Who is achieving amazing things in your neighbourhood?
05 December 2011
After 60 years, and 9,000 program participants working in 88 countries with more than 2500 overseas organisations; Australian Volunteers International (AVI) can truly say Australia has made major contributions to positive social change through its international volunteering programs.
According to AVI CEO Dimity Fifer, this International Volunteer Day (5 December), AVI is recognising the relationships, connections and contributions Australians from all over the country have developed with individuals, communities and organisations around the globe.
“The work of all our volunteers is a response to the needs of developing communities all around the world,” said Ms Fifer. “This calls for people with a range of talents, skills and experience.
“We have had to draw on people from both rural and metropolitan Australia to support this valuable work, and to date we have had volunteers come from nearly 50 percent of Australian communities.
“They are teachers from Tumby Bay, water and sanitation specialists from Bundaberg, accountants from Bega, midwives from Ballarat and veterinarians from Darwin.
“The work they have done is as diverse as their backgrounds. AVI volunteers have supported the establishment of Timor-Leste’s first national park, strengthened midwifery education in Cambodia, delivered HIV/AIDS education programs in Papua New Guinea and assisted in the creation of a mobile health service for hundreds of women working as Market Traders in Swaziland.”
The work of AVI also has received ongoing support from AusAID since the 1960s and a range of Australian partner organisations. In partnership with AusAID, AVI is delivering a range of programs including Australian Volunteers for International Development, the Pacific Technical Assistance Mechanism and the Cambodian Midwifery Project.
“As part of these programs, Australians have the ability to live, work and learn alongside developing communities around the planet,” Ms Fifer said. “Importantly these Australians return back to their communities in Australia with a new perspective of the world, global friendships and a new set of skills and experience that can benefit their workplaces and communities.”
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For all other information please contact:
Fran Noonan, AVI Communications
fnoonan@australianvolunteers.com or 03 9279 1805