ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan

Love Thy Neighbour – Annie’s Story

When Annie walked through ADRA’s doors for the first time 13 years ago, she was homeless. She had just left an abusive marriage and was on her own for the first time in 20 years.  “When I first went to ADRA, it was because I didn’t have a place to […]

Wauchope church ministry expands with ADRA partnership

A ministry by Wauchope Adventist Church (Kingscreek, NSW) has been expanding significantly after becoming an official ADRA project in February. The SouperVan ministry, which has been serving hot soup and buns to the community for more than two years, now also provides fresh produce, blankets, sleeping bags and pet food. According to Troy Eggleton, ADRA […]

Adventist women join lobbying for aid increases

Four women representing ADRA Victoria have joined with other Christian leaders to ask Australia’s political leaders to increase their commitment to Australian aid. Director of ADRA Victoria Rebecca Auriant, Selba-Gondoza Luka, Kate Pincheira and Pastor Moe Stiles were among 35 Christian leaders from across Australia that met in Canberra at […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Laura’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Laura Stephenson, the Operations Manager for Open Heart International, a division of ADRA. Laura shares the time […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Greg’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary of ADRA in Australia, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Greg Young, Regional Director for ADRA South Pacific. Greg has served ADRA, both […]

World Refugee Day 2024

World Refugee Day 2024: ADRA Shines a Spotlight on the Plight of Refugee Children and the Power of Education As the world prepares to observe World Refugee Day on June 20, ADRA reaffirms its commitment to bringing attention to the challenges faced by millions of families, women, and children forced […]

Feed a Family – Mildred’s Story

“Life was hard. Sometimes we would only eat once a day for days at a time.” Mildred is a single mother of four, living in rural Zambia. She works as a farmer, but she struggled to grow enough food to feed her family. Often, with no crops leftover to sell, […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Michael’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Michael Peach, Senior Coordinator Network Emergency Preparedness for ADRA International. Michael started with ADRA as a volunteer […]

Volunteer Profile – Liz’s Story

“I just love coming here because I feel like little miracles happen every day.” Liz Wheeler volunteers two days a week as a counsellor at the ADRA Community Centre Blacktown with her guide dog, Poppi, by her side. Run predominantly by volunteers, the centre offers services ranging from food parcels […]

National Volunteer Week 2024

This week is National Volunteer Week and here at ADRA, we have over 2,000 reasons to celebrate! Throughout the week, we are going to profile ADRA volunteers who generously give of their time and talents. Without our volunteers, our National Programs would not be possible. Don, ADRA Pakenham Don’s journey […]

ADRA Mobilises Urgent Humanitarian Response in Gaza

ADRA is taking urgent action to address critical food security needs among displaced communities in Gaza in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.   Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the plight of the local population has reached critical levels. Families have been forcibly displaced, essential infrastructure […]

ADRA’s 40th Event

Celebrate 40 years of ADRA in Australia with us! Are you a past or current ADRA employee or board member? Have you served ADRA in Australia or overseas? Join us for a full day of celebrations on October 26 at Avondale University Church. Save the date for our full-day program […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Jean’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Jean Tiran, Chief Financial Officer (pictured below on a project visit in Zimbabwe). In August 2020, Jean […]

ADRA News Editions

ADRA granted 5-year DFAT re-accreditation status

ADRA Australia has been granted full accreditation from the Australian Government for another five years. The accreditation, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), means ADRA is eligible to receive annual government funding for development projects. The accreditation process is lengthy and rigorous, designed to ensure NGOs are […]

40 Years of ADRA in Australia

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Australia in 2024. ADRA is the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that serves communities regardless of ethnicity, political party, or religious affiliation.  The international non-profit agency works with communities, organisations, and governments to enhance […]

ADRA Women Leaders Inspire Inclusion

ADRA is honoring International Women’s Day (March 8) and National Women’s History Month by spotlighting the amazing stories of the mission’s female leaders. The United Nations designated the 2024 Women’s theme as the year to “inspire inclusion and invest in women’s progress.” For over 40 years, ADRA women have made […]

Women’s Empowerment in Nepal – Purna’s Story

“I had to experience every day that it is difficult for a woman to lead in my village.” Purna lives in rural Nepal where she runs her own small business growing and selling vegetables. Her husband migrates for work, leaving Purna to care for her children and the household on […]

Safer World For All

The world is at a turning point. Two decades of progress fighting infectious diseases, empowering women and girls, and building education and economic prosperity stalled when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, overlapping challenges are hitting all at once. Dangerously hot and unpredictable weather, fuel shortages, hunger, violent invasions and the […]

