History
AVI has been at the forefront of international volunteering for
more than 50 years, and we have enabled over 6000 Australians to
find their place in the world, through an opportunity to work in
developing communities.
The Volunteer Graduate Scheme, AVI's predecessor, pre-dates the
American Peace Corps or the British VSO.
Why we started
The first Australian volunteers were graduates of Melbourne
University. They were inspired by an Indonesian delegate, who asked
for technical experts to work in Indonesia - not just to share
their knowledge, but to enter into the life of the
newly-independent society.
Herb Feith was the first Australian to respond to that request, and
worked as a translator with the Ministry of Education. Several
other young Australians followed in his footsteps and the Volunteer
Graduate Scheme was established.
The Volunteer Graduate Scheme became the Overseas Service Bureau in
1961, in response to a growing number of requests for volunteers in
Asia, the Pacific and even Africa. The Bureau established a program
called Australian Volunteers Abroad.
The Australian Government first provided funding to the Bureau in
1965 and continues to support its programs.
The Overseas Service Bureau changed its name to Australian
Volunteers International in 1999.
While the organisation has had several name changes, its reasons
for sending volunteers remain unchanged. There is enormous value -
both in development and in building strong international
relationships - in Australians working in partnership with people
of other cultures, in a spirit of friendship and equality.
Examples of AVI's work throughout our history:
- Working with the newly-formed Indonesian Government after
independence in 1951
- Supporting a wide range of projects to reduce the spread of
HIV/AIDS in southern Africa and many other countries
- After the independence ballot, AVI volunteers worked in East
Timor to build the capacity of the new nation. Photo: Mathias
HengProviding electoral officers to support the East Timorese vote
for independence, and assisting the new nation develop its local
capacity
- Supporting refugees from conflicts in Burma, Angola, Cambodia,
Afghanistan and many other areas
- AVI volunteers supported the development of civil society
organisations in Afghanistan.
- Working with Cambodian government and civil society
organisations on landmine removal, food security and agriculture
projects
- Building the capacity of civil society organisations in
Afghanistan, after the fall of the Taliban regime
- Assisting the Bougainville Peace Process by working alongside
the Peace Monitoring Group and During the Bougainville peace
process, AVI volunteers worked alongside the Peace Monitoring
Group. Photo: AusAID local leaders
- Supporting post-reconstruction efforts in the Maldives,
Indonesia and Sri Lanka following the devastating Boxing Day
tsunami