Alison developed the Arts Residency program from an initial two participants under the Australia Council prior to 1991 to over 600 Australian artists and arts management undertaking residencies in eighteen Asian countries for up to four months each by 2010. It became one of the central Asian-engagement arts programs of the era for Australian artists, arts managers and writers in Asian countries.

From 45,000 Days in Asia, publication of how long Australians had, to that date, 2005, spent working in Asia under the program.