Ruqayyah Snyder
Oxfam Australia is an independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation, and an affiliate of the Oxfam International Confederation. It was founded in 1992 following a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies: Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Community Aid Abroad was founded in 1953 as a church-affiliated group called the Food for Peace Campaign, while the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign was launched in 1961.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of founding | 2005 |
| Founding organisations | Community Aid Abroad, Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign |
| Year of founding organisations | Community Aid Abroad: 1953, Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign: 1961 |
| Previous names | Community Aid Abroad, Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad |
| Year of name change | 2001 (to Oxfam Community Aid Abroad), 2005 (to Oxfam Australia) |
| Type of organisation | Australian, independent, charity, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation |
| Affiliation | Affiliate of the Oxfam International Confederation |
| Focus areas | Climate justice, economic justice, gender justice, First Peoples justice, humanitarian response |
| Number of shops | Over 20 fair trade shops worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
Oxfam Australia's history and founding principles
Oxfam Australia is an independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation. It is an affiliate of the Oxfam International Confederation, which consists of 21 Oxfams all over the world. Oxfam Australia's work is divided into four broad categories: climate justice, economic justice, gender justice, and first peoples justice, as well as humanitarian response.
Oxfam Australia was born out of a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies: Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Community Aid Abroad was founded in the suburbs of Melbourne in 1953 as a church-affiliated group called the Food for Peace Campaign, by Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker. The group sent weekly donations to a small health project in India, and soon, Food for Peace Campaign groups were established throughout Victoria. In 1962, the name was changed to Community Aid Abroad to reflect an aim to assist communities more broadly, rather than just providing food. Throughout the 1960s, local Community Aid Abroad groups were established across Australia. The Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign was launched in 1961 following the launch of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation's five-year campaign, Freedom from Hunger. In 1965, Community Aid Abroad established Trade Action to provide trade opportunities between Australia and developing countries by selling handicrafts.
In 1983, Community Aid Development Centres were started, with a more commercial focus, based on the principles of capacity building. They ran independently of the main Community Aid Abroad and are now called IDSS. In 1991, Community Aid Abroad merged with the Australian Freedom From Hunger Campaign, becoming one of the largest Australian development organisations. In 1992, the two organisations became one of Australia's largest international development organisations. In 1995, it took the name "Oxfam Community Aid Abroad" to reflect its affiliation with Oxfam International. In 2001, the name was changed to Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, and then, in 2005, to Oxfam Australia.
Oxfam Australia has had a major role in responding to various humanitarian emergencies, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the Yemeni Civil War, 2015 Cyclone Pam, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami. Oxfam Australia's activities are mainly funded by community support income. In 2020-2021, Oxfam Australia's development and advocacy programs used 73% of donated funds, with 19% used for fundraising and promotion, and the remaining 8% for administration costs.
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Oxfam Australia's work and impact
Oxfam Australia was founded in 1992 through a merger of two Australian international development agencies, Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign. The former was founded in 1953 as a church-affiliated group called the Food for Peace Campaign, while the latter was launched in 1961 as part of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation's five-year campaign, Freedom from Hunger.
Oxfam Australia is an independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation, and an affiliate of Oxfam International. The organisation's work is centred around tackling inequality to end poverty for good. This involves addressing the various causes of poverty, including discrimination, injustice, and the climate crisis. Oxfam Australia has been working to advance the rights of First Peoples for over 40 years, recognising that discrimination and injustice disproportionately affect women, girls, and non-binary people. They partner with local organisations and governments worldwide to implement programmes and projects that promote women's rights and gender equality.
Oxfam Australia also supports communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, providing climate-smart solutions while advocating for systemic change. They work across more than 90 countries, partnering with local communities to find innovative and practical ways to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty. This includes providing humanitarian aid during crises such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and droughts, as well as working towards long-term solutions to reduce global poverty and injustice.
Oxfam Australia's impact is felt through its various initiatives and campaigns. For example, through Trade Action Pty Ltd, established by Community Aid Abroad in 1965, profits from the sale of handmade goods were used to subsidise administration costs. Additionally, Oxfam Australia Trading, which operated until 2019, included online and retail stores under the Oxfam Shop brand, with proceeds contributing to the organisation's work.
Oxfam Australia's work is guided by its Strategic Plan, with progress tracked through its Annual Report, ensuring accountability to its donors and partners. The organisation is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO cooperation, reflecting its recognition and impact in the humanitarian sector.
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Oxfam Australia's funding and donations
Oxfam Australia, an affiliate of Oxfam International, is a not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation. It was formed in 1992 through a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies, Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
Oxfam Australia has a strong history of community engagement and volunteerism, which sets it apart from other non-government development agencies. Volunteers play a crucial role in the organisation's operations and are required to be eligible to work in Australia, adhering to the Department of Home Affairs guidelines.
