The Australian Governments Aid Priorities

Question 1

Health, including supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Answer 1

• lives are saved and health is improved when a community has access to good quality food, safe water and sanitation, and trained health workers to assist in the prevention of disease
• e.g contribution to GAVI Alliance to fully immunise 7.7 million children in developing countries.
• e.g provide funds to the Indonesian government to increase access to safe water and sanitation and public toilets.

Question 2

Education

Answer 2

• by being educated, people can gain the skills to enable them to contribute to the country’s economy in the future.
• educated women have better maternal health and fewer, healthier children.
• e.g contributing with other donors to help 7 million children in Afghanistan to attend school.
• e.g granting 70 scholarships to Laos students to study at Lao university (bilateral).

Question 3

Empowering women and girls

Answer 3

• benefits are that women have higher average incomes, greater levels of education and healthier families.
• e.g Australia is a strong supporter of UN women
• e.g the australian-Pacific women parliamentarians partnership program helps address low levels of women’s representation in Pacific politics.

Question 4

Effective governance

Answer 4

• an effective government provides the foundations for economic growth, private sector investment and trade. They can help maintain law and order
• deliver education and health services
• e.g provide advice to governments in developing countries relating to financial management and establishment of health systems, police forces and legal systems
• e.g supported the Papua New Guinea election through logistics, training and security coordination.

Question 5

Humanitarian aid

Answer 5

• provided in crisis situations such as natural disasters and human-induced emergencies, where human life is at immediate risk.
• e.g sending staff to affected areas to provide immediate support. There is a warehouse in Brisbane that contains around 100 tonnes of emergency supplies including medical kits, blankets, temporary shelter and food.
• e.g providing funds to NGOs, such as the Red Cross who provide humanitarian assistance during times of crisis.

Question 6

Economic development, including encouraging trade and private sector investment

Answer 6

• Economic development relates to increasing opportunities for employment and increasing average incomes. I.e develop new industries.
• by participating in global trade, developing countries have the opportunity to earn an income from selling goods and resources. I.e streamlining cargo inspection processes.
• promote growth of the private sector through microfinance loans.