Australian Organisations

What are APOs?	Who can be an APO?
How do APOs develop volunteer assignments?	What are the benefits of being an APO?
What is expected of APOs?	Where should APOs go for more help?
	Links to current APOs

What are APOs?

Australian Partner Organisations (APOs) are Australian based organisations who have, or wish to, establish links with Host Organisations (HOs) working in development in the Asia Pacific region. The VIDA program provides the opportunity for APOs to create new long term partnerships or strengthen relationships with these HOs.

Who can be an APO?

APOs can be government departments, non-government organisations (NGOs), educational institutions or private companies. The VIDA Program is open to partnerships from orgnaisations and companies working in diverse sectors throughout Australia.

For examples of APOs currently involved with the Program click here

How do APOs develop volunteer assignments?

Partnering with a Host Organisation

There are two options for partnering with a Host Organisation (the organisation in-country where the VIDA will work). You may have existing links with an organisation and wish to further develop that relationship by partnering with them through the VIDA Program or you may be seeking to de velop those links.

If you already have a HO you would like to partner with you can discuss the VIDA Program with them (get them to download the Host Organisation Info Pack) and contact the In Country Manager (ICM) for that area.

If you do not have existing links with a potential HO you will need to contact the VIDA Partnerships Coordinator who will assist in developing those links. This will also involve the ICM for that country.

Developing a VIDA Assignment Proposal

Once you and your Host Organisation have identified a need for a VIDA volunteer you will be required to work together in developing and Assignment Proposal and submit to the VIDA Program. The Program has an Assignment Proposal form which clearly sets out the information needed for this proposal.

The VIDA Program provides assistance in developing assignment proposals for APOs through the VIDA Partnerships Coordinator and for the HOs through the relevant In-Country Manager (ICM). ICMs must be involved in the development of ALL VIDA assignments ensuring that they fit within the priority sectors of that country.

Once you have completed the Assignment Proposal Form, your partner HO must submit it to the ICM.

Assignment Approval

The VIDA Program considers a number of factors when assessing the suitability of proposed assignments:

Does the assignment have a strong capacity building focus Assignments cannot replace local staff
Does the assignment encourage sustainable outcomes? The Volunteer should work towards outcomes that will continue to benefit the HOs work upon the Volunteers departure
Country Quotas – the VIDA program is only able to support a certain number of assignments in each country per financial year
Does the assignment fir within the Country Volunteer Strategy which is identified by the Host Government and AusAID? Summaries of each CVS are available to download from our website
Does the Host Organisation have the capacity to host a Volunteer? This includes the provision of a workspace and the identification of a supervisor who will work closely with the Volunteer.

What are the benefits of being an APO?

Participating in the VIDA Program provides you with the opportunity to:

Develop new or expand existing links with companies, governments and organisations in the Asia Pacific region
Exchange skills with in-country Host Organisations
Raise the profile of your organisation in Australia through the participation in regular publications by VIDA and our website
Recruit skilled VIDA Volunteers to work on your projects
Provide staff with professional development opportunities in the field
Gain an increased understanding of cultures in new and emerging markets

What is expected of APOs?

APOs provide a range of additional support to AYAD assignments including:

Assisting Host Organisation (HOs) to develop the assignment proposals.
Assisting HOs to source suitable candidates
Acting in a mentoring role to support the VIDA whilst on assignment
Contributions

APOs are strongly encouraged to make financial or in-kind contributions to support the volunteer placement. The contributions made by APOs demonstrate their commitment to supporting the volunteer and achieving assignment outcomes. They also allow the VIDA Program to send extra volunteers over and above the number funded by AusAID. The VIDA Program understands that not all organisations will be in a financial position to provide extensive support and contributions will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Where should APOs go for more help?

For further information, download the APO Information Pack.

For APOs interested in developing an assignment, you are able to download the Assignment Proposal Form and Country Volunteer Strategies from our website.

Or you can contact the VIDA Partnerships Coordinator for further assistance.

apo@vidavolunteers.com.au

Tel: +61 (0) 8 8364 8500
Fax: +61 (0) 8 8364 8588

Links to current APOs

The VIDA Program would like to acknowledge the contribution of our current APOs. You can find out more information about our APOs by selecting the links below.

ADRA

Aus Health International

Austcare

Australian Aid for Cambodia Fund (AACF)

Australian Foundation for Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP)

Australian Orangutan Project

Bahay Tuluyan Philippines, Australia

Baptist World Aid Australia

Blue Dragon Children's Foundation

Burnet Institute

Canberra Friends of Dili

CARE