Australia for UNHCR is an Australian charity that raises funds and support for the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...

, the UN's Refugee Agency. It was established on 4 July 2000.

Fundraising

The organisation raises funds for international humanitarian programs supporting refugees and other displaced or stateless people, and undertakes activities to raise public awareness of the plight of refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR. From an income of $100,000 in the first year of fundraising, the organisation raised $6.6 million in 2008. The most recent Annual Information Statement reported to the

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the regulatory authority for charities and not-for-profit organisations within Australia. The Commission was established in December 2012 as part of the ''Australian Charities ...

reports a total annual income of $41,510,916. This has funded humanitarian work in Central America, the Philippines and throughout Africa.

Special Representatives

High profile special representatives of Australia for UNHCR include Australian stage, film and theatre actor

Marta Dusseldorp Marta Dusseldorp (born 1 February 1973) is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include ''BlackJack'', ''Crownies'' (and its spin-off '' Janet King''), ''Jack Irish'' and '' A Place to Call Home''. Early life an ...

, actor and author Carina Hoang, cricketer

Ian Chappell Ian Michael Chappell (born 26 September 1943) is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation. Born ...

and comedian and actor

Jane Turner Jane Turner (born 1 December 1960) is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award-winning comedy series creator and screnwriter. Career Turner, although best known as a comedy performer, made her acting debut in the internationally ren ...

Patrons

The founding patron of Australia for UNHCR was former Nationals leader and deputy Prime Minister

Tim Fischer Timothy Andrew Fischer (3 May 1946 – 22 August 2019) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999. He was Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 to 1999. Fischer ...

, who was followed by former Governor General of Australia,

Quentin Bryce Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce, (née Strachan; born 23 December 1942) is an Australian academic who served as the 25th governor-general of Australia from 2008 to 2014. She is the first woman to have held the position, and was previously the ...

. The current Patrons are John W.H. Denton AO and

Alice Spigelman Alice Eve-Marie Spigelman is a Hungary, Hungarian-born Australian clinical psychologist, writer and human rights advocate. She is currently chair of Sculpture by the Sea. Her most recent book is ''The Budapest Job'', a thriller set in 1989, at t ...

Board

Members of the Board of Directors include former CEO of

First State Super Aware Super is an Australian superannuation fund headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales. With $150bn under management and over 1 million members, it is Australia's third-largest superannuation fund. History It was initially established in 1 ...

Michael Dwyer, Chief Technology Officer for

The Iconic The Iconic (styled as THE ICONIC) is a Sydney-based, Australian online fashion and sports retailer. The company was launched in 2011 and is one of Australia’s largest fashion, sports, beauty, kidswear and homewares destinations. with over 1500 ...

Zoe Ghani, former

ABC News (Australia) ABC News, or ABC News and Current Affairs, is a public news service produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Broadcasting within Australia and the rest of the world, the service covers both local and world affairs. The division of ...

executive Kate Dundas, Microsoft Australia executive Lynn Dang, Rick Millen and sports administrator

John Boultbee (sport administrator) John Francis Boultbee AM (born 9 March 1950) is a lawyer and leading Australian sport administrator particularly in relation to rowing and football. In 1990, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to rowing as an ad ...

References

External links

Pro Bono Australia interview

Australian Charities and Non Profits Commission

Website
Charities based in Australia Organizations established in 2000 2000 establishments in Australia {{Philanthropy-org-stub