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• What is the difference between being a 40 Hour Famine Group Leader, Group Member or Individual Participant?

  The key differences are:

  • Group Leaders coordinate and help a group of people do the 40 Hour Famine
  • School and Church Group Members take part under the guidance of a Group Leader and get a Famine Guide (school and church groups only)
  • Members of community and friendship groups (other than school and church) don't need a Famine Guide and fundraise entirely online; and
  • Individual participants aren’t part of a group, don’t need a Famine Guide and fundraise entirely online

• Must I do the 40 Hour Famine on 17-19 August?

  No. Although the official 40 Hour Famine weekend starts at 8pm on Friday 17 August and finishes at noon on Sunday 19 August 2012, you can choose any other 40 hour period, as long as this is before 30 September 2012.

• Where is the money going?

  The 40 Hour Famine is one of Australia’s biggest youth events, with funds raised supporting community awareness raising and projects for those in need. For more information, check out our online section: Where does your money go?

• What is the age range for participants?

  Anyone from any age can participate in the 40 hour Famine, however if young children (under 12) are going without food, please be aware that they should only go without for a maximum of 8 hours.

• What about the dangers of anorexia?

  The World Vision 40 Hour Famine is about raising money to help children who are denied their basic child rights and for participants to get a taste of what life's like for families in poverty. It’s not about losing weight.

  We are very concerned that participants do the 40 Hour Famine for the right reasons. All participants who are 15 years or under should speak to their parent or guardians before going without food. For more info, please see our health and safety guidelines.

  And remember, food is not the only thing participants can choose to give up. Go without something else that really matters to you: for ideas and tips, see What are you giving up?

• I want to apply to be a Youth Ambassador and have raised enough money, however I'm not 15 yet, can I still apply?

  Anyone who is between 15-20 years old at the time of the Youth Ambassador study tour is eligible to apply. In 2013, the study tour will be held in January.

• What awards can I apply for when I know how much I’ve raised?

  All the details regarding awards can be found on our 40 hour Famine awards page. The only way to apply is online by submitting your details before 30 September 2012.

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• What is a Famine Profile?

  All participants signing up to do the 40 Hour Famine need to create their very own online Famine Profile as part of the registration process. This will showcase your fundraising efforts and enable you to collect donations online. Register here.

• Who can have a Famine Profile?

  Famine Profiles are a part of the registration process for the 40 Hour Famine in 2012. Everyone participating in the 40 Hour Famine needs to have one to take part.

• How do I create a Famine Profile?

  Go to our registration page and follow the prompts.

  If you are participating in the 40 Hour Famine on your own (not as part of a group), you will be directed to create a Famine profile as part of the registration process. If you're part of a group, don't forget to link your Famine profile page in with your chosen group - that way your fundraising will contribute to your teams overall results.

• Can I create more than one Famine Profile?

  No. Unless you are creating both a Group and Group Member Famine Profile under your account, you can create only one Famine Profile.

• How do I find my Famine Profile on the 40 Hour Famine website?

  You can find your Famine Profile by:
  

  • Using the Search for Friends tool to search for yourself (remember if your Famine Profile is private it will not show up in search), OR
  • Typing in your custom URL at 40hourfamine.com.au to access your Famine Profile directly.

  You don’t have to log in to access your Famine Profile, but you must log in to edit it and complete your online quest journey.

• I’ve created my Famine Profile, now, how do I edit it?

  Click on the "Login" button. Once you’ve logged in, you can edit your Famine Profile and complete journey quests. You can still navigate through the rest of the site once you’re logged in.

  To get back to your Famine Profile in edit mode, click on the "Manage Page" button located in the header at the top of the page. Make sure you log out when you’ve finished.

• I've already created a Group Famine Profile, can I create my personal Famine Profile?

  Yes, log in to your account. Click on the "Register" tab. Continue to register as a Group Member - remember to link your personal Famine Profile in with your group!

• I’ve already created my personal Famine Profile, can I create my group’s Famine Profile?

  Yes, provided your group’s Famine Profile has not already been created and you have been provided with the Group ID on the cover of the Banking Book. Log in to your account. Click on the "Register" tab. Continue to register for your group.

• How do people donate to me through my online Famine Profile?

  Send people the link to your page. You can do this via email, Facebook etc.

  They can donate by clicking on the "Donate to me" or "Donate to my Group" button once they are on your Famine Profile. Their donation will be reflected in your total.

• I want to delete my Famine Profile, what do I do?

  Please contact us or call 13 32 40 if you want to delete your Famine Profile.

• I've forgotten my password to log in to my Famine profile

  If you go to the login page on the website you can reset your password by clicking "reset it here".

• I am doing the 40 Hour Famine as a member of a group. Can I create my own Famine Profile even though my Group Leader hasn’t created my group’s Famine Profile yet?

  Yes, click on "Register" to create your profile. When your Group Leader has signed up, make sure that you link your profile to your group.

• I've forgotten my username to log in to my Famine profile

  It was emailed to you when you first signed up. If you can't find your email, please contact us at famine@worldvision.com.au or 13 32 40.

