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Summary
This factsheet summarises the new Australian Volunteers for International Development program, and the Australian Red Cross.
Description
This factsheet summarises the new Australian Volunteers for International Development program, and the Australian Red Cross.
This publication is also available in PDF format:
Australian Volunteers for International Development–Australian Red Cross [PDF 358kb]
Volunteering with Red Cross around the world
Through the Australian Volunteers for International Development program, Australians can now volunteer with Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world.
Australian Volunteers supported by this program will strengthen the capacity of their host organisations to build healthy, functional and self-reliant communities in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
These volunteers will join a network of over 100 million people who volunteer with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement worldwide.
Australian Red Cross is working with our sister Red Cross societies to identity meaningful ways for Australian Volunteers to contribute to their work. Five key areas have been identified: disaster preparedness and recovery, health, social inclusion, strengthening civil society and blood services.
Voluntary service is one of the fundamental principles of Red Cross. It is at the heart of community building because it promotes trust and reciprocity. It encourages people to be responsible citizens.
Volunteers will include health professionals, financial and human resource advisers, community development and social workers, lawyers, blood specialists, volunteer coordinators and communications and fundraising professionals. While they come from a range of cultural backgrounds with diverse experiences and aspirations, they are all adaptable, resilient, self-aware and able to work effectively with people of other cultures.
Australian Red Cross will support volunteers with airfares, a living allowance, accommodation, insurance, training, security and emergency support. Assignments can range from three months to two years, depending on the needs of host organisations. Working within the world's largest humanitarian movement, Australian Volunteers will help mobilise the power of humanity to reduce or prevent human suffering wherever it might be found.
John Santiago was a shelter volunteer who assisted with youth empowerment and recovery activities in Padang on the island of West Sumatra, Indonesia in December 2009.
After two earthquakes rocked the city of Padang and neighboring Jambi province in October 2009, John joined the transitional shelter program run by Indonesian and Australian Red Cross. The program worked with local communities to build temporary shelters after the earthquakes and was part of the overall recovery process which also included addressing water, sanitation, hygiene, food and nutrition needs.
'Local volunteers were young, friendly, and lively. It was refreshing to see the volunteering spirit outside of Australia and the tough conditions they face,'
John Santiago, volunteer.
During the earthquakes, almost 300,000 houses were destroyed or damaged. Community members were actively involved in the recovery process, working together to build the shelters on or near the sites of damaged and destroyed homes.
John explains that empowering locals in their own recovery helps to 'build their resilience to future disasters'. Residents can live in the shelters with their families while rebuilding or repairing their homes. Once their new home is complete, they can use the shelter how they wish–some families use them as a shop front or an extension to their home.
He enjoyed learning about the recovery program and the opportunity to, 'see the process, learn how to assess levels of vulnerability and see the construction firsthand.' John says he went into his volunteer role, 'not really sure what to expect but really flexible and open to the whole experience.'
'Local volunteers were young, friendly, and lively. It was refreshing to see the volunteering spirit outside of Australia and the tough conditions they face', he says.