AusAID is the agency within the Australian Government that is responsible for managing our official aid program overseas. It is responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
AusAID's central office is in Canberra, but it also has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A small number of Australia based staff also work at 25 locations overseas. Some local staff are employed in these countries to help manage the aid program.
Australia has maintained an overseas aid program since 1946. Originally, aspects of the program were administered by several different government departments, but in 1974 a single organisation was established. It has evolved into the AusAID of today.
The types of aid that we give, and the countries to which we give it has gone through some changes over this period. It has always reflected the Australian people's strong commitment to helping others that are worse off than themselves.
Most Australian government aid goes to our near neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. Helping these countries encourages stability and prosperity in our region. The Asia-Pacific region also contains the largest concentration of poor in the world. As a major aid donor in the region, we are able to make a real impact on people's lives.
There are three main ways in which AusAID provides assistance. Firstly, through projects undertaken in partnership with the governments and people of the countries being assisted, we establish projects to address specific development needs. The areas in which we assist include education, health care, agricultural productivity, water supply, and effective legal and financial systems. All projects try to establish long term benefits that will continue after Australian assistance and staff are gone.
Another main way that the Australian Government works to promote development is to fund activities carried out by non-government organisations. Descriptions of both these types of aid projects, with accompanying teacher's notes and student activities are found throughout the GlobalEd site, under "case studies".
The third main type of aid we give is through support given to multilateral development agencies, like the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
Australia also gives humanitarian and emergency aid. This is not limited to specific countries, but is determined by the level of need and the degree to which we can be of assistance. Australia has an excellent record of helping out in emergencies. For example, we played a significant part in assisting victims of the tsunami in Aitape, the Papua New Guinea drought and the Indonesian forest fires.
Our aid program relies heavily on Australian organisations and individuals to produce goods and to deliver the projects it manages. Currently about three quarters of Australia's aid program is spent on Australian goods and services.
For specific details of current expenditure and a brief overview of the types of projects currently underway in each country click here.
To link to AusAID's Corporate Plan click here.
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AusAID materials have been preserved for archival purposes only.
For up to date information, visit the revised AusAID Global Education Website atwww.globaleducation.edna.edu.au
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