The foundations

In 1919 Cecilia Annie John founded Save the Children's first Australian branch in Melbourne.

During the first and second world wars, from 1920 to 1940, Save the Children's Victoria Division shipped milk, powder, flour and clothing to Europe to provide famine relief for refugees. The Queensland Division was founded in 1920 quickly followed by the first South Australian Branch In 1922.  Further branches were established across the states over the next 50 years. Following this in 1946, state branches were established in Western Australia. The Western Australia branch collected 20,000 garments and woolen blankets in 1948, sending these to refugees overseas.

The growth

In 1950 providing assistance to Australian children became a priority for Save the Children with welfare and pre-school centres being established in Victoria.

The Victorian Division set up a fund to provide educational grants to Indigenous children in 1956. One Ballarat student went on to become the first indigenous student to attend the University of Melbourne.

Our Western Australian Division, In 1959, funded the Allawah Grove kindergarten for indigenous children and launched its annual Rice Bowl appeal encouraging locals to donate their lunch money and have a bowl of rice instead. In 1962 our first pre-school for Aboriginal Children opened with more schools opening soon after. These schools supported by a Mother's Club, helped the teacher raise funds for what was then, Save the Children Fund.

The play bus scheme initially started in New South Wales with the donation of a bus by the St George Building Society. The bus originally was used to bring the mothers and children to play areas however, it was soon realised that creating a play area in the bus and taking it to the families was more efficient. From then our Mobile play bus scheme was then born.

In 1969 a visiting nurse service was funded and run under the direction of Princess Margaret Hospital. Over time, the service increased to include four mobile clinics serving disadvantaged indigenous and non-indigenous families. The influx of refugees from Indochina in 1970 created a new group of children in need. To address that need child care centres were established in Housing Commission flats in Victoria. The Victorian Division also began providing assistance to wards of the State. From 1980 Save the Children began working with schools across the country to provide school nutrition programs. 

The future

In 1985 our Western Australian division hosted its own ‘Aid to Africa' concert following the success of the international Live Aid concert, raising money for African famine programs.

Later in 2002, the UN Global Peace Schools Program was launched by Dr James Fitzpatrick, Young Australian of the Year and Save the Children in a ceremony hosted at Government House in Western Australia. Christ Church Grammar School, Perth became the first school in Australia to complete the program and become a global peace school.

Save the Children had been active in Australian Capital Territory for more than 40 years, after being launched in 1962 with the support of the Canberra Apex Club. It closed in 2003 when the committed but aging committee retired together. Reopening again In 2008, the Canberra Group officially became a branch of Save the Children Australia before formally being established as the ACT Council in 2009.

The Northern Territory Division had been running under the Queensland State Programs for the last 7 years, however now the Darwin Team has become an independent programs operator. Save The Children Queensland received funding from FAHCSIA to pilot the Mobile Playscheme in Darwin in 2004 and now has a National funding agreement to continue the scheme across Australia until 2014. In February 2011 FAHCSIA offered Northern Territory Division the Intense Family Support Program. This is in partnership with Parenting Research Centre, Menzies, Good Beginnings, NT Government and FAHCSIA.

Over the last few years Save the Children Australia has responded to many humanitarian emergencies, continued to run programs in both Australia and worldwide as well as increase awareness of issues through our campaigns.

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