Oxfam Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oxfam Australia is the Australian affiliate of Oxfam International. It is a non-government aid organisation working in partnership with people in developing countries to promote and assist sustainable development, while also at times providing humanitarian relief, and becoming increasingly involved in advocacy.
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[edit] History
The organisation was founded by Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker in the 1950s, because he was concerned about poverty in Asia following the Second World War. An Anglican clergyman, Father Tucker had previously founded the Brotherhood of St Laurence. The first local group was established in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, in 1954, as the Food for Peace Campaign.
Local groups were established in Perth and Sydney, and in 1962 the name was changed to Community Aid Abroad to reflect an emphasis on developing whole communities more broadly than just providing food to the starving.
Community Aid Abroad merged with Australian Freedom From Hunger Campaign in 1991, and was later renamed Oxfam Community Aid Abroad to reflect its closer working relationship with the Oxfam International family. It changed its name to Oxfam Australia in 2005.
[edit] Trading
In 1965 Community Aid Abroad established Trade Action to provide trade opportunities between Australia and developing countries by selling handicrafts. From 1965 to 1976 Trade Action ran profitably and subsidised the organisation's operating costs, but its performance declined and it was sold in 1979.
Local groups continued to trade with project partners, and in 1986 these efforts were combined to form CAA Trading. By 2005 it was renamed Oxfam Australia Trading and incorporated 17 shops Australia wide and mail order and wholesale operations in Adelaide.
[edit] Consultancy
In 1983 Community Aid Abroad Development Services was established as a commercial venture separated from the voluntary nature of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad. In 1987, the name changed to International Development Support Services (IDSS) to allow the service to operate independently of the parent organisation.
[edit] Events
The main community event of Oxfam Australia has been the Walk Against Want, which has run since 1967 and raised A$10 million over that time. It ceases to be a national event in 2006.
Trailwalker long distance team walks have been held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