• I’m a Group Member and have created my Famine Profile, but my name is not listed on my group’s Famine Profile. Why?

  Check to make sure your Famine Profile is not set to private, and that you've linked your profile up to your group.

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• If I’m in a group, do we all have to give up the same thing?

  No. All participants can choose for themselves what they want to give up – it might be food, furniture, your mobile phone or something of your choosing. Take a look at What are you giving up? for inspiration.

• I want to take over as my Group's new Leader – can I do that?

  Yes, but we will need to speak to the previous Group Leader so that we can change your group details.

  If your group belongs to a school or church, you should use our Contact Us form or contact your World Vision State Office for assistance. These contact numbers are on the Group Leader Kit. Otherwise, please ask your Group Leader to contact us or call us on 13 32 40 and we will make the change.

• I registered to be an Individual but now I want to be a Group Leader – what do I do?

  Go to the sign up form and register as a group by filling in the Group Leaders section. Then link your individual profile page through to your new group page.

• I registered to be a Group Leader and received my pack, but I can't find anyone else who wants to do it. What do I do?

  Send the complete 40 Hour Famine pack back to World Vision using the reply paid sticker provided in your kit, then register online as an individual participant and create your Famine Profile!

• I need more Famine Guides (receipt books) - I am a Group Leader how do I do this?

  Call us on 13 32 40 or email us at famine@worldvision.com.au. Let us know your Famine Group ID and your address details - we'll send some out to you.

• I am a Group Leader and I need to return my Famine kit and or books, but I have lost the address sticker. Where should I send it to?

  Send it to World Vision: PO Box 401, Mount Waverley, Victoria, 3129

• I am a Group Leader and I have lost my banking sample slip. What do I do?

  If you are part of a school or church, please contact your relevant State Office. You can also make a credit card payment at the Group Leader pay-in section of the donation page on 40hourfamine.com.au.

• I am a Group Leader of a church/school group and I need some more resources (ie. DVDs, posters, control sheets etc). What should I do?

  Take a look at our online Resources page to see if what you need is there. If you can't find what you're looking for, please email famine@worldvision.com.au with these types of requests.

• What if one of my group members wants to leave?

  Please email our team at famine@worldvision.com.au and we can help you.

• Does everyone in the group need to have a Famine Profile?

  Yes. For school and church group members, they need to fill in Famine Guide receipts numbers - you need a unique Famine ID number to make receipts valid.

  If you don’t have a Famine Profile, your name won't appear on the Group Member list on your Group Famine Profile, and you won't be able to issue receipts (if you're part of a church or school group).

  If you're part of another group (other than school/church) or an individual participant, your Famine Profile is part of the registration process and will allow you to collect funds online.

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• Can someone from overseas sponsor me?

  If a person makes a contribution from outside Australia on our website, it definitely counts as a donation for you if they have entered your Famine ID correctly.

  We do need to inform you that the deduction will be in Australian dollars and there may be a currency conversion on their international credit card, depending on their financial institution. Please note, overseas donations aren't able to claim a tax deduction.

• How do I donate if I don't have a credit card and wish to support somebody – or a group – doing the 40 Hour Famine?

  Ask a friend or family member to make the payment on your behalf using their credit card and give them the cash in return.

  Please note that the receipt will be issued to the credit card owner. You should keep your own record of the donation and how it was made if you want to claim a tax deduction.

• I made an online donation but I didn't receive the email with my receipt. Does this mean my donation didn't work?

  If you entered the correct email address when you were filling in your details, you should have received your receipt.

  Please use the Contact Us form or call us on 13 32 40 and we can check whether your donation was processed. We can also organise a duplicate receipt for your records.

• What do I do if someone wants to give me cash?

  If someone has a credit card and they are happy to make the payment online for you then you can collect the cash, give them the cash and they can make the one payment online.

  The thing to remember with this is that if people want to give you cash, they will not get a tax deductible receipt (unless you're part of a school or church group and have a Famine Guide (Receipt book)) - they will need to keep their own record of the donation and how it was made if they want to claim a tax deduction. A receipt for the online payment will be issued to the credit card owner. 

  If you're a part of a school or church group, you will receive a Famine Guide (Receipt book) and you can issue receipts for cash and cheque donations. 

  PLEASE NOTE, FAMINE GUIDE (RECEIPT BOOKS) ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR REGISTERED SCHOOL AND CHURCH GROUPS IN 2012.

• Can I use BPAY as a payment option?

  Yes. This year, World Vision has made it even easier to get donations from friends and family. When you register for the 40HF online, follow the prompts and you will receive the BPAY biller code (199745). Just add your Famine ID as the unique customer reference number to pass on to potential supporters.

• As an individual participant can I send in a cheque? Or can someone sponsor me with a cheque?

  No, we can only accept online donations for individual participants.

• As a group member can I send in a cheque? Or can someone sponsor me with a cheque?

  No, we can only accept online donations for 'Group' members/participants (other than church and school groups).

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• Last year I participated as part of a group of friends and we all received a Famine Guide (receipt book). Why am I not getting one this year?

  World Vision is making sure that participating in the 40 Hour Famine is easier than ever. Everything you need to know is now found online on this website.

