World Vision Australia (WVA) is an ecumenical Christian non-governmental organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. It is a part of the World Vision International Partnership led by World Vision International. WVA is Australia's largest overseas aid and development organisation, operating primarily to assist overseas communities living in poverty. It also carries out development work in Australia with Indigenous communities.
WVA is registered as a charity by the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission as a public benevolent institution, and is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient. It enjoys tax concessions, including an ability to provide tax deductible receipts.
Video World Vision Australia
History
World Vision Australia was founded in 1966 after a proposal to start a new office in Australia by Bernard Barron, the head of World Vision Canada, and after startup funds were provided by the headquarters of World Vision in the United States. Graeme Irvine, an evangelical Christian, was at the head of the Australian branch of World Vision. The first project of World Vision Australia was related to Vietnam.
The head of World Vision Australia, Graeme Irvine, was 1978 also among the signers of the Declaration of Internationalization, which declared a set of objectives for World Vision and also defined a Statement of Faith that corresponds to the Statement of Faith put forward by the American National Association of Evangelicals as standard for their evangelical convictions as the theological frame in which World Vision International and its national offices like World Vision Australia have to operate. In 1988, Graeme Irvine became the first non-American president of World Vision International.
After its establishment, World Vision Australia first focused on meeting the needs of refugees in Indochina and of people recovering from disasters in Bangladesh and in several African countries. In the 1970s, its focus broadened from assisting the individual child to include community development. Since the 1980s, a "welfare" approach has gradually changed to a more collaborative relationship where communities work alongside World Vision to improve their lives and take control of their futures.
As a Christian, faith-based organisation, World Vision Australia draws on a biblical framework to inform its work. As with other members of the World Vision Partnership, it does not proselytise, although at least some member organisations of this partnership are said to evangelise. World Vision Australia is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct, that requires that development activities be separately delivered and reported from non-development (including religious) activities. World Vision Australia's development activities seek to improve the well-being of those in need without favouritism or discrimination by race, religion, culture or political persuasion. Both the tensions between, and potential for faith to facilitate positive development outcomes are considered in the 2011 ACFID Research Report: Religion and Development: Australian Faith-Based Development Organisations
Maps World Vision Australia
Fundraising and Focus
In the 2017 financial year, World Vision Australia reported total income of $404.1 million. The breakdown of this included; Child sponsorship (38%); Australian Government (DFAT) grants (12%); Appeals, donations and gifts (9%); Overseas grants (11%); Other cash revenue (6%); and Non-monetary donations and gifts (24%). Overseas grants are received from philanthropic organisations, other government aid programs and United Nations agencies such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF and UNHCR (responsible for children and refugees).
World Vision Australia is approved for tax deductibility.
World Vision's main focus is the well-being of children, and it uses child sponsorship for fundraising. Sponsorship links donors to specific children overseas and the sponsor makes a long term commitment to contribute to community programs that benefit that child, the child's family and the community. Programs focus on education, health and nutrition, and can also include agriculture, adult literacy and income generation.
The "40 Hour Famine" is a fund-raising scheme in which Australians, especially the young, find out what it's like to go without food for 40 hours. Schools and churches support of the famine and participants ask others to sponsor them. In 2017 and 2018, a "Backpack Challenge" was held in place of the 40 Hour Famine with participants to only make use of what they can carry in a backpack for 40 hours. The campaign is intended to draw attention to the plight of refugees around the world.
Initiatives
Worldwide Focus
When a disaster strikes, World Vision staff claims to be on the scene within 72 hours, bringing food and supplies. World Vision responds to rapid and slow onset natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and droughts; man-made disasters such as conflicts and war and humanitarian emergencies caused by factors such as political, social and economic, that can be across a single country or a group of countries.
"Twice As Green" is an initiative that funds programs working with communities to help them adapt to changing landscapes. It enables projects such as revegetation, restoration of barren land, sustainable farming and greenhouse gas reduction.
World Vision advocates for government policies against human trafficking for sexual slavery and forced labor. "Child Rescue" reaches out to children who are struggling to survive in difficult situations, beyond the reach of child sponsorship. They may be homeless, orphaned, or recently escaped from a brothel or factory, or be victims of human trafficking and slavery. Child Rescue aims to help free vulnerable children from suffering, exploitation and abuse and provides them with the support.
"Water Health Life" tackles problems with dirty water sources that can lead to diseases such as diarrhoea and bilharzia, with various practical solutions such as sinking wells and drilling boreholes.
World Vision Australia has been criticised for funding a soccer field in Jenin in the West Bank that was named after a former militant PLO leader.
Australia
World Vision provides a range of educational resources on its website, including general topic sheets and classroom materials for primary and secondary levels.
World Vision encourages supporters to lobby the Australian government on issues such as campaigns against landmines, child labour, child soldiers and debt.
World Vision Australia works together with the Parliament by regularly writing submissions.
Australian Indigenous Programs
World Vision draws on its international development experience to implement long term, place-based community development initiatives in partnership with remote Indigenous communities. Its Australian Program focuses on:
- Early Childhood Care and Development programs in the Pilbara and Kimberley region of Western Australia
- The Martu Leadership Program being delivered in partnership with Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa in the Pilbara;
- Young Mob Leadership Programs supporting Aboriginal students in selected New South Wales and Victorian schools; and
- The Channels of Hope program, which is addressing the root causes of domestic violence, through programs in faith-based communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
- Supporting Aboriginal reconciliation and advocating for Aboriginal communities with various government jurisdictions.
New projects commencing in 2018 will support the development of literacy and work-ready skills among young people in remote communities.
Partnerships
First of all World Vision Australia is member of the World Vision Partnership.
World Vision Australia is a full member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), and is a signatory to ACFID's Code of Conduct, which defines the minimum standards of governance, management and accountability for development NGOs. It works in cooperation with other government and non-government agencies in Australia and overseas. In addition to AusAID funding, World Vision Australia makes submissions regarding government policies relating to aid and development.
The organisation works with local and overseas churches, and with organisations such as the World Health Organisation, UNHCR and UNICEF. World Vision Australia also collaborates with Oxfam.
World Vision Ambassadors
In 2005, Guy Sebastian was appointed an Ambassador for World Vision Australia. In August of that year he visited Uganda to film a documentary An Idol in Africa for a Network Ten television special. The program highlighted the issues of poverty and civil war and its effect on the population. During the making of the documentary Sebastian visited a rehabilitation centre for former child soldiers in Gulu, Uganda, and also met children who had been orphaned by HIV and Aids. Sebastian stated his African journey helped put his own life back into perspective. The program was broadcast on 3 December 2005, and repeated on 24 December 2005.
Sebastian continued his involvement with World Vision Australia, supporting the Child Rescue program and has supported the 40 Hour Famine. He has also been involved in the Make Poverty History coalition of which World Vision is a part.
In July 2016, Mohammad El Halabi, manager of World Vision in Gaza was arrested at the Erez border crossing and charged by Israeli prosecutors with channeling funds to Hamas, a listed terror organization. A senior official with Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency,) stated that Halabi was recruited by the military wing of Hamas 2004, and instructed to penetrate World Vision. The allegations have been questioned by World Vision Australia which states that the alleged misappropriated amount exceeds their total Gaza expenditure over the last decade.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade immediately suspended all funding of Palestinian programs by World Vision. World Vision Australia chief executive, Tim Costello, accepted this move as being the correct thing to do pending a proper investigation of the allegations.
References
External links
- Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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