about oxfam :: our approach
Oxfam is Australia's leading aid and development organisation. Oxfam Australia is working to free people from poverty and injustice in more than 23 countries around the world including Indigenous Australia. Our approach is focused on helping communities to help themselves.
Oxfam Australia is independent and secular, community based and part of an international confederation of 13 organisations working under the Oxfam banner.
Rights based approach
Oxfam adopts a rights based approach to working with communities to overcome poverty and injustice. We believe that people's realisation of their human rights is the key to human development and security.
Oxfam's work can be summarised into three areas: Long-term community development; campaigning and advocacy; and emergency aid delivery.
Community development
Oxfam Australia works with local partner organisations in over 30 countries around the world to overcome poverty and injustice. Our work spans areas such as health, water and sanitation, food and agriculture, education and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Advocacy and campaigning
Oxfam Australia works to overcome the root causes of poverty, suffering and injustice. We do this through campaigning in Australia and internationally on issues like fair trade, human rights, corporate responsibility, protecting livelihoods and protecting people in humanitarian crises.
Emergency aid
Oxfam Australia works to alleviate suffering and injustice when humanitarian crises occur. Humanitarian crises can be caused by war and conflict, natural disasters, or a mixture of both. An example of Oxfam's emergency work includes providing clean water, fuel efficient stoves and public health education to over 200,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad; and providing shelter and sanitation facilities to thousands of people affected by the recent tsunami in the Solomon Islands.