Aussies Join in Good Giving

Over 2 million Australian families joined in ‘good giving’ last financial year, by donating to Australian aid and humanitarian charities that help people overcome poverty.

Donations to Not for Profit humanitarian and aid agencies by the Australian public have more than tripled in the past 10 years, reaching over $850 million last financial year, according to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

And ACFID says Australians can now be even more confident that the money they donate is well spent, with an updated Code of Conduct for Not for Profit international aid and humanitarian agencies coming into effect from January 1st.

“Our Code of Conduct commits signatory aid agencies to strive for best practice in transparency, accountability and effective aid programs. Signatories to the Code are also subject to an independent complaints process,” said Marc Purcell, Executive Director of the ACFID, the peak body for Australian Not for Profit aid and humanitarian agencies.

“The ACFID Code of Conduct has over 50 principles and 150 obligations, and an annual reporting requirement,” he said.

“For example, aid charities will be required to ensure that they use a quality approach in the design and monitoring of their projects, and consider the needs of women and people with a disability.

“They need to clearly explain to the public who they are, what they do and how they operate against a common reporting standard, via an easily accessible annual report for all the public to see.

“While many organisations already make considerable efforts in these areas, the ACFID Code of Conduct provides an assurance that organisations will meet a comprehensive range of important standards and requirements.”

“If you are yet to buy your holiday gifts from an international aid agency – or if you are one of the millions of Australians that donate when disasters strike overseas, make sure your donation goes to an organisation that has the ACFID tick of approval.”

“At the same time, charities must be accountable to the Australian public who support their work. That’s why ACFID has had a Code of Conduct for international Not for Profit aid agencies since 1997 and has recently made it stronger.

The Code of Conduct can be found here.