Two Years of Conflict in Ukraine: ADRA’s Ongoing Response

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, countless Ukrainians find themselves displaced, their homes destroyed, and their lives shattered. Since the start of hostilities on 24 February 2022, ADRA launched a global response to assist the millions of women, children, families, and individuals who have fled their homes to escape shelling […]

Displaced by the war – Tetiana’s story

Tetiana, her ten-year old son Artem*, and Tetiana’s retired mother were forced to relocate when the war broke out in their hometown of Kherson. Shortly before the war, the family lost their breadwinner, so Tetiana now had to carry the burden of providing and caring for her family alone. “The […]

Türkiye-Syria Earthquake: One Year On

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is still executing rehabilitation efforts to assist vulnerable populations affected by the powerful earthquake that devastated southern Türkiye and northern Syria last year on 6 February 2023. The massive earthquake killed about 55,000 people, injured almost 130,000, destroyed 300,000 buildings, and displaced millions […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Alison’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Alison Young, Executive Assistant to the CEO. Alison has served ADRA, both internationally and in Australia, for […]

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA in Australia

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Australia this year. ADRA is the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that serves communities regardless of ethnicity, political, or religious affiliation. The international non-government agency works with communities, organisations, and governments to enhance the lives of […]

ADRA’s Syria and Türkiye Response

In the early hours of Monday 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude tremor struck Türkiye (formerly Turkey) near the city of Gaziantep. Another earthquake measuring magnitude 7.7 struck central Türkiye following the initial quake, with the Syrian capital of Damascus also hit. ADRA has been on the ground responding since […]

Cyclone Jasper Flood Response

UPDATE on ADRA’s Cyclone Jasper Flood Response: 22 December 2023 In the aftermath of the devastating floods caused by ex-tropical cyclone Jasper, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in partnership with ADRA, is actively supporting affected communities in Far North Queensland where properties, public infrastructure and church members’ homes have been impacted. […]

Donate Your 10c Container Refund

Donate Your 10c Container Refund You can now donate your 10c container refund to ADRA Australia. When you choose to donate your refund, you are not only helping to keep your environment clean, but you are helping people to rise out of poverty and look forward to a brighter future! […]

ADRA’s Ukraine Response

UPDATE on ADRA’s Ukraine Response: February 2024 It has now been two years since the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Since the start of hostilities on 24 February 2022, ADRA launched a global response to assist the millions of women, children, families, and individuals who have fled their homes to […]

Give a Child a Better Life

“I am working hard so my children can get the education I didn’t have.” – Norn, Cambodia. When Norn was just five years old, her father passed away. Her parents worked in rural Cambodia raising cows, and without her father, the workload fell to Norn. As a result, she couldn’t […]

ADRA Delivers Aid After Nepal Earthquakes

ADRA has scaled up its National Emergency Management Plan (NEMP) to assist people affected by multiple powerful earthquakes that have struck Nepal since October 3. Strong seismic activity has left a trail of devastation in the country, with the most recent quake, measuring 6.4 on 3 November 2023, hitting the […]

A Word on the Conflict in Israel and Gaza

UPDATE: 14 May 2024 Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the plight of the local population has reached critical levels. Families have been forcibly displaced, essential infrastructure lies in ruins, and basic necessities like food and water have become alarmingly scarce. Shockingly, recent reports from the United Nations indicate that […]

Help Aussies in Need – Perri’s Story

“We went into hardship on our mortgage and my sick pay ran out, my annual leave ran out, everything ran out, and we were living off nothing.”  Perri and her husband were living the Australian dream: they had a mortgage on a home and Perri was facing a promotion that […]

Sanitarium, ADRA and 10,000 Toes join forces in Fiji

Partnering with ADRA, a team of 21 from Sanitarium Health Food Company (Australia) spent five days in Fiji providing better sanitation and healthcare for local communities from September 10 to 15. During their stay, the team completed the construction of 10 toilets for 15 families and an additional bathroom specially […]

Morocco Earthquake: ADRA Intensifies Efforts to Assist Victims in Hardest Hit Area

The ADRA emergency response teams are on the ground in Morocco ready to deliver humanitarian relief to victims in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake and aftershocks that devastated the country, on September 8. The major quake, with a magnitude of 6.8 and a depth of 18.5 kilometres, caused massive […]

Micah Women Leaders Delegation in Canberra to Promote a Safer World for All

10 August 2023 Earlier this week, 45 influential Christian women leaders brought together by Micah Australia converged in Canberra to advocate for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. The Micah Women Leaders Delegation, comprised of women from over 12 church denominations and Micah’s coalition of Aid and Development members, […]

