Save the Children Australia facts for kids

Save the Children Australia is a special group that helps children in Australia and all over the world. It's an independent, not-for-profit organization, meaning it doesn't aim to make money and isn't linked to any government or religion.

This group is part of Save the Children International. This is a big family of 30 organizations that all work together. Their main goal is to make life better for children everywhere.

Save the Children Australia and its partners focus on a few key things. They help during emergencies, work to keep babies and children healthy, protect kids from harm, and make sure all children can get a good basic education.

In 2014, Save the Children Australia helped in 18 emergencies. They also ran 149 projects that reached 12 million people in 29 countries.

The Story of Save the Children Australia

Save the Children started in England in 1919. It was founded by Eglantyne Jebb, who was a teacher and a social worker. Back then, it was called the International Save the Children Fund. Its first job was to send food to hungry children in Austria right after World War I.

Eglantyne Jebb really cared about children's rights. She created five main ideas about what every child should have. She worked hard to get the League of Nations (an early international organization) to agree to these rights in 1924. These ideas later became the basis for the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. They also inspired the current Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. These rights are still super important to Save the Children today.

In the same year Save the Children began in England, its first Australian branch opened. Cecilia John started it in Melbourne, Australia. She wanted to help children and families affected by the war in Europe. Soon after, more branches opened in Queensland in 1920 and South Australia in 1922. Over the next 50 years, branches started in every state across Australia. They helped children in Europe and the Middle East.

By 1951, helping children in Australia became a big focus. Save the Children branches started welfare centers and pre-schools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Victoria. These were some of their first programs in Australia.

In 2004, all the different branches in Australia joined together. They formed one big national organization called Save the Children Australia.

On May 20, 2015, Save the Children Australia and another group called Good Beginnings Australia decided to combine. Good Beginnings Australia was good at helping families in tough areas. They offered programs for young children and their parents. The two groups officially joined on July 1, 2015. Now, Good Beginnings Australia's programs are part of Save the Children Australia.

How Save the Children Australia Works

Save the Children Australia has its main office in Melbourne, Victoria. It also has offices in other states like Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. These local offices run programs and events to help communities.

Save the Children Australia is part of the Save the Children Association. This is a group of 30 organizations that focus on children. They help children in more than 124 countries. When they work on projects around the world, they often do it through Save the Children International. This is a single operational group based in London, United Kingdom.

Most of Save the Children Australia's international projects are done through Save the Children International. They also work with local Save the Children partners. Projects in the Pacific region are sometimes managed differently.

Helping in Emergencies

A big part of Save the Children Australia's work is helping when emergencies happen. This includes disasters in Australia and other countries. They provide important aid like clean water, food, and safe places to stay. They also set up temporary schools and offer emotional support for children who have been through difficult times.

In 2014, Save the Children Australia responded to 18 big emergencies. They were able to help 808,000 people.

In 2015, they helped after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and the earthquakes in Nepal. They also kept helping with ongoing crises, like those in South Sudan and Syria.

Programs for Children

Save the Children Australia runs programs to help communities grow. These programs are in Australia and overseas, especially in Asia and the Pacific.

They often work with other groups to deliver projects. These partners include local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, governments, and other international NGOs.

International Programs

In 2014, Save the Children Australia helped over 12 million children and adults in 29 countries. Their main goals were:

• Fighting unfairness
• Helping children during emergencies
• Keeping children safe from harm
• Providing education
• Giving healthcare
• Working on climate change issues
• Standing up for children's rights

Australian Programs

In 2014, Save the Children Australia reached over 34,000 Australian children and adults. They worked in more than 150 places across the country. Their main focus areas were:

• Helping children in emergencies
• Helping children learn
• Protecting children from harm

Speaking Up for Children

Besides their direct help, Save the Children Australia also works to make lasting changes. They do this by campaigning and speaking up for children's lives.

Australian Aid

Save the Children Australia supports the Campaign for Australian Aid. This campaign wants the Australian government to give more money to help people in other countries.

Australia's foreign aid budget has been cut many times. This means less money goes to international development. The campaign wants more people to push the Australian government to commit more to foreign aid.

Children and Detention

Australia has a policy where people seeking safety, including children, can be held in special centers. Save the Children Australia's Kids in Detention campaign asks for children and their families to be released from these centers quickly. They believe children should not be held in detention.

How They Raise Money

Save the Children raises money from the public in different ways. People can give regularly through programs like I Save the Children or Children in Crisis. They can also give one-time donations for specific appeals.

They also have community fundraising events, like "Run to Save." People can also raise money for them during celebrations.

In 2015, Save the Children Australia started its first "Christmas in July" fundraising campaign.

Op Shops

Save the Children Australia has Op Shops (second-hand stores) in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. They also have an online shop where you can buy things.

Helping in Nauru

In October 2012, Save the Children started providing services to children in centers for people seeking safety. They first worked on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, and then at the Nauru Detention Centre in August 2013. They no longer provide services on Manus Island, as children were moved from there.

In Nauru, Save the Children Australia provides welfare, education, and fun activities for children and families in the center.

Save the Children Australia believes that children should not be held in long-term detention. They continue to ask the Australian government to find better ways to protect children who are fleeing difficult situations.

Being Responsible

The Board of Save the Children Australia is in charge of the organization. They give the daily tasks to the chief executive officer (CEO). The CEO and their team report to the Board.

The CEO and the chairman of Save the Children Australia are different people. The Board can have up to 14 directors. At least one director must live in each Australian state.

Every year, Save the Children Australia publishes an Annual Report. This report shares their successes and challenges. It also includes information about how they are run, their financial statements, and a report from an independent auditor.

In 2014, for every dollar donated to Save the Children Australia, 84 cents went directly to their programs. This includes development, campaigns, and emergency help. Nine cents was spent on fundraising. Five cents went to staff, buildings, and systems. Two cents was invested in things like their retail stores.

Save the Children Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). They follow ACFID's Code of Conduct, which means they are committed to good practices.

See also

• Save the Children
• Save the Children International
• Save the Children USA
• Save the Children State of the World's Mothers report
• Declaration of the Rights of the Child
• Convention on the Rights of the Child