Australia's Regional and Global Links

Australia has many good national and international aid programs which try to help those who are disadvantaged. Australia is one of the better western nations in helping other unfortunate countries get off their feet and also to clear poverty from the world. Australia usually focusses on Asia-Pacific countries but still helps other places like East Timor and Afghanistan. One of the main countries Australia Assists is Indonesia and Papua New Guinea which both receive over $547 million dollars per year. Aid programmes have been changed to suit the levels of development and needs of countries receiving aid which Australia does with World Summit on Sustainable Development (An international partner with Australia that aims to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living of people in developing countries with sustainable development). This accounts for around 30-40% of Australia’s foreign aid, trying to maintain aid at its highest level consistent with the economic circumstances and capacity.

In Australia there are many aid programmes aim at helping people in low income and developing countries to help raise their standard of living and to maximise the use of their resources so they can become a profitable nation. People living in these countries do not have the same benefits most Australians do, such as health care, an education, safe water, sanitation and payments if you are sick or unemployed. Access to education is very limited and there are higher unemployment rates, but the people who are employed are usually getting paid very poorly.

There are many Australian Government and Non-government organisations which provide aid to the disadvantaged. AusAID is an Australian Government Organisation which received 12.3% ($130.6 million) which is spread out among the NGOs (Non-government Organisations) so they can assist whoever is struggling and to keep the organisation working. The NGOs also get assistance from donations from people from the public and