San leaders pack relief parcels for ADRA

“Together: Collaborating as a community to get where we need to go” was the key theme of Adventist HealthCare’s (AHCL) annual Focus Day for 2023. Held each year, Focus Day is an opportunity for the San leadership team to examine the hospital’s mission, recognise achievements of the previous financial year […]

Partnership between Indigenous College and ADRA Op Shop

A years-long partnership between Bindoon Seventh-day Adventist Church, ADRA Australia and Mamarapha College is supporting Indigenous students with their tertiary studies. Located in Karragullen, Western Australia, Mamarapha College was established in 1997 and is part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system. “Mamarapha College provides a unique opportunity for Indigenous people […]

Nature-Based Social Inclusive Livelihoods and Climate Action Project

World Refugee Day 2023

Refugees are not just statistics — they are mothers, fathers, and children whose lives have been turned upside down by persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations. There are 103 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, according to the latest data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Among them […]

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Nyalgunga Women’s Empowerment Project

Feed a Child – Rabson’s story

“We mainly ate pumpkin leaves and maize, but it was lacking nutrition. My grandchild was underweight and malnourished.” Rabson lives in rural Zambia with his wife, children, and two-year old grandchild, Emmanuel*. Rabson is a farmer, but he struggled to produce enough crops to provide for his family. They ate […]

ADRA + Your School

This is an opportunity to engage your students with the charitable sector. Run a fundraiser or experience an ADRA project in person. Learn ways that your school and your student can get involved below.  

Ironman Fundraiser for ADRA

Andrew Thompson completed his first Ironman Triathlon and fundraised over $4,300 for ADRA Australia. A full-distance Ironman Triathlon is a 3.8km swim followed by a 180km cycle then finishing with a full 42.2km marathon run. On May 7, Andrew completed the Ironman Triathlon in a time of just over 14 […]

Bula Swath

Princess Mary Visits ADRA Family Centre

On Monday 24 April 2023, ADRA Vanuatu were honoured to have Her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Denmark and her delegate visit the Elang Family Support Services Centre at Etas, which is a component of ADRA Australia’s Blossom Project.  Princess Mary is interested in women’s empowerment and climate change, and […]

Disaster Updates – April 2023

Türkiye  In the early hours of Monday 6 February, two powerful earthquakes struck south-eastern Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northern Syria. ADRA is responding to the crisis in both countries.  In Syria, ADRA has helped a total of 26,535* people who have been affected by the earthquakes. A total of 49,575 […]

Volunteer Profile – Louise Ginn

“Dorolyn had a burden on her heart about the increasing number of discarded babies being found dead in the Port Vila area.”  Louise met Pastor Dorolyn Laloyer through a friend, Jenny Wigglesworth, in 2011. At the time, Dorolyn was the Director of Women’s Ministries at the Vanuatu Adventist Mission.  “Dorolyn […]

Easter Devotion

Thank you for partnering with ADRA to serve humanity so all may live as God intended — free from poverty and disadvantage. The year has gotten off to a flying start, and I am certainly looking forward to Easter as a moment to pause and reflect on what truly matters. […]

ADRA and Avondale bring affordable counselling to the community

A collaboration between Avondale and one of the largest op shops in Australia is bringing affordable counselling to the local community. One-hour sessions have been offered by qualified counsellors and supervised final-year counselling students at the ADRA Op Shop Morisset on Mondays and Wednesdays since March 1. “After working extensively […]

Mobilising women to be mission minded

At the end of 2021, Women’s Ministries Directors from around Australia decided they would like to collaborate on a national project to raise awareness and money for a worthwhile cause. The Blossom Project was chosen and launched early in 2022. Working with ADRA, Adventist Women Australia decided to set a […]

ADRA responds to Vanuatu cyclones

April 5:  The delivery of 216 tarpaulins donated by Bunnings Warehouse Australia has arrived in Vanuatu. These tarps will provide much-needed shelter to those whose homes have been damaged by category 4 cyclones Judy and Kevin. Over 80% of the population was affected by the storms. Thank you Bunnings!   […]

A Year of Conflict in Ukraine: ADRA’s Ongoing Humanitarian Response

ADRA continues to deliver humanitarian aid to support the people of Ukraine a year after the armed conflict displaced millions of civilians in the Eastern European nation. Since the start of hostilities on 24 February 2022, ADRA has launched a global response to assist the millions of women, children, families, […]

Türkiye and Syria Earthquake: Another Quake Rocks Devastated Region

ADRA Continues to Deliver Aid at Ground Zero A second major earthquake and dozens of strong aftershocks hit the devastated region of Syria and Türkiye (previously known as Turkey), resulting in additional deaths, injuries, and destruction, but ADRA remains committed to assisting the region’s impacted communities despite the tremors. The […]

