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Select a country, economy or region to find embassies, country briefs, economic fact sheets, trade agreements, aid programs, information on sanctions and more.

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Supporting organisations in developing countries by matching them with skilled Australians. 

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Australia is a successful global leader and innovator in sport.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

A global platform for achievement, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation

About Australia

Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

Australia in Brief publication

This is the 52nd edition of Australia in Brief, revised and updated in February 2021

Travel

Travel advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.

International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Prove your COVID-19 vaccinations when you travel overseas.

Passports

The Australian Passport Office and its agents are committed to providing a secure, efficient and responsive passport service for Australia.

24-hour consular emergency helpline

Visas

Crisis Hub

Hamas-Israel conflict and Middle East Region

Australia is deeply concerned by conflict in the Middle East and we are monitoring developments in the region very closely.

The Australian Government is providing consular assistance to Australians in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. Our ability to provide assistance in the West Bank and Gaza is limited. 

Consular assistance and travel advice

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance or that require assistance with departure should contact the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

Check the Smartraveller website and social media channels for the latest advice and travel updates.

Humanitarian assistance

In Gaza, Australia’s funding is being directed to established humanitarian partners, including United Nations (UN) agencies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance with a focus on the needs of women and children. We will continue to act in partnership with the international community to help meet urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.

Since 7 October 2023, Australia has committed humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by conflicts in the region.

Palestine

  • $42 million to provide essential support and services with a focus on women and children, delivered through UN agencies such as UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
  • $24 million through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to provide food, water and medical care in Gaza and the region.
  • $16 million for life-saving food assistance through the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
  • $7 million to support healthcare services, including the provision of medical supplies to enable the operation of field hospitals, delivered through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO).
  • $6 million to provide essential assistance for refugees, delivered through UN agencies including the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA).
  • $3 million to support humanitarian access, including via critical humanitarian corridors, coordinated by the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS).
  • $2 million for relief support delivered in partnership with the UK.

Lebanon

  • $14 million for essential humanitarian assistance in response to conflict and displacement, though UN agencies such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF and the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.
  • $11 million for essential food assistance through WFP.
  • $5.5 million for livelihoods support for displaced populations, with a focus on women and people with disabilities, through UN Women and local NGOs.

Syria, Jordan and Yemen

  • $23 million to provide essential support and services with a focus on women and children in Syria, to be delivered through UNICEF and UNFPA.
  • $12 million to provide basic assistance and services, including education, for refugees in Jordan in partnership with the Jordanian Government and UN agencies, including UNHCR and WFP.
  • $10 million to provide lifesaving food assistance through WFP in Yemen.

Advice for people wanting to donate

Lebanon

The Australian Government is actively monitoring the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and consulting with humanitarian agencies and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

The Australian Government is providing funding through UN agencies, which have strong procedures in place to manage risks and comply with counter-terrorism financing and Australian sanctions laws.

Those wishing to make a monetary donation can visit ACFID’s website for information on its consolidated appeal.

Palestine

The Australian Government is actively monitoring the humanitarian situation in  Palestine and consulting with humanitarian agencies and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) as they assess funding requirements and implement response plans.

The Australian Government is providing funding through established humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which have strong procedures in place to manage risks and comply with counter-terrorism financing and Australian sanctions laws.

Donated goods

Donated goods may not meet the needs of the affected population and can be inappropriate for the climate and culture. Managing these donations can also cause challenges for relief authorities in Australia and in-country. For more information on how to donate responsibly, please read: Donate Responsibly [PDF].

Additional information on risks of donating:

Australia has listed Hamas and Hizballah as terrorist organisations. Both are also designated entities subject to counter-terrorism financing sanctions under the Australian sanctions law. It is a criminal offence to fund terrorist organisations, either directly or indirectly. It is also a criminal offence for a person to provide or collect funds where that person knows or is reckless to the fact that the funds will be used to facilitate or engage in a terrorist act.

Australians who remit money to a family member or friend in Palestine or Lebanon may be committing an offence under the Criminal Code or sanctions law if:

  • the money is provided with the intention it be made available to Hamas or Hizballah (or another terrorist organisation or designated person or entity), or
  • they are aware there is substantial risk the money will be provided to Hamas or Hizballah (or another terrorist organisation or designated person or entity).

There is a risk that donated funds may be misused for the purpose of terrorism financing.

To mitigate against this risk, it is important that due diligence is conducted and proper processes are in place to ensure funds are protected from misuse, are being used towards their charitable purpose and the persons or entities they deal with are not designated under Australian sanctions law or the Criminal Code. Liability under these respective schemes is dependent on particular factual circumstances including the knowledge and intention of the person.

The Australian Government Listed Terrorist Organisations website and a Consolidated List of all designated persons and entities are available as tools to assist the public in undertaking their due diligence checks. We also recommend reviewing the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) website where it is possible to check if a charity is registered with ACNC as well as access useful information on donations more broadly.

The Australian Government's funding agreements with partners contain strict requirements designed to assist Australia in meeting its counter-terrorism financing, anti-money laundering, anti-fraud and anti-corruption obligations.

If you think you have breached or are at risk of breaching Australian sanctions laws, you should contact the Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) via Pax or by email: sanctions@dfat.gov.au. The ASO will work with you to identify the causes of non-compliance and help prevent any future recurrences.

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