Branko and Sue Maric and their daughters Maddison and Alysha and son Liam have sponsored nine-year-old Dinda for five years.

They wanted to visit her, but couldn't afford the trip - until now. The Marics won a $10,000 grant from the missiontravel.com.au website.

The family was shortlisted for the grant with a number of other families and individuals.

Mrs Maric said she was "shocked" when she was told her family had won.

"We had been talking about going there [Indonesia] for years, but we just couldn't afford the trip.

"My kids all learn Indonesian at school and they are working extra hard so they can speak to Dinda in her native tongue."

The family is yet to decide when to visit, but Mrs Maric said it would be at some point during Indonesia's dry season next year.

She said she hoped the trip would be an eye-opening experience for her children, who had never visited a developing country. "Our only trip overseas was to New Zealand, which in many ways is similar to Australia in terms of lifestyle.

"It [the trip] will definitely be a culture shock to all of us and I hope our kids learn to appreciate what they've got here."

Maddison, 14, said she couldn't wait to finally meet Dinda, who she writes to regularly.

"I think we will change our mindset after we go there and see how Dinda lives.

"She is part of a family of five, so it will be interesting to compare us with them."