DRC Expression of Interest

Disaster Ready Church

Help Your Church Be Ready When Disaster Strikes. The Disaster Ready Church Initiative engages with Seventh-day Adventist Churches in preparing to support their communities in times of disaster. Each church has its own unique location, experience, capacity, and existing local services which inform disaster planning. ADRA provides 2-day Disaster Ready […]

Estelle Hawkins Awarded North Burnett Citizen of the Year

ADRA volunteer Estelle Hawkins is the recipient of the 2023 North Burnett Citizen of the Year. Estelle has demonstrated wholehearted commitment to serving the community of Monto and North Burnett for the past 20 years. She was the key driver behind the opening of the ADRA Op Shop Monto, which […]

Words of Encouragement

Christmas food support at ADRA Wantirna

“Would anyone in the community care if our church closed? Would anyone, other than church members, notice?” This was the question the pastor of Wantirna Seventh-day Adventist Church asked his congregation six years ago. The silence that followed was uncomfortable. The members knew that if the church closed its doors, […]

Fleeing the war – Anna’s Story

UPDATE: 23 January 2023. Anna and her family fled to the city of Dnipro after a missile strike in their hometown of Lysychans’k, Ukraine. Five hours away from home, Anna and her family lived in relative safety alongside other displaced Ukrainians who were trying to rebuild their lives in this […]

Grow a Family’s Future – Maria’s Story

“We used the money we made from selling vegetables to provide for our needs, but it was never enough.” Maria lives in rural Timor-Leste with her husband, Salvador, and young children. She makes her living selling the vegetables she can grow at home. But it hasn’t always been easy. “We […]

ADRA’s flood response – 2022

UPDATE on ADRA’s Flood Response: November 17 The Lachlan River in Central NSW is set to hit a 70-year peak today, causing dangerous flooding and cutting off access to towns like Forbes. The river is expected to reach 10.8m. ADRA is partnering with local Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Dubbo, Parkes […]

ADRA Op Shop Morisset becomes one of the largest in Australia

The ADRA Op Shop Morisset celebrated its expansion and renovation with an official re-opening celebration on Sunday, November 6. The op shop is now the sole occupant of a warehouse with over 2000m2 of floorspace, making it one of the largest op shops in Australia. The celebration, attended by State Member […]

Building Belonging – Andrea’s Story

“I was in hospital and rehab for eight months having to learn how to do everything again – walk, talk, speak, make a cup of tea.” Andrea was born legally blind, but she never let it stand in the way of her dreams. Just a few years ago Andrea’s life […]

Devotion 6 – Belonging to God

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 There is nothing more powerful than belonging. Having a place, group of people, or […]

Devotion 5 – Iron sharpens iron

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 In the lead up to a […]

Devotion 4 – Where two or three are gathered

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20 How often have you heard the words of Matthew 18:20 used to open a church service, a bible study, a camp meeting, or other spiritual events? It is undoubtedly powerful to realise that […]

Devotion 1 – It’s not good to be alone

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 The tumultuous and unprecedented last few years have had some painful side effects – in particular, the feelings of loneliness and isolation we see spreading across communities. This can […]

Devotion 2 – Community in the quiet?

Much has been said and written about Jesus seeking solitude. A quick search online will bring up endless books, sermons and other resources focused on the moments Jesus sought out moments of silence and His desire to be alone. There’s certainly wisdom and power in following Christ’s example here – […]

Devotion 3 – Who does God belong to?

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35 Luke’s account of the early church is a powerful lesson in the destructive forces of […]

Sabbath Devotional

Sign up to receive a six-week devotional Grow closer to God and your community with our 6-week devotional series. Register below to receive your weekly Sabbath devotion.

ADRA’s contribution to food relief initiative featured on TV

With the need for food relief increasing across the country, ADRA Victoria has recently been invited to join Coles and SecondBite’s annual Winter Appeal campaign. Launched on June 22, this year’s campaign is directing its funds to SecondBite so they can continue providing food in the form of cooked meals, […]

One year on – an update from Wilson in Zambia

June 2022: Last year, we shared the story of Wilson, a young man in Zambia. Before he met ADRA, poverty and disability combined to crush Wilson’s hope for the future. “I was always called ‘chilema’, which means ‘paralytic’,” Wilson said. “Some people in my community, including some of my family […]

Elena’s journey as a refugee

Elena lived in Mariupol where she worked as an administrator in a steel factory. Her husband passed away many years ago, and her adult daughter lives in Poland. Elena loved her city, but this all changed on 24th February 2022 when her city came under siege. Direct attacks hit her […]

