Frequently asked questions

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Download a powerpoint presentation for a general overview of Caritas Australia.   

Q. Who is Caritas Australia?

A. Caritas Australia is the Catholic agency for international aid and development, working in countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and in Australia with Indigenous communities. Caritas Australia is part of the international Caritas network, supporting aid and grassroots programs in nearly every developing country.

Q. What does ‘Caritas’ mean?

A. Caritas is a Latin word meaning love and compassion.

Q. What does the Caritas logo symbolise?

The international symbol of Caritas is a flaming cross, symbolising Christ’s burning love for his people.

Q. Does Caritas Australia help only Catholic people?

A. Caritas Australia helps people to help themselves work towards a sustainable way of life regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.

Q. When did Caritas Australia begin its work?

A. Caritas Australia began in June 1964 as the Catholic Overseas Relief Committee, formed to distribute funds the Catholic Church had received for overseas relief from the Freedom From Hunger Campaign. Three months previously, the first Lenten appeals for overseas relief were held in Adelaide, Sydney and Wagga Wagga Dioceses. The organisers of these appeals encouraged the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to organise a national Lenten appeal in 1965. The Lenten appeal became known as Project Compassion and, in 1966, the organisation which co-ordinated it became Australian Catholic Relief.
As Australian Catholic Relief developed, from responding to emergency situations to focusing more on programs which built community self reliance, its name quickly became a misnomer. It appeared to limit our role to emergency or relief aid programs.
After consulting key supporters of the organisation, the Australian Catholic Relief National Committee decided in October 1995 to recommend to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference a change of name to "Caritas Australia".

The Bishops agreed to this, and the name change came into effect on July l, 1996.

Q. Why did Caritas Australia begin its work?

The agency which became Caritas Australia during 1996 had its beginnings in the early 1960s, when awareness of global human needs was growing rapidly as international channels of communication continued to improve and as nations under colonial control were struggling for independence. The organisation which became known as Australian Catholic Relief was born and began to grow as the pace of global social change began to increase and as the Catholic Church adjusted to the dramatic changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).
As Australian Catholic Relief developed, the organisation began to see that responding to emergency situations was only a small part of the response to poverty. It began to focus more on human development and programs which built community self-reliance. In doing this, it gave its partners the space and encouragement to make their own decisions, giving support and developing an international exchange of ideas, rather than dictating terms.
Within Australia, the agency saw that it had a responsibility to support development in underprivileged communities here, and allocated resources to supporting projects in indigenous communities.
The role of development education - of challenging the attitudes of Australians - became increasingly important, as the organisation saw that money could only be a small part of any positive change. Australian Catholic Relief put significant resources into programs in Catholic schools, parishes and the general community which drew attention to global inequality and injustice and the Christian responsibility to take action in response to these issues.

Q. What type of programs does Caritas Australia support and where?

A. Caritas Australia supports long-term development programs in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and Indigenous Australia, which help oppressed people to rediscover their dignity by taking greater control over their own lives. These programs are designed and managed by our local partners who are best placed to identify the needs and problems of their own communities.
Development programs include a wide range of initiatives in health care and health education, water supply and sanitation, housing, education and literacy, programs for women's rights and women's leadership, the development of community leadership, the teaching of job skills and skills for alternative income, agriculture, ecologically sustainable development and environment education, promotion of traditional cultures and skills, assistance to communities after natural disasters and conflicts and housing support for refugees and displaced people.
As a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the world's largest and most effective emergency networks, whenever or wherever disaster occurs, Caritas can respond almost immediately, using local Church structures to deliver relief to the people in most need.  For more information see our development programs.

Q. Does Caritas Australia have any programs in Australia?

A. Caritas Australia aims to promote a just and compassionate society at home and abroad. We facilitate education and advocacy programs in schools, universities, parishes and community groups around Australia to raise awareness of the reality and causes of poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice and the interdependence of poverty and affluence, and encourage people to take action.
Caritas Australia also supports programs in Indigenous Australia as Indigenous communities are amongst the most marginalised within Australia. The primary aim of Caritas Australia's Australian Indigenous Program is to work in solidarity with Indigenous organisations. Caritas Australia does this by supporting sustainable, development projects that are developed and implemented by Indigenous Australians and which therefore reflect an Indigenous view of the world. Caritas Australia supports a variety of programs that assist Indigenous Australians including those which improve living conditions within Indigenous communities, encourage and facilitate community self-reliance, contribute to respecting and strengthening Indigenous identity and spirituality and assist with the preservation of language and culture. Caritas Australia also works to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Click here for more information about our Indigenous Programs.
Also see our education materials.