  Once you create your group's Famine Profile, you can keep track of what money you and your group have raised. Your donors receive a receipt through to their email inbox and you're notified.

  There is no messing about with collecting books, writing receipts and going to the bank - too easy! Also, the online format for individual participants simply allows World Vision to ensure that as much money as possible goes to where it’s needed most.

• I lost my Famine Guide. What do I do?

  School and church Group Leaders are issued with extra Famine Guides, so ask your Group Leader for another one. They will give you another one and record your lost Guide on their control sheet that must be returned to World Vision.

  If you’ve already created your Famine Profile using the Famine ID on the lost Famine Guide, you don’t need to make any changes – you can continue to receive donations with the Famine Profile you’ve set up. Please make sure you record your Famine ID on the receipts in your new book.

• I want a Famine Guide (receipt book)

  The only way to receive a Famine Guide is to be part of a school or church group. Once your teacher or church leader has registered online at 40hourfamine.com.au, they will receive a Famine Guide (receipt book) for each group member, to issue receipts for cash and cheque donations (you can also ask people to donate online).

  If you are not part of a school or church group, you won't receive a Famine Guide (receipt book), so simply create your Famine Group online. Head to the "Register" page and follow the prompts.

• One of my Group Members has lost their Famine Guide. What should I do?

  You will have been issued with extra Famine Guides. Give your Group Member another one. Then, record their additional Famine ID on the control sheet, and record their previous Famine ID as lost on the control sheet. The control sheet and Famine Guides (receipt books) must be returned to World Vision for verification.

  If your Group Member has already created their Famine Profile associated with the lost Guide, they don’t need to make any changes and can continue to receive online donations with the Famine Profile they’ve set up.

  To comply with our legal requirements, Famine Guides must be collected from group members once they’ve finished collecting donations after the 40 Hour Famine weekend. Once you have finalised your banking of donations, you can return the Famine Guides to World Vision to ensure that receipts are not misused.

• I'm in a school/church group and I used all the receipts in my first Famine Guide, how do I get more? Do I need to change anything with my Famine Profile?

  Your Group Leader has extra receipts that they can print off from the Group Leader Kit (GLK USB).

  Make sure you fill in your Famine ID number (the number allocated to your online profile page) to ensure they meet correct fundraising standards.

  You don’t need to change anything on your page. Use your new receipts for those who give you cash or cheques. Continue to record these donations online.

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• How do we send in the money raised?

  All donations can be received online.

  In addition, if you’re a group member from a school or a church registered group, you can accept donations via cash or cheque and issue receipts from your Famine Guide (receipt book). These donations MUST be given to your Group Leader for banking as soon as possible after you receive them (If you are in WA, donations need to be received by World Vision within 14 days). Or even better, give the cash to your parents and ask them to pay the money in online using their credit card.

  If you receive cash or cheques, remember to add this info to your Famine Profile where it will show against your tally. Please note however that until your Group Leader takes this money to the bank, it will not appear on your group’s Famine Profile.

  If you’re a Group Leader, please make sure you bank all cash and cheque donations; refer to your group leader kit for instructions. Remember, the more often you do this, the higher your group’s total amount will grow on your group’s Famine Profile.

• What are the cut-off dates for banking?

  30 September 2012 is the official deadline for all Group Leaders to have completed all banking and to have returned the Famine Guides (receipt book/s) and control sheet/s to World Vision Australia. 

  The cut-off date for award applications is also 30 September 2012, so to ensure the eligibility of your group members for awards, banking needs to be completed by 30 September. However, if it is not possible to bank the funds by this date, World Vision will still accept 40 Hour Famine funds after 30 September.

• Our school is now on holidays and the banking date is the 30 September - will students who are eligible for awards miss out if we send in the money and application forms after that date?

  It is best to bank the money that you have collected so far if that is possible. When school returns, please bank the rest ASAP.

  Students can apply for their awards themselves at 40hourfamine.com.au if they have raised the relevant amount ($125+, $250+ or $500+). The cut off for award applications is 30 September 2012.  We will still accept 40 Hour Famine funds post 30 September, but you may not be eligible for a Famine Award.

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• How do I enter to win a new iPad?

  Share your vision and win online at worldvision.com.au/40HFglasses (competition details and terms & conditions found online)

• Why is World Vision giving away a new iPad? Where did you get it from?

  The new iPad being given away through the 40HF glasses competition has been kindly donated by Channel 7

• Where do I get the 40HF glasses from, so I can enter the competition?

  Get hold of the Famine glasses postcard through a World Vision event or in your Group Leader kit - or download your pair from worldvision.com.au/40HFglasses.

• What do I have to do to enter the competition?

  1. Take a photo of yourself in the glasses, and upload to the facebook page worldvision.com.au/40HFglasses.
  2. Use the space provided to share your vision on global hunger (25 words or less).
  3. Tell us where you live. 
  4. Enter your email address, read the Terms and Conditions and submit your entry

• My family member works at World Vision Australia, can I still participate?

  Unfortunately not, World Vision Australia staff and family are not permitted to enter this competition.