image description
  • Home
  • About us
  • News
  • Australian volunteers make a positive and sustainable impact across the globe

Australian volunteers make a positive and sustainable impact across the globe

Share this
03 December 2010
Australian volunteers make a positive and sustainable impact across the globe

Sunday 5 December 2010 is International Volunteer Day (IVD), set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the work of volunteers across the globe. In 2009/10, 628 skilled Australians with their partners and families participated in Australian Volunteers International (AVI) programs to work with 313 overseas partner organisations in 49 countries.

Under the theme 'Australian Volunteers - Celebrating partnerships for change', AVI volunteers living, working and learning in developing countries will participate in a range of IVD activities from workshops with young disabled athletes of the Indonesian Special Olympics, to a charity cycle day in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a sports day in Mae Sot, Thailand, and workplace presentations and seminars across Australia.

Australian Volunteers International (AVI), the country's most experienced international volunteer agency, is also calling on all Australians to get involved in the volunteer experience, either by taking up a volunteer placement themselves or by supporting Australian volunteers overseas.

The range of opportunities for Australians to volunteer overseas is enormous. Placements range from maternal health advisers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Cambodia to special education experts in Lesotho, Africa. People with qualifications in health, agriculture, finance, education, IT, communications and engineering are encouraged to visit www.australianvolunteers.com to sign up to AVI's eNewsletter, AVI Plus, for the latest job announcements.

Dimity Fifer, CEO of Australian Volunteers International, said: "Volunteering is one of the clearest expressions of solidarity and partnership in action. Australian volunteers are in demand overseas, and our strategic emphasis on impact and partnerships ensures AVI's work remains focused on the development goals of our partners overseas including working towards good governance and increasing social inclusion of the poor and marginalised."

5th December, International Volunteer Day (IVD), also marks the launch of the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteer (IYV). In 2011, Australian Volunteers International (AVI) celebrates its 60th anniversary.

People interested in volunteering overseas can visit www.australianvolunteers.com to learn more about AVI volunteer placements.

Media contact:
Sarah Wintle, Manager - Marketing and Communications, on (03) 9279 1763 or 0411 605 210; swintle@australianvolunteers.com



-ends-