The organisation also generates income through its trading operations, such as Oxfam Australia Trading, which included online and retail stores under the Oxfam Shop brand. These stores sold fair-trade products, handmade goods, and second-hand books, with profits used to fund Oxfam Australia's administrative costs and programs. However, in 2019, Oxfam Australia's Board decided to close these trading operations.
Oxfam Australia is also an accredited signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct for Non-Government Development Organisations (NGDOs). This code ensures compliance with standards of governance, management, financial control, and reporting, fostering accountability in the use of public funds by NGDOs.
Oxfam Australia's campaigns within Australia are funded by non-tax-deductible income received from supporters and organisations who share their vision of campaigning for change. They work collaboratively with other international aid agencies to increase their effectiveness and strive to save lives before, during, and after humanitarian crises.
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Oxfam Australia's global presence
In the 1960s, local Community Aid Abroad groups were established across Australia, and in 1965, Community Aid Abroad established Trade Action to provide trade opportunities between Australia and developing countries by selling handicrafts. By 1978, Trade Action had 22 stores nationally, with profits being used to subsidise Community Aid Abroad’s administration costs.
In 1983, Community Aid Development Centres were started, with a more commercial focus based on the principles of capacity building. They ran independently of the main Community Aid Abroad and are now called IDSS. In 1986, these ventures were brought under one umbrella called Community Aid Abroad Trading, which later became known as Oxfam Australia Trading.
In 1991, Community Aid Abroad merged with the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign, becoming one of the largest Australian development organisations. The Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign was launched in 1961 following the launch of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation’s five-year campaign, Freedom from Hunger. In 1992, the two organisations merged to become one of Australia’s largest international development organisations.
In 1995, the merged organisation took the name "Oxfam Community Aid Abroad" to reflect its affiliation with Oxfam International. In 2001, the name was changed to Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, and then to Oxfam Australia in 2005.
Oxfam Australia has worked to advance First Peoples’ rights for over 40 years and has responded to major humanitarian emergencies such as the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), 2015 Cyclone Pam, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami. They have also had a major role in responding to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, raising A$27,777,000 from the Australian public and business community.
Oxfam Australia's activities are primarily funded by community support income. In 2020-2021, Oxfam Australia’s development and advocacy programs used 73% of donated funds, 19% was used for fundraising and promotion, and the remaining 8% for administration costs.
Oxfam Australia's work is divided into four broad categories: climate justice, economic justice, gender justice, and First Peoples justice, as well as humanitarian response. They believe that poverty in the 21st century is less a problem of scarcity but the result of how resources, opportunities, and protections are distributed and wielded.
Oxfam Australia is part of the Oxfam confederation, which has a presence in 79 countries and 21 members worldwide. Oxfam is a globally recognised leader in providing water sanitation to impoverished and war-torn areas. They work with partners within disaster-struck areas to provide humanitarian aid and advocate for the observance of human rights in times of disaster and conflict.
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Oxfam Australia's response to emergencies
Oxfam Australia was founded in 2005 following a name change from Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, which was itself the result of a 1992 merger between two Australian international development agencies: Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
Oxfam Australia has extensive experience responding to emergencies worldwide. The organisation's emergency relief efforts have reached over 740,000 people, providing essential humanitarian aid such as food, water, shelter, and medicine.
- Cyclone Pam (2015): When Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu in March 2015, causing widespread devastation, Oxfam teams responded immediately. They provided life-saving essentials such as clean water, shelter, and hygiene kits to affected communities. Oxfam also helped families rebuild their lives after losing everything.
- Syrian Civil War (2011-present): Since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, Oxfam has been working in Aleppo to provide water purification units, water tanks in schools, and connect wells to water networks and collection points.
- Rohingya Refugee Crisis (2017-present): Since August 2017, Oxfam has provided aid to Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar and seeking refuge in Bangladesh. They have reached at least 266,000 people with essential support.
- Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami (2018): After a 7.4-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi, Indonesia, in December 2018, Oxfam provided clean water, hygiene kits, and vital income support to over 100,000 people, aiding in the community's rebuilding process.
- COVID-19 Pandemic (2020): During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxfam Australia worked to protect vulnerable communities worldwide by providing essential support and creating a different future, free from the devastation caused by the virus.
- Pakistan Floods (2022): In response to the 2022 Pakistan floods, which killed at least 1,700 people and destroyed millions of homes, Oxfam Australia worked with local partners to deliver life-saving aid to over 37,000 people.
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Frequently asked questions
Oxfam Australia was founded in 2005, as a result of the 1992 merger of two Australian international development agencies: Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
Community Aid Abroad was founded in 1953 as a church-affiliated group called the Food for Peace Campaign.
The Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign was founded in 1961 as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s five-year campaign, Freedom from Hunger.
The name was changed from Oxfam Community Aid Abroad to Oxfam Australia in 2005.
