All people regardless of where they come from or how they arrived in a country should be treated with the same rights as others, especially children whose rights are often more threatened as refugees. Currently, there are millions of child refugees around the world as a result of conflict, climate change or simply because of their background or religion. Whilst many different organisations help refugees in Australia, we are one of the refugee charities in Australia that focuses on helping children. Below is a bit more about the work we’re doing to help these children and why it is so important.
Save the Children is one of the largest aid and development organisations that help refugees in Australia. We believe every child deserves a bright future and our mission is a world in which every child lives, learns and is safe from harm. We do everything we can to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes and children are most vulnerable, we rapidly respond to save children's lives. Here is more about the work we do to help child refugees & their families and why child refugee charities in Australia are important. We also list some of the ways you can show your support or get involved with a refugee charity in Melbourne, a refugee charity in Adelaide, a refugee charity in Sydney and a refugee charity in Brisbane.
Why refugee charities in Australia are so important
Organisations that help refugees in Australia with a focus on helping children are hugely important because we know child refugees can be extremely vulnerable. So what are some of the factors that make child refugees, particularly in need of help from refugee charities in Australia?
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Many refugee children have been separated from their families. Having already been removed from everything familiar to them and often having experienced traumatic situations, they then have to fight for their survival often in less-than-ideal conditions in refugee camps on their own. Without the protection of their family, they are also more at risk of other dangers as well.
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Refugee camps are often a target for child traffickers and those who exploit children.
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Overcrowded refugee camps mean poor living conditions. Without necessities such as shelter, food and clean water children are more susceptible to disease and death.
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Adequate nutritious food is particularly important for children as, without it, they struggle to develop as they should. They are at a high risk of acute malnutrition, stunting and irreversible damage to their physical & cognitive development.
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It is crucial for children’s development, safety and recovery for them to return to learning as soon as possible which is either difficult or often not possible at all in refugee camps. Without safe places to play and learn this can have long-term psychological impacts on children.
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Without support for their mental health, children suffering trauma can be left with life-long psychological impacts.
The work we do in Australia
Saving children's lives is at the heart of what we do as a refugee charity in Australia – it's the reason we exist. Currently, we have teams based in many countries around the world helping children and their families that have been displaced having been forced to flee their homes. The aid we are providing includes:
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Setting up emergency healthcare & medical assistance units that consist of nurses, doctors, logisticians and engineers
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Providing food & nutrition, clean, safe drinking water, shelter and warm clothing to children and their families
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Providing life-saving vaccines and working to prevent, diagnose and treat major childhood killers, such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria
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Working with families to improve hygiene practices that help reduce the spread of disease
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Providing psychosocial support to children who have lived through traumatic events
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Setting up temporary learning spaces and safe places for children to play
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Helping to reunite families that have been separated
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Providing around-the-clock protection for children at risk of harm
Supporting your local charities in Australia
We have local member branches located right across Australia. By getting involved you can help raise awareness for Save the Children, run a fundraising event, and take up one of the local volunteer opportunities available - all whilst truly making a difference to child refugees and making great friends at the same time.
Refugee charity Melbourne
To support a refugee charity in Melbourne, contact your Melbourne local member branch.
Refugee charity Adelaide
To support your local refugee charity in Adelaide contact the Adelaide local member branch.
Refugee charity Sydney
To support your local refugee charity in Sydney, contact the Sydney local member branch.
Refugee charity Brisbane
To support your local refugee charity in Brisbane contact the Brisbane local member branch.
Donate to our programs today
You can help make a difference to the millions of refugees around the world right now by making a once-off donation or becoming a monthly giver. Over 80% of your donation goes directly towards program expenditure and donations over $2 are tax deductible.