Q. What is Project Compassion?

A. Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual awareness and fundraising campaign. It’s the main way Caritas Australia raises money. Every Catholic school and every Catholic parish around Australia is invited to be part of the Project Compassion Appeal during Lent, the six week period before Easter each year.
Project Compassion is also an opportunity to put a face to the organisation. International visitors, staff members and volunteers speak to parishes, schools, community groups and the media around the country to publicise the appeal and tell the Project Compassion story. They tell of their personal experience with some of the hundreds of grass-roots community development programs around the world which are supported by Project Compassion.  For more information, visit the Project Compassion website.

Q. How much support goes to programs?

A. Caritas Australia works hard to make sure that as much aid as possible actually reaches those who need it. The administration to aid ratio of Caritas Australia is one of the best in the world. We keep our administration and fundraising costs at or below 10% of our income. 92% of all money raised by Caritas Australia during an emergency appeal is actually sent to that country.

Q. Does Caritas Australia send Australian volunteers overseas?

A. In times of crisis Caritas Australia employs qualified people to assist local agencies with aid and rehabilitation. We are not a volunteer agency.  For more information on volunteering overseas contact Palms Australia on Ph: +612 9518 9551. Palms Australia is the Australian Catholic Church's lay volunteering agency.

Q. Does Caritas Australia have a child sponsorship program?

A. Caritas Australia's policy is to support communities rather than individuals. Caritas Australia does not believe focusing on individuals addresses the underlying causes of poverty. We are concerned that it may also isolate individuals from their own family and community. Sponsorship can also lead to families and communities becoming dependent on aid rather than developing enterprise and initiative to address their situation of poverty. Caritas Australia supports projects that respond to the needs identified by local people in the majority world (also called ‘developing’ countries). We believe that these people are the prime sources of energy, enthusiasm, ideas and vision for their own communities.  Read an article on our approach to supporting communities.

Q. Are my gifts to Caritas Australia tax-deductible?

A. Donations of $2 and over are tax-deductible.

Q. Is Caritas Australia an AusAID accredited agency?

A. Yes, Caritas Australia has received accreditation from AusAID. As described by AusAID: "The accreditation process aims to provide AusAID, and the Australian public, with confidence that the Australian Government is funding professional, well managed, community based organisations that are capable of delivering quality development outcomes."  Visit the AusAID website for further information.

Q. What is the difference between aid and development?

A. Aid is the provision of material, emotional and financial assistance to communities caught in a crisis situation: food, water, shelter, cooking utensils, medication; trauma support counselling. This assistance is usually short-term. Aid is most beneficial when it is targeted to particular projects.  Aid is about immediate help.
Development is a process where a community of people work together to break the cycle of poverty and dependence so that their fundamental needs are met and the quality of their lives is enhanced.  Development is about sustaining growth.

Q. What is poverty?

A. "Poverty occurs when there is a denial of choices and opportunities for living a tolerable life." (United Nations Development Program)

Q. How can poverty be eradicated?

A. Poverty can be eradicated by providing low income earners with good health care and education; reducing military spending and promoting peace; creating employment for the poor; working towards a sustainable environment; reducing the gender gap; cancelling debt; increasing overseas aid; and promoting fair trade.

Q. What is human development?

A. Working for human development requires the empowerment of individuals and communities. Through addressing the capacities of human beings, rather than infrastructure or technology, it recognises the intrinsic worth of each person and seeks to build on that - a process that requires direct and active involvement by people in seeking their own path to development. Human development seeks to overcome the structures of poverty and injustice so that benefits are spread equitably and without discrimination. It is inclusive of all religious traditions.

Download a powerpoint presentation for a general overview of Caritas Australia.