Our work in Australia

World Vision has been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities since 1974. During this time we have gained first-hand experience and understanding of the strengths and challenges, including structural barriers, which impact on Indigenous Australian people and their communities.

Disadvantages resulting from dispossession, institutionalisation and separation reach across the sectors of health, education, employment and justice.

For example:

  • Indigenous Australians continue to experience higher rates of heart disease and chronic illness, 
  • higher rates of child and maternal mortality, 
  • lower participation in school, 
  • lower indicators in numeracy and literacy, 
  • a disproportionate representation in detention and child protection cases.

In addition many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in remote regions of Australia where access to employment and other services is expensive and limited.

Despite these challenges, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have incredible strength, leadership and vision to overcome disadvantage and drive their own development.

Through our strategic partnerships and projects, we are committed to supporting families and communities to access the knowledge, skills and services they need to achieve their goals and effect lasting social change.

Advocating for change is an integral part of World Vision's Indigenous Australian programming. This takes place at the national level through our engagement with the Australian Government on effective development practice, and at a project level where we are invited to contribute our expertise and work in partnership with communities and services in urban, regional and remote locations across Australia.

Our combined efforts address:

  • Child-focused development and improving quality of services for Indigenous Australians 
  • Early childhood education 
  • Youth leadership and education 
  • Governance (strengthening or developing the structures, processes and people that help support good decision making) 
  • Education and employment 
  • Training in how to assess if development activities are working (making sure that all segments of a community can have their say).

You can see a full list of our current projects in Australia here.

World Vision's work in Australia

World Vision CEO Tim Costello speaks about how World Vision has been working with Indigenous communities in Australia for over 30 years. Through strong partnerships we support development programs that are child-focused, and promote early childhood learning, youth leadership, skills training and development for Indigenous children and families. World Vision links hands with Indigenous partners to find local solutions for local needs. We empower people to run the programs that they want to see in communities. "You can make a difference that you can be proud of," says Tim. Giving to the Australia Program to support communities "right here in our homeland".
Read the transcript

Many Australians support our work with Australian Indigenous communities through our Linking Hands program. Our work hasn't changed, but as we are reaching out now to many more Australians, asking them to also walk with us, we think it is easier to explain our work by talking about supporting our "Australia Program" rather than supporting "Linking Hands".

Funding for our work in Australia comes from a few different places:

  • Individual donations and ongoing pledges to support tax-deductible projects ("Australia Program") 
  • Community-led organisations
  • Government departments 
  • Non-government organisations and industry

How you can help

Give

Become an Australia Program supporter today and contribute to World Vision’s work with Indigenous Australian communities. You can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to work towards positive and lasting change.

Learn

Visit Reconciliation Australia

Get involved

Find out what is happening in your neighbourhood to support National Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and your local Indigenous Australian community through local government and council websites.

Advocate

Support the promotion of reconciliation and recognition activities in your workplace, school or community.

See what World Vision Australia is doing to promote reconciliation across the organisation.