We believe in locally-led change

The most sustainable outcomes are achieved when communities drive the change they want and need.

We believe in relationships

Interpersonal relationships are central to our mission. That’s why we invest in long-term partnerships.

We believe in sharing knowledge

Since 1951, AVI has invested in the power of people – sharing skills and knowledge to build locally-driven capacity in communities.

We believe in self determination

It’s the communities closest to the problem who know the social, economic and environmental development goals they want to achieve.

AVI acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise the continuing connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to their lands and waters, and we pay our respects to Elders and communities past, present, and emerging.
We would like to specifically pay our respects to the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our head office is located.

Since 1951

AVI has been Australia’s leading volunteer organisation for over 70 years.

Connecting people, organisations and communities to achieve locally-determined outcomes and inviting lasting change.

Inviting Change

We foster long-term partnerships that build and deepen over time.

Our partners and skilled volunteers connect in ways that result in collaboration across cultures, sustainable development outcomes and a more informed and understanding Australian community.

By supporting AVI, you are investing in ethical development guided by:

Self-determination, because people in communities know the social, economic and environmental development goals they need.
Locally-led change that supports the development process, not drives it, where change is truly fit for purpose and sustainable.
Skills and knowledge, building locally-driven capacity where it’s needed most – in people, organisations and systems.
long-term partnerships with a range of businesses, governments and non-profit organisations.

A Global Presence

AVI’s presence spans 29 global locations, supporting sustainable, people-centred development initiatives built on long-term relationships of mutual trust and respect.

Volunteering for development

Australian Volunteers Program

The Australian Volunteers Program matches a broad range of skilled Australians with partner organisations in 26 countries across the Pacific, Asia and Africa, contributing to sustainable development outcomes. AVI manages the program, in an AVI-led consortium with DT Global (formerly known as Cardno International Development) and Alinea International, on behalf of the Australian Government.

Solomon Islands Medical Partnerships

The Solomon Islands Medical Partnerships for Learning, Education and Research (SIMPLER) exists to assist and support in the supervision and training of large numbers of returned foreign-trained medical graduates to Solomon Islands, while also providing continuous medical education opportunities. SIMPLER is a collaboration between AVI, the Australian Volunteers Program, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Ministry of Health & Medical Services – Solomon Islands and the National Referral Hospital, Honiara.

Reece Foundation Partnership

AVI partners with Reece Foundation, supporting skilled tradespersons to work with communities delivering impactful water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects in Australia and overseas. Reece Foundation exists to empower Australian tradies to use their skills to improve the lives of those who need it most – with a vision for all people to have access to clean water and sanitation

AVI Offices

140 AVI staff members worked from offices in 22 countries to provide worldclass support to participants in all programs and initiatives we manage.

Student Mobility Services

AVI provides a highly customisable, faculty-led student mobility service for universities and other tertiary education providers. We work with academic institutions to develop a fit-for-purpose program that ensures students engage in a fully immersive cultural experience and gain academic credit (where applicable), while also providing peace of mind they are supported by robust safety and security mechanisms and experience.

Technical Advisors & Mentors

In-Country Communication Officer Network

AVI is commissioned by The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to engage a network of communications professionals in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam and Kenya. The In-Country Communication Officer Network (ICCON) initiative aims to raise greater awareness of ACIAR’s agricultural research and projects in the Pacific, East Asia, South and West-Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa regions

Farmer Volunteers – Kenya

AVI partnered with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to launch the Farmer Volunteers – Kenya program. The program’s first volunteer was based at a local farm at Athi River, just outside Nairobi. There, he worked with local farmers, producer groups, and rural businesses to develop local capacity and help increase agricultural productivity.

Doherty Institute

As part of the DFAT funded COMBAT AMR project (Combating the threat of antimicrobial resistance in Pacific Island Countries), AVI has been commissioned by the Doherty Institute to recruit and engage a microbiologist in Samoa, and to continue to engage two national project coordinators based in Fiji and Samoa.

AVI Pacific People

AVI Pacific People is the first Pacific-wide specialised end-to-end recruitment service, headquartered in Suva, Fiji. Pacific People aims to secure more specialist, management and senior executive roles for people in the Pacific and build skills through workforce development. It also aims to encourage labour mobility within the region by working with partners throughout the region, while also enabling diaspora to return to work in their home countries.

Capacity Strengthening

Australian Humanitarian Partnership

As part of Plan International Australia’s consortium for the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), Disaster READY, AVI continued to support local partner organisations in Fiji and the Solomon Islands with capacity development and institutional strengthening activities for disaster preparedness and response.

“Being able to live in Cambodia, while contributing to building the speech therapy profession, has been an incredible opportunity for me. Every day is exciting, interesting and stimulating. I have learned a lot about myself, and these learnings, growth and development have and will continue to positively influence my future.”

Danielle Vellucci, Speech Therapist

Volunteer

“AVI’s flexible approach and ability to respond quickly to our needs has been instrumental in the overall success of the project. It has been an incredibly positive relationship and very easy to manage with great transparency on both sides.”

Chantel Lin, Program Manager

The Doherty Institute Partnership

“I have worked with AVI to deliver student global volunteering experiences for the past five years. In our partnership, I rely on AVI to give the students grounding in important safety and cultural awareness, and to contribute to student learning in the discipline of Development Studies.”

Dr Elizabeth Lakey, Student Programs

The University of Melbourne

“A strong belief in the power of capacity building in developing countries led me to start donating regularly to AVI over ten years ago. Every little bit helps, and I now support the organisation with a monthly donation. My brief time as a volunteer in Myanmar showed me how important AVI’s work is and what volunteers can accomplish. I know my regular donation helps AVI support international partners to achieve their development goals.”

Maggie McCafferty

AVI Regular Giver

“I have been humbled by the dedication that these extremely busy doctors have shown towards the project and by the stories of their own commitment to rural health.”

Dr Graham Carey

Health Programs, Solomon Islands

“I encourage you to play to your strengths and only invest in community led programs developed through community led consultation.”

Ash Sheridan, Reece Foundation

Reece Foundation

Latest news

AVI grants working to strengthen civil society in the Solomon Islands

August 23, 2023

In 2022, PWDSI applied for an AVI Grant to socialise a number of organisational policies which had been developed over the previous years and approved at Board level. The policies included Child Protection, PSEAH (Prevention of Sexual Assault, Abuse and Harassment) and Anti-corruption Policy. The project aimed to rollout the policies to staff and Board, providing them with training and support so that the policies were understood and implemented in the organisation.

Exciting new student mobility partnership

August 23, 2023

AVI has been selected as the implementing partner for the University of Tasmania’s new flagship University Global Opportunity (UniGO) program, a fully-funded program enabling students from different faculties to immerse themselves in locally-led sustainability solutions in South-East Asia.

Supporting mental health on the front line of climate change

August 22, 2023

Through our small grant program, AVI supported Empower Pacific to provide training for 18 counsellors in Disaster Mental Health Counselling and Working with Trauma – Interventions that Foster Resilience. These Credential Courses were run through the Mental Health Academy of Australia.

Thank you to all our partners

Below are just a few of the many organisations in Australia and overseas that Australian Volunteers International, together with our consortium-led Australian Volunteers Program, are proud to call our partners.