a founding teacher in 1999. Long-tenured leadership shows in the steady direction and the fact that families describe a recognisable culture year on year.
- Curriculum pathway. Australian Curriculum (ACARA) from preschool through Year 10, with a choice of the IB Diploma or a senior school certificate in Years 11 and 12. Southern-hemisphere school year suits families moving from or back to Australia.
- Campus and facilities. A 2.2-hectare purpose-built site with a 25-metre pool, sports field, indoor court, science labs, and an innovation hub. A new high-school building opened in early 2026, lifting capacity from around 340 to around 650 and adding STEAM space, science labs, and a larger library.
- Small community feel. Class sizes sit in the mid-teens to low twenties, and the wider school is still under 400. Families describe a tight-knit community where teachers know siblings and parents by name.
Considerations
- Location and commute. The campus is in central Denpasar on Jl. Imam Bonjol, not in Sanur or the southern beach areas where many expat families settle. Morning runs from Sanur, Seminyak, or Canggu are workable but not short, and traffic shapes the day.
- Teaching style. Approach is described as inquiry-led and differentiated, with strong pastoral framing. Isolated criticism flags reliance on workbooks and photocopied materials in some classrooms; this comes through as one voice rather than a pattern against the broader inclusion-first picture.
- Senior-school scale. The IB Diploma cohort each year is small by international-school standards. That brings close attention and known teachers, but also a narrower subject menu than larger IB schools on the island.
Leadership
John Milliss
Good day and welcome to AIS Indonesia – Jakarta campus. My name is Dean Cummins and I am privileged to be the Principal of AIS Indonesia, Jakarta campus, from January 2026. I am an Australian native who brings to AIS over 25 years of experience in teaching and leadership from international schools across China, United Kingdom, and Australia, and hold a Masters of Education in Global Learning, a Bachelor degree in Economics, as well as a Diploma in Education. I am a proud father of two young men, who also attend our school, demonstrating my commitment and investment not only to serve, but to make AIS the best option for all in Jakarta. My passion is to create school environments where, for all members of the community, learning is enticing, fundamentally valued, and allows for individuals to thrive in a collaborative, nurturing way. I believe in a holistic education that targets a learners strengths, promotes a healthy, balanced lifestyle and a service-oriented mindset. My purpose is to build trusting relationships with all community members, so that I may apply my knowledge, wisdom, and experience to support the people around me to flourish as members of our local and global community. Decisions made here, at AIS, are data driven and involve representation from all members of our learning community; including staff, students and parents. Harnessing the Australian spirit of teamwork, fairness and strong achievement our mission at AIS is to provide an inclusive environment where all students meet their academic and social potential. This can only be achieved by exposing our students to a variety of challenging learning experiences, guided by high quality educators that care and mentor through encouraging yet honest feedback. AIS students flourish in our learning atmosphere of shared purpose and belonging. AIS is a place where students are encouraged to become agents of change in an ever-changing world. I look forward to welcoming you and your child(ren) to our blossoming learning community. Please come and find out more, by contacting our Admissions team. Empowering minds and uniting communities.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- IB DP Offered (Year 11-12)
- Accreditation CIS, AISA, IB World School
Location
Jl. Imam Bonjol No. 458A, Pemecutan Kelod, Denpasar Barat, Bali 80119, Indonesia