Building a Brighter Future – Shupikai’s Story

“We were living from hand to mouth, barely able to afford money for food and school fees.” Shupikai sits in the shade of her mudbrick home, a wide smile on her face. The two youngest of her five children play in the open area beside her home, their laughter drifting […]

Access an ADRA program

ADRA Australia operates community programs nationwide. From counselling to food pantries and emergency relief, these services are available to assist families and individuals who are experiencing hardship and who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Use the map below to find the ADRA program closest to you. You can zoom […]

Star-studded concert to launch EAA Ukraine Appeal

UPDATE April 4: On Wednesday March 28, there was a special Concert for Ukraine, starring Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Snow Patrol and more. If you missed the concert, you can catch up on ABC iView here. This will be available until April 29. All donations raised from the concert will […]

Emergency Action Alliance

Emergency Action Alliance is a collective of Australian-based aid organisations who use their reach and resources to save lives around the world. Together, we raise more money, for greater impact. By working together with other major humanitarian organisations we can channel the care and passion of our incredible supporters into […]

Masha’s Journey to Safety

Daniel is a member of ADRA’s emergency support staff, serving at one of the centers welcoming refugees forced to flee the conflict in Ukraine. Thousands of displaced people, mostly women and children, have come across the border where he is, and he shared the story from one. The following are his […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Russell Island

Australian charities join forces for Ukraine

The Emergency Action Alliance Ukraine Appeal has warmly welcomed the Australian Government’s $2 million commitment to Ukraine, which will support 15 Australian humanitarian aid charities that have united to launch an unprecedented, centralised appeal to help those affected by the war. This Emergency Action Alliance Ukraine Appeal makes it easier […]

Young mother Victoria is now a refugee

At night, Victoria falls asleep in a room crowded with people, mattresses, and luggage. When she wakes up, she calls her husband in Khmelnitsky, 320 kilometres across the Ukraine border, to see if he is still alive. Her seven-year-old daughter sleeps beside her. Across the room, alongside several other relatives, […]

Gauri’s Story – International Women’s Day 2022

Gauri was married off at just 13 years of age. Living in rural Nepal, this is sadly the case for far too many girls just like Gauri. Widespread poverty forces parents’ hands to either marry their children off or be left with another mouth they cannot feed. But with girls […]

Gender Equality

ADRA’s Tonga Response

UPDATE: 17 February 2022 On Sunday 6 February, Tonga entered a 14-day lockdown to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. As an essential service, ADRA’s response was permitted to continue, though the roll out of services has been adjusted to comply with lockdown restrictions. Over 700 affected households on the […]

Amina’s story – accessing education as a refugee

At nine years old, Amina* has been through more than anyone should experience in a lifetime. A missile strike on Amina’s hometown forced her family to flee Syria, fearing for their lives. Amina’s family fled to Lebanon with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the hope of a […]

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Turn on the Tap

Keep girls in school

“We could only go to the toilet when it was dark in the evening or at 5am in the morning before the sun rises.” At age 15, Mary* is the head girl at the Adventist boarding school she attends in the Solomon Islands. Her favourite subject is science and health […]

Our Projects

ADRA Australia works within a ‘Values-based Framework’ to achieve well-being and security for people on terms that are important to them. We ensure that all members of communities have the opportunity to participate in project activities without prejudice. We seek to build the capacity of overseas partner offices and local […]

ADRA Network

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the official humanitarian agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA Australia works as part of the global ADRA network, which extends into more than 100 countries. By partnering with local communities, organisations, and governments, we are able to deliver culturally relevant programs […]

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Denise’s Gift Equips Young Women

ADRA is honoured by individuals who choose to leave a long-lasting legacy through  a gift in their Will. After her passing, ADRA was honoured to receive a meaningful gift from the estate of supporter, Denise, whose only wish was that the money be used to help those in need.   Through Denise’s generosity, beneficiaries […]

$75 Worm Farm

Worms produce natural fertiliser and help to aerate the soil. Your gift will help a community garden to grow fresh fruit and vegetables for the local community to enjoy.

$2,300 Chicken Hatchery

Equip a chicken hatchery with an incubator, feeding equipment and fencing. A chicken hatchery will help a vulnerable person earn an income and meaningfully contribute to their family’s wellbeing.

