Save the Children Australia facts for kids

Save the Children Australia is a group that helps children in Australia and around the world. They work to make sure every child has a good start in life. This organization is independent, which means it doesn't belong to any government or political group. It's also a not-for-profit, so all the money they raise goes back into helping children.

Save the Children Australia is part of a bigger family called Save the Children International. This global group has 30 organizations working together. Their shared goal is to improve the lives of children everywhere.

These organizations focus on several key areas. They help during emergencies like natural disasters. They also work to reduce the number of babies and young children who die. Protecting children from violence is another big part of their mission. And they 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 History of Save the Children

Save the Children was started in England in 1919. A teacher named Eglantyne Jebb founded it. At first, it was called the International Save the Children Fund. Its main goal was to send food to hungry children in Austria after World War I.

Eglantyne Jebb cared deeply about children's rights. She created five main ideas that she believed were basic rights for every child. She worked hard to convince the League of Nations to accept these rights. They did so in 1924. These ideas later became the basis for the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959). They also inspired the current Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990). These rights are still the main focus of Save the Children's work today.

In the same year Save the Children began in England, its first Australian branch opened. Cecilia John started it in Melbourne, Australia. This branch helped refugees 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 were set up in every Australian state. They continued to help children in Europe and the Middle East.

By 1951, helping children in Australia became a top priority. Save the Children branches across the country focused on health and education. They set up 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 national organization called Save the Children Australia.

On July 1, 2015, Save the Children Australia merged with another group. This group was called Good Beginnings Australia. Good Beginnings Australia specialized in helping families in need. They offered programs for young children and their parents. Now, these programs are part of Save the Children Australia.

How Save the Children Australia Works

Save the Children Australia's main office is in Melbourne, Victoria. They also have offices in other states and territories. These include Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. These local offices run programs and events to support communities.

Save the Children Australia is part of the Save the Children Association. This group has 30 organizations that focus on children. They support children in over 124 countries. When they work on projects internationally, they do so 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 carried out through Save the Children International. They also work with local Save the Children partners. Projects in the Pacific region are managed differently.

Helping in Emergencies

A big part of Save the Children Australia's work is helping during emergencies. This includes disasters in Australia and other countries. They provide important aid like water, food, and shelter. They also set up temporary learning spaces for children. And they offer emotional support to help children cope.

In 2014, Save the Children Australia responded to 18 major crises. They helped 808,000 people during these times.

In 2015, they helped after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. They also responded to the Nepal earthquakes in April and May. They continued to help with ongoing emergencies too, like the South Sudan Crisis and the Syria Crisis.

Programs for Children

Save the Children Australia runs programs both in Australia and overseas. They focus especially on countries in Asia and the Pacific.

They work with local groups, governments, and other international organizations. This helps them deliver projects directly in different countries.

International Programs

In 2014, Save the Children Australia reached over 12 million children and adults. These programs were in 29 countries. They focused on several important areas:

• Fighting unfairness and inequality.
• Helping children during emergencies.
• Protecting children from harm.
• Providing education for all children.
• Offering healthcare services.
• Working to address climate change.
• Standing up for children's rights.

Australian Programs

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

• Helping children in emergencies.
• Helping children learn and get an education.
• Protecting children from harm.

Speaking Up for Children

Besides their direct help, Save the Children Australia also campaigns for long-term change. They want to improve children's lives for good.

Australian Aid

Save the Children Australia supports the Campaign for Australian Aid. This campaign wants the Australian government to give more money to foreign aid. Foreign aid helps other countries with their development. There have been cuts to Australia's foreign aid budget. The campaign aims to get more people to push for a stronger commitment to helping other nations.

Children in Detention

Australia has a policy where people seeking asylum, including children, can be held in detention centers. Save the Children Australia's Kids in Detention campaign asks for children and their families to be released from these centers.

Raising Money

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

They also have community fundraising events. Examples include "Run to Save" and fundraising 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 (thrift stores) in several states. These include Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. They also have an online shop.

Nauru Detention Centre Services

In October 2012, Save the Children started providing services at the Australian Government's offshore asylum seeker detention centers. They first worked on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Then, in August 2013, they began working at the Nauru Detention Centre on Nauru. Services are no longer provided on Manus Island, as children were moved from there.

On Nauru, Save the Children Australia provides welfare, education, and recreation services. These services are for asylum seekers in the detention center.

In October 2014, some staff members from Save the Children were removed from Nauru. There were claims that these aid workers were encouraging people to harm themselves or make up stories. An independent review looked into these claims. The review was released in March 2015. It found no evidence to support the claims against the Save the Children staff.

Save the Children Australia said they were "deeply troubled" by other information in the report. This information supported claims of harm against children and adults in detention on Nauru. The CEO of Save the Children Australia, Paul Ronalds, stated that their staff did not need to make anything up. He said the evidence of problems was clear.

After the review was released, the Australian Senate announced an inquiry. Save the Children Australia asked the Australian government to stop holding children in detention for long periods. They also asked for a better system to protect children who are fleeing conflict.

Being Accountable

The Board of Save the Children Australia is responsible for the organization. They give the CEO the job of running the company day-to-day. The CEO and the Executive team report to the Board.

The CEO and the chairman of Save the Children Australia are different people. The organization 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 their programs, how they are managed, and their financial details. An independent auditor checks their finances.

In 2014, for every dollar donated to Save the Children Australia, 84 cents went directly to their programs. This included development, campaigns, and emergency responses. Nine cents was spent on fundraising. Five cents covered staff, buildings, and systems. Two cents was invested in commercial activities like their shops.

Save the Children Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). They follow ACFID's Code of Conduct, which sets standards for aid organizations.

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