MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Patterson
Senator Kay Patterson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, will tonight farewell 39 Australian volunteers who will leave Australia
shortly to work in poor communities around the world.
Each of the 39 volunteers farewelled this evening will serve for two years or
more in communities overseas, with 28 of the volunteers going to Asia, 4 to
Africa and 7 to the Pacific.
Volunteers work alongside their colleagues in developing communities in a
range of sectors, including health, education, community development,
agriculture and fisheries, environmental management and economic
development.
The 39 volunteers are serving with Australian Volunteers International (AVI),
funded through the Australian Government? overseas aid program.
'The volunteers come from a range of professions and backgrounds, with
nurses, counsellors, teachers, environmental management and community
development experts included in the group we are farewelling this evening,'
Senator Patterson said. 'They will share their skills and expertise in the local
communities where they live and work.'
The Australian Government supports volunteers in the field with grants to
non-government organisations of $12.8m in 2000-2001. Most of this financial
support is channelled through Australian Volunteers International (AVI) which
enables 500 Australian volunteers each year to travel overseas on development
missions.
'These volunteers join more than 6000 Australians who have volunteered
overseas since the 1960? through organisations such as AVI, the Australian Red
Cross and Rotary International,' Senator Patterson said.
Media Contact:
Louise Ahern (Parliamentary Secretary's office):
6277 3800/0409 034 403
Fionna Douglas (AusAID):
02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489
Interviews with departing volunteers can be arranged.