How Basketball is Changing Lives

The ADRA community program in the Central Tablelands, NSW, is a shining example of collaboration between ADRA and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Run by the Bathurst, Mandurama and Cowra churches, the program supports families and local schools.  “We have supplied food parcels to 23 public schools in the area every month since April 2020,” says Pastor Raymon Paletua, the ADRA Program Manager. […]

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ADRA Community Care Centre – St Albans

Disaster Updates – Summer 2021

COVID-19 in Fiji:  ADRA has been on the ground assisting families impacted by COVID-19 in Fiji since a second wave struck in May. Our response has been in the form of food rations, the provision of personal protection equipment and financial assistance. “A lot of Fijians are in dire need of food and their livelihoods have […]

Friendship Day High-Tea

On 23 September 2021, the Victor Harbor ADRA Op-Shop held a high tea in honour of International Friendship Day. “The event was designed to facilitate the meeting together of single people to provide a space where friendships could be initiated or nurtured at no cost to them,” says Dawn Peterson, […]

Debbie’s Story

For as long as Debbie can remember, drugs dictated her life. “I was a drug addict for 48 years,” Debbie says. “I was always rejected from society, being a heroin addict, bikie, gangsta, whatever you wanted to label me.” During this time, Debbie and her family experienced periods of homelessness, […]

Youth Mentoring Program in New Zealand 

From a young age, Eden loved attending school. Although shy, she thrived in a school environment. For her, it was an escape from home.   At home, Eden was exposed to alcoholism and addiction of family members. Her mother and father were unable to take care of her and she was […]

Creating a Home for Myanmar Refugees 

Since early 2015, the Rohingya minority in Myanmar have been forced to flee to Bangladesh due to harsh military attacks and persecution.   Lalo Marjan, a Rohingya woman aged 48, witnessed this tragedy first-hand. “I was living peacefully in Myanmar with my family. I had my husband, and two daughters. Suddenly the military entered our village and started shooting […]

Church Agencies Network (CAN)

Church Agencies Network ADRA Australia is a proud member of the Church Agencies Network (CAN). Formed in 2004, CAN is a a group of twelve Church-based overseas aid and development agencies committed to empowering people and providing avenues for them to overcome injustice and poverty. We work closely with the […]

Long-term response after Haiti Earthquake & Tropical Storm

Since a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the southern regions of Haiti, death tolls continue to climb days after ongoing search and rescue efforts. Preliminary reports, still in early stages, indicate that there are now nearly 2,000 deaths, 6,900 injuries, and significant infrastructure loss, with over 37,000 houses destroyed and over 46,000 […]

ADRA Responds to 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake in Haiti

On Saturday, August 14, around 8:30 am, an earthquake measured at 7.2 magnitude struck the southern areas of Les Cayes, Jeremie, Saint Louis de Sud, Aquin, Petit Trou de Nippes, Anse-a-Veau, and Cavaillon, followed by several aftershocks. Vibrations could be felt as far as Jamaica, about 200 miles away. Local […]

ADRA joins humanitarian alliance

This article was originally published in the Adventist Record here. Sixteen Australian charities, including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), joined forces for the first time on 6 August 2021, to launch the newly-formed Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) at an online event that featured prominent government leaders, media executives […]

ADRA & You – July

A Message from the CEO For the last month, along with most of the south-east coast of Australia, my team has been working remotely. We know the lockdowns are challenging and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected. Sadly, our neighbours in Fiji have been severely […]

ADRA & You – June

A Message from the CEO Wow! June is always a crazy time. And that has never been more true than this year. I want to start by saying a big THANK YOU for your support of our End of Financial Year campaign. We put out a call for support to […]

Maira Hanhan

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October ADRA Appeal 2024

Family care centre first of its kind for Vanuatu

The Vanuatu government has given its full backing to the Vanuatu Mission (VM) of Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) to establish a family counselling centre in Etas, an area south-east of the capital Port Vila. The Elang Family Care Centre will cater to the social, […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Pine Rivers

ADRA & You – May

A Message from the CEO The End of Financial Year is just around the corner! At ADRA that means finalising our strategies, programs and budgets for the upcoming year. It is a busy time and we ask that you keep us in your prayers. There has been a lot going […]

Flood Assistance – East Coast Australian Floods

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the East Coast of New South Wales experienced its wettest week ever in mid-March, 2021. The week-long heavy rainfall resulted in significant flooding near catchment areas, including areas of southern Queensland. In some areas on the Mid North-Coast, flooding reached record heights and the Hawkesbury-Nepean […]

Farewelling Eddy Johnson

After 14 years as manager of the ADRA Community Care Centre at Blacktown, Pastor Eddy Johnson retired in early 2021. COVID restrictions delayed a formal farewell, but Conference ADRA Director Malcolm Rea hosted a luncheon on May 26 (before the most recent COVID-19 lockdown) in Eddy’s honour. Denison Grellmann, CEO […]

From a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’ – Wilson’s Story

“I thought I was a ‘nobody’. Now I know I’m a ‘somebody.’” – Wilson Crouched over in the dirt, Wilson is surrounded by chickens. As Wilson goes about his work, there is no wiping the smile off his face. Those chickens changed his life. Wilson was born and raised in […]

