Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd officially launched the new overseas volunteer program, Australian Volunteers for International Development, on 26 May 2011 at Parliament House, Canberra.
The new, integrated program will make it easier for more Australians to volunteer their services in developing countries, in support of the priorities of the Australian Government's aid program.
Volunteers are an important part of Australia's aid program. By contributing their time and skills to local organisations and the communities in which they work, volunteers make a substantial contribution to sustainable development in partner countries. Volunteers work is centred on reducing poverty and long-term development, and enabling cross-cultural exchange between Australia and partner countries.
'The new program will continue to make a valuable contribution to communities in need, as part of our overseas development assistance program,' Mr Rudd said.
'Each volunteer has returned with a story to tell, whether it be setting up a clinic so that women can give birth safely, building stronger homes to withstand cyclones or helping children with a disability to get to school. They have left a mark and enriched the communities they have helped.'
The Australian Government, through AusAID, is working in partnership with Australian Volunteers International, Austraining International and Australian Red Cross–organisations with extensive experience in international volunteering.
The new Australian Volunteers for International Development program will align four programs into a single program:
- with a common program identity
- a new volunteers planning process to strengthen alignment between volunteer assignments and country strategies
- simplified program monitoring and evaluation processes
- streamlined administrative process and a common management approach defined in shared operating standards
- an international volunteers' web portal that provides a single point of access to the new program.
Funding for the volunteers program will increase from $42 million in 2010-11 to $55 million in 2011-12. The number of new volunteer assignments will increase from 823 in 2010-11 to over 900 in 2011-12.
In 2011-12, volunteers will be deployed to 33 countries including to Latin America, the Caribbean, India, Sri Lanka, Palau in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands in the North Pacific and to additional countries within Africa.
More information
- There's something special about Rebecca
- The little things: volunteer Aaron Watson's story
- Foreign Minister's Media Release 26 May 2011 [external website]
- Foreign Minister's Speech 26 May 2011 [external website]
- Australian Volunteers for International Development [external website]
- Volunteering
Factsheets:
- Australian Volunteers for International Development
- Volunteering through Australian Red Cross
- Volunteering through Australian Volunteers International
- Volunteering through Austraining International
- Volunteering as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development