The concerns for Indigenous Australians are many. Indigenous children are nearly 3 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to die before their first birthday. Two-thirds will not finish secondary school. On average they will die 20 years earlier than those from the wider population.
World Vision Australia recognises that the level of disadvantage faced by Indigenous Australians is not acceptable in a developed nation like ours. We consider non-governmental organisations like World Vision have an important role to play in supporting the social and economic development of Australia’s Indigenous communities.
World Vision Australia began working with Indigenous Australians in the mid-1970s when the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship approached World Vision. World Vision Australia also operated a grants program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.
Over the past 10 years, World Vision's work with Indigenous communities has become increasingly direct, with programs operating within communities. Our efforts have been focused on:
- Leadership development
- Child focused development
- Governance and Practice
- Socio-economic development
- Environment
World Vision takes a partnering approach to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in rural, remote and urban Australia. Our ongoing work is through invitation into communities. It is based on consultation with community leaders and members to ascertain the role we can best play in the ongoing development of these communities.