Evacuation Centres to Become Accessible

The Pacific Islands are one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. As such, humanitarian organisations like ADRA work with locals to ensure that communities are ‘disaster ready.’  Being ‘disaster ready’ includes activities like identifying evacuation centres using a Geographic Information System (GIS), having prepositioned supplies ready to distribute should disaster strike and preparing homes and crops in the lead up […]

UPDATE: ADRA’s response to COVID-19 in India

Published: 10 May 2021. Information is accurate at the time of posting. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is preparing to airlift critical medical supplies and several oxygen generation systems to ease India’s COVID-19 health crisis. ADRA is partnering with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including its Health Ministries Department, […]

Disaster Updates – Winter 2021

Timor-Leste Flooding  After torrential rain hit Timor-Leste on April 4, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dili and ADRA Timor-Leste has responded by distributing household kits. These kits included bedding and kitchen items, food, cleaning supplies and drinking water for families requiring urgent support. “ADRA Timor-Leste is ready to keep supporting these services with available resources to help […]

Volunteer Profile – Linda D’Abreu

“Volunteering gives everyone the opportunity to use their God-given talents. It transforms lives. And you could be the reason someone’s life changes.” – Linda D’Abreu  From Tuesday to Thursday, you will find Linda at the ADRA Mt Druitt Community Care Centre. Linda sorts through donated goods for the op shop and helps distribute food parcels. […]

Weekend of healing for women affected by the 2020 Far South Coast bushfires

Words: Amandine Ahrens. This story was originally published in Bega District News, with details added by ADRA Australia Throughout the bushfire season of 2019/20, Bega Seventh-day Adventist Church partnered with ADRA to support their local and surrounding communities who were evacuating to escape the flames. Over one year on, the […]

ADRA’s response to COVID-19 in India

ADRA is scaling up emergency operations in India to save thousands of lives in COVID-19 affected communities. The country is struggling with an unprecedented second outbreak of COVID-19 with more than 350,000 new coronavirus cases daily, according to the World Health Organization. Over 208,000 people have died in India since […]

How David’s Gift Became a Sanctuary

David John Brown always cared about helping women in their time of need and he wanted this to be his legacy. So, he left a gift in his will to ADRA.  David specified that his gift was to be used to support women’s refuges. At the same time that David’s gift came through to […]

ADRA Op Shop – Busselton

Words: Jennie Walker, ADRA Busselton Op Shop Manager The Busselton ADRA Op Shop is located in the Busselton CBD, right near Centrelink. During COVID-19, with so many waiting in line outside Centrelink, a whole new clientele has discovered the shop. Early in 2016, the landlord informed the Management Committee that […]

ADRA responds to Timor-Leste Flooding

ADRA Timor-Leste has distributed items to support families affected by severe flooding that took place in Dili on Easter Sunday. Early in the response, these materials were distributed to the victims of 41 households who lost all of their primary possessions. ADRA Timor-Leste carried out an immediate assessment through direct […]

Kangaroo Island Go Local

For the first time since COVID-19 restricted travel, an ADRA Connections Go Local trip took place from April 12-20. The Go Local trip saw year 12 and recently graduated students from Prescott College Southern in South Australia visit Kangaroo Island to help with bushfire recovery efforts. From December 2019, bushfire […]

International Women’s Day – 2021

This International Women’s Day, we #ChooseToChallenge gender inequalities. A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. This week we will be celebrating the achievements of women we have been blessed to partner with in making positive changes in the world. #IWD2021 Nepal The women in Rolpa, Nepal, have been […]

Request a Speaker

If your group or church is planning a special service or event for ADRA, send a request and an ADRA representative can share and answer questions about our work. Please note: Please allow at least 20 minutes for the speakers’ presentation. The opportunity to request and collect donations for the […]

Black Summer Fires – One Year On

“We were burnt out on New Year’s Eve,” said Bill. “It’s had a fair impact on our property.” It has been one year since the 2019-2020 bushfire season ravaged the Australian landscape. Known as the ‘Black Summer Fires’, the fires burned over 17 million hectares, claimed 33 lives and wiped […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Dandenong

A Christmas Hamper Collaboration

The delivery of 100 food hampers in December 2020 brought relief and joy to those who would otherwise have gone without over Christmas. The Christmas hampers were the result of a collaboration between Adventist Healthcare through the Sydney Adventist Hospital, ADRA Australia, and local Seventh-day Adventist Churches and pathfinder clubs. […]

