AP032_AR_Artwork_Final_AP032_AR1010_Final 12/11/10 12:26 PM Page 1 Union Aid Abroad APHEDA The overseas humanitarian aid agency of the ACTU 2010Annual Report AP032_AR_Artwork_Final_AP032_AR1010_Final 12/11/10 12:26 PM Page 2 Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA was established in 1984 by the ACTU under the name APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Executive Officer’s Report Development Abroad) as the Australian union movement’s overseas aid arm. We assist projects in South East Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA southern Africa, working through local partner organisations and unions to deliver training in vocational Lifting people out of poverty skills, health and workers’ rights, so women and men may have decent work that provides a living wage, Our projects reflect Donors and partners reasonable conditions and a union solidarity make this possible safe workplace. Our international program seeks to Our projects develop skills We are only able to deliver empower women and men in and strengthen workers’ this assistance because of developing countries so they rights through literacy, two very special groups of and their families might live vocational, media and trade people – our donors and with their human rights union training in East Timor, our partners. The support respected, both in their workplace and in their society. sustainable agriculture in from our donors is the Pacific, HIV education in generous and growing, and OUR MISSION the workplace through without the help from the As the ACTU’s humanitarian aid agency, Union Aid trade unions in PNG, South trade unions and many Abroad–APHEDA expresses Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Africa and Zimbabwe, individual union members, the Australian union had another successful year health and skills training for our projects would not be movement’s commitment to in 2009-10, with thousands women in refugee camps possible. Also, without the social justice and international of working men and women on the Thai-Burma border, commitment, dedication solidarity through support to trained in crucial skills to skills training for women and competence of our overseas education, training and development projects, enable them to earn a and agriculture in project partners overseas working in partnership with decent livelihood. Through Cambodia, OH&S for who actually deliver the those whose rights to more than 50 projects in 15 workers in Laos and training, no training could development are restricted or countries we helped many strengthening organising take place. We continue to denied. families earn a secure and negotiating skills for be inspired by our donors OUR VISION income, which is the most workers in Vietnam, as well and partners, who believe Unions and communities effective means of lifting as asbestos awareness that a better world is working internationally to people out of poverty. training, anti-trafficking of possible, and are prepared eradicate poverty and achieve human rights. women and skills training to work and make sacrifices Decent Work for young people disabled to ensure it happens. ACFID CODE – a foundation because of Agent Orange. OF CONDUCT Union Aid for development We also assist with I would also like to thank Abroad–APHEDA is Work that provides dignity agricultural security and the staff, both in Australia an accredited to the worker and a living skills training for Palestinian and overseas, our many signatory to the ACFID Code of wage for their family is families in the Occupied volunteers for their great Conduct. The code requires essential if the more than Palestinian Territories and work, and the Committee of members to meet high standards of governance, 800 million workers who for women in refugee Management for their public accountability and earn less than $2 a day are camps in Lebanon. All strong support during the financial management. For to ever have a decent life these projects reflect the past year. more information, contact for themselves and their international solidarity of the Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA or families. Independent, Australian trade union Peter Jennings, visit www.acfid.asn.au democratic and strong movement and its Executive Officer. unions are crucial in commitment to assisting FRONT COVER Farmer Training Program: ensuring that these workers other workers in greater Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s have a living wage, and need. Their generous agricultural project in therefore are able to feed, support is a tribute to Cambodia works with poor rural farmers to help diversify clothe and educate their their belief in justice and a their crops – increasing the children themselves, fair go for all. level of food security for their without relying on families and generating more sponsorship from abroad. consistent incomes. South Australian photographer Ryan The ILO, the global union Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Level 3, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Pike visited various Union Aid Abroad- movement and the ACTU Ph: +61 2 9264 9343 Fax: +61 2 9261 1118 APHEDA’s projects in Cambodia in all advocate Decent Work offi[email protected] www.apheda.org.au 2010. We thank Ryan for letting us use his photos. See more of his as essential to overcoming ABN 76 425 451 089 poverty. images at www.ryanpike.com UNION AID ABROAD–APHEDA ANNUAL REPORT 2010 PAGE 2 AP032_AR_Artwork_Final_AP032_AR1010_Final 12/11/10 12:26 PM Page 3 Chairperson’s Report The many unions that support the WHAT IS UNION AID ABROAD–APHEDA? Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA work of Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA was established in 1984 by the ACTU in recognition of deserve our special thanks. the union movement’s responsibility to contribute directly to countries and regions in the world where In September 2010, the While there is some men and women workers world reached the two- optimism that significant are disadvantaged through thirds stage in the strides are being taken exploitation, poverty, Millennium Development against global poverty, the discrimination and civil Goals; the 8 goals and 20 past year has seen conflict. benchmarks chosen in the immense human suffering year 2000 to halve global from natural disasters – Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA poverty by 2015. earthquakes in Haiti and aims to build self-reliance Chile, and record floods in through support for There is much we can be Pakistan have left education and training proud of, but much more hundreds of thousands projects for workers and that needs to be done. dead, and millions of The many unions that their trade unions. In cases people, who were living on support the work of of specific international • Following the adoption the edge of poverty, have APHEDA deserve our emergencies, Union Aid of the MDGs, the lost all their possessions. special thanks. We are Abroad–APHEDA also number of people living confident that this support assists with relief programs on less than $US2 a day The impacts of climate will continue to grow in and emergency appeals. dropped by 500 million change will only intensify in the future. between 2000 and coming years, and while Through more than 50 2007. However, the Australia escaped the I would also like to thank projects and project number rose again by worst of the Global and congratulate our partners, Union Aid 150 million over the next Financial Crisis, many donors and supporters for Abroad–APHEDA assists two years due to the people in developing their amazing generosity, many communities in a Global Financial Crisis. countries were devastated our staff both in Australia variety of ways including: by its impact. For these and overseas, and helping disadvantaged • Two billion people have reasons, solidarity by especially the volunteers women and men gain gained access to safe Australian unions and working overseas and in vocational skills, assisting drinking water, but 880 working people is more our Sydney office. My them to earn an income million still rely on non- crucial than ever. thanks also to my fellow and improve their options in potable water to drink. Committee of life; assisting workers Union Aid Management members. struggling for their rights, • The number of children Abroad–APHEDA provides refugees and stateless dying from preventable one avenue for working Sandra Moait, people and those suffering diseases before their 5th people to contribute Chairperson from HIV/AIDS; and birthday has dropped towards a more just, equal providing education for from 12 million per year and therefore a more indigenous peoples and in 1990 to 9 million per peaceful and better world. health and safety for year, but 24,000 deaths Australian unions can be workers at risk. a day is still justifiably proud of unacceptable. APHEDA’s work in their Support for these projects name and on their behalf. comes from Australian • The number of children trade unions, individual not attending primary This work is a living sign of union members and others school has dropped the Australian union who make regular from 120 million to 72 movement’s solidarity with donations, international million; this is still far too workers in need, and our trade unions and their aid many children being Australian unions’ strong arms as well as from denied a future. belief in justice and human AusAID, the Australian rights for all workers – here government’s aid agency. and abroad. UNION AID ABROAD–APHEDA ANNUAL REPORT 2010 PAGE 3 AP032_AR_Artwork_Final_AP032_AR1010_Final 12/11/10 12:26 PM Page 4 success stories The power of multiplicity: Timor Leste By Elisabeth de Araujo & Tanya Karliychuk In 2001, soon after the the hardware stores and nation had overwhelmingly the equipment in Perth all voted for its independence, seemed so huge. “But a small workshop in central once we flew to Broome, I Dili was buzzing with was more relaxed, because anticipation. With funds it was just a small from APHEDA donors, the workshop. I am honest that Labour Advocacy Institute before travelling to for East Timor (LAIFET) Broome, I don’t know how was holding some of its to use the lathe machine, first carpentry training for but me and five of my unemployed and under- colleagues learnt on it for unemployed men in three days”.