Caritas Australia celebrates directly supporting over 760,000 people in 12 months
21 Dec 23
Caritas Australia celebrates directly supporting over 760,000 people in 12 months.
Caritas Australia has revealed that over 760,000 people were directly supported over 12-month period to the end of June 2023, through both long-term programs and emergency responses. 90 national and international partners were fundamental to the success of these programs.
Key milestones in the year include the election of Caritas Australia CEO Kirsty Robertson to Vice President of Caritas Internationalis, and Project Compassion where supporters, including schools and parishes across the country, raised $9.5m.
Advocacy efforts also saw Caritas Australia taking a report on climate impact in the Pacific to COP27 in Egypt, working with First Australian Partners ahead of the Voice Referendum, as well as playing a lead role in the Help Fight Famine campaign, which contributed to securing $69m from the Australian government to tackle the global hunger crisis.
Across the year over $1.7 million was raised for the people of Türkiye and Syria, and over $2.6 million to support other emergencies including Ukraine and the Africa Food Crisis. In Ukraine this translated into 1.9 million people receiving food packages, 690,000 receiving hygiene kits and 290,000 benefitting from protection services.
Caritas Australia CEO Kirsty Robertson said, “Across what can feel like never-ending crises, Caritas and the Australian Catholic community stands collectively with our brothers and sisters across the world, offering a beacon of light and hope. We thank you for your ongoing support and the steadfast solidarity that you provide us and the communities we serve.”