Black Summer – Bill and Sandra

On 31 December 2019 while Australians prepared to bring in the New Year, a ferocious fire ripped through Bill and Sandra’s property in East Gippsland, Victoria. Since early 2016, life on the farm had become progressively more difficult as the long-term effects of the drought took hold. Bill and Sandra […]

Tabletop exercise paves the way for virtual humanitarian response

19 November 2020 On November 19, nearly 20 ADRA offices across Asia and the Pacific joined forces to pilot a virtual humanitarian response to a simulated disaster over an intense four hours. The virtual tabletop exercise was born out of the need to re-imagine disaster response support in a time […]

Clean water in Cambodia

“Seeing my children face these problems, I felt helpless. Even as their mother, what could I do?” Theakong’s home in north-west Cambodia is surrounded by tall green grass, puddles of water marking the end of the rainy season, and a dozen cows, their tails flicking to keep the flies at […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Preston

ADRA Community Care Centre – Melbourne City

ADRA Community Care Centre – Plenty Valley

ADRA Community Care Centre – Nunawading

ADRA Australia and ADRA New Zealand Alliance

Friday 30 October 2020 An alliance between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Australia and in New Zealand is in the process of being formalised. As part of the global ADRA Network, both ADRA Australia and ADRA New Zealand share the same purpose to ‘serve humanity so all […]

Connection in a time of COVID

Words: Sue Beament – ADRA Manager at Ferntree Gully One freezing, wet and windy Monday, volunteers were dodging raindrops to load up cars with food packages. By 2pm, the delivery drivers were off when an old van entered the car park. A woman, Amanda*, climbed out and hurried through the […]

99 year-old Enid walks the City2Surf to help others get back on their feet

UPDATE: At 99 years of age, Enid Webster completed her sixth City2Surf over the weekend to raise funds for the ADRA Appeal. She completed the 14km walk in just under 3 hours and 30 minutes and says of her daily walks, “Regular walking sure pays off!” as the next day […]

ADRA News – Summer 2020

ADRA Community Care Centre – Bendigo

ADRA Community Care Centre – Ferntree Gully

ADRA Community Care Centre – Wantirna

ADRA Community Bus – Pakenham

Recovering from fires – Bega Valley

On the border between NSW and Victoria, three hours from Canberra lies the Bega Valley. With beautiful hills and gorgeous coastal hamlets, it is hard to believe that the region has been ravaged by fires multiple times in recent years. On March 18 2018, fires in Tathra resulted in the […]

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Ross’ Story

Ross was happily living out his retirement with his wife in western Sydney, but in the space of a week his life was turned upside down. “My wife passed away very suddenly,” Ross says. “She was only 47. I was quite shocked and heartbroken and I wasn’t in a good […]

Victor Harbor Op Shop Delivering Fun to Disadvantaged School Communities

The fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many businesses and families within our local community continue to do it tough. The Victor Harbor ADRA Op Shop sees all too often the vulnerability and disadvantage many are facing. Manager Dawn Peterson, alongside approximately 35 other volunteers at ADRA Op Shop […]

ADRA in North-West Tasmania

ADRA volunteers in the north-west of Tasmania have been supporting their local communities with fresh produce and non-perishable items through the Waratah Community Centre, delivery to the doors, and Smithton Food Pantry. Recently, community interest in the Smithton Food Pantry has grown as result of a Facebook campaign, resulting in […]

Brisbane Spanish Church Reaches Out to International Students in Time of Need

“God has placed in my heart the desire to help international students, since I have also been a student in other countries, and I know it is not easy,” says Pastor Yimi Duarte of Brisbane Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Due to the pandemic many students were left without work and […]

Counselling continues through COVID-19

“Coming home after a lengthy prison sentence can present far more challenges than most people realise. Being constantly told what to do and when to do it can take away a person’s confidence to make decisions. Years without an income takes its toll on the families who wait outside for […]

ADRA Drought Response in SA

  Since December 2019, ADRA has been involved in Drought Relief activities in South Australia. The response has seen a volunteer team visit the Mallee Region, where drought-affected farmers and families were identified. The team then visited with some of those farmers and discussed their situation and listened to their […]

Changes to the ADRA Appeal

For over 100 years Adventists have gone from door to door collecting funds for the Appeal for Missions – an event that later became known as the ADRA Appeal. Fondly known as “Knocktober”, this event became an annual part of the church calendar, and continues to raise vital funds for […]

The Gift That Keeps Giving

When ADRA received a generous bequest from a loyal donor, part of the gift was used to purchase a bus. How useful is a bus, you might ask? Well, for thousands of people in Brisbane’s south, it has made a crucial difference. Each week the ADRA Community Centre in Logan […]

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Beirