CARE Australia was established in 1987 by former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH. CARE Australia grew through the 1990s and developed a reputation for delivering timely and effective disaster assistance and development programs to those in need. To find out more, please visit our History page.

CARE International is a confederation of 21 International Members, Candidates and Affiliates — Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UK and the USA — forming one of the world’s largest independent, international emergency relief and development assistance organisations. The national agencies operate independently but cooperate closely and work together with the CARE International Board and Secretariat, based in Geneva.

In Australia, CARE’s offices are located in Canberra and Melbourne. To find out more, please visit our Contact Us page.

CARE Australia is non-religious and non-political, allowing us to deliver humanitarian assistance to anyone in need regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion or political views. To find out more, please visit our Mission and Vision page.

Women and girls bear the brunt of poverty and are more severely affected by crises like climate change, natural disasters, COVID-19, and conflict. CARE works specifically with women because when a woman is given the tools to lift herself out of poverty, she will bring her family and her community with her. When her voice is listened to, she will speak not just for herself, but for others too. When it comes to defeating poverty and helping communities withstand disasters, women are the answer.

From birth, boys and men hold an unequal share of power. And because men are seen as the default leaders, women are less likely to have a say, or be heard, in the decisions that affect their lives. Too often, they aren’t given the chance to become leaders who shape the future of their communities or societies, which repeats the cycle of inequality.

Of course, gender equality is not just about women and girls — it also benefits men and boys! Toxic and unrealistic expectations of what it means to “be a man” can create a harmful and invisible cage for men and boys. By working with men and boys to rethink long-held attitudes and actions, they can accept — and celebrate — women’s contributions to society and see them as equals and leaders. And whole communities will prosper as a result.

We rely on the generous support of the Australian public to fund our work. We build on this support by attracting additional funds from institutional donors such as the Australian Government and the United Nations. To find out more, please visit our Funding page.

Yes. CARE volunteers provide invaluable support for our work in the developing world, providing valuable time, energy and dedication towards achieving a world of hope, inclusion and social justice. Visit our Volunteer section for more information.

CARE Australia strives to be excellent in all that it does but recognises that this may not always be the case. When we make a mistake, or if anyone involved in our work behaves illegally, unethically, unsafely or dishonestly, we want and need to be informed. We will use the information to endeavour to put things right and to help us to become more effective. For more information please read our Complaints and Misconduct Page.

In 2021/22, 89 cents of every $1 spent went to our programs. The remaining funding is spent on administration and fundraising, which is vital to support and expand our work. Like all organisations, CARE’s work relies on administration spending. Our expert staff, strong accountability measures and world-class computer infrastructure all contribute to a better organisation and better development outcomes. That’s why when a small fraction of your donation goes to administration, it’s not taking away from the life-changing work that we do – it’s supporting it.

To find out more, please visit our Where the Money Goes page.

There are many ways that you can get involved with CARE and raise money for our life-saving work. To explore how you can volunteer or fundraise for CARE, please visit our Get Involved page.

You can also donate to CARE’s efforts to eliminate poverty.

If you’re planning a fundraising event for CARE Australia, please contact fundraise@care.org.au and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can support your event. Any group wishing to use CARE’s name or logo on any promotional materials must first seek approval from CARE Australia prior to usage. To find out more, please visit our Fundraise page.

Contact us on 1800 DONATE (1800 020 046) or email info@care.org.au to update details such as payment method, donation amount, address or preferred method of contact.

CARE Australia does not accept donated goods, as experience has shown that this is usually not cost effective and creates logistical difficulties. It is a CARE Australia policy that whenever possible we procure items in the country in which we operate, thereby supporting developing economies.
If you would like to help, we ask you to contribute a cash donation, which can then be used to buy what is most needed in the region concerned.
Have a look at the number of ways you can support women and defeat poverty here.

Today, CARE Australia undertakes activities in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, as well as responding to humanitarian emergencies. We manage five of CARE International’s Country Offices – Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. To find out more, please visit our Where we work page.

Ninety-seven per cent of CARE staff are local to the country they work in, so our staff speak local languages and understand the needs of local cultures they work in. To find out more, please visit our Who we are page.

We start by assessing needs in consultation with the local communities, before then designing programs that effectively respond to these needs. We also work with local authorities, governments and other non-government organisations to ensure that we co-ordinate and mutually support each other’s efforts. Our evidence-based approach ensures the most effective poverty-fighting outcomes. Visit our Learn section for more information.

CARE responds to humanitarian emergencies – such as drought, flood, earthquakes and conflict – by meeting the immediate needs of those affected. Our longer-term response helps people rebuild their lives and restore their livelihoods in the months and years to follow. To find out more, visit our Emergencies page.

CARE’s projects are regularly monitored and evaluated during their implementation and appropriate adjustments are made to ensure our efforts are maximised. Once complete, projects are then comprehensively evaluated with lessons shared among CARE Country Offices. To find out more, visit our Lessons and Impact page.

Each project is based on the goal of improving the capacities of local people so that, once projects are complete, development will be sustainable and the benefits of the project continue. To find out more, please visit our Lessons and impact page.

CARE Australia holds full accreditation status as a partner in the Australian Government’s NGO Co-operation Program. To maintain accreditation, CARE Australia’s systems, policies and processes are regularly and rigorously reviewed by the government. Our status as a Partner Agency reflects the Government’s confidence in CARE Australia’s professionalism, accountability and effectiveness. To find out more, visit our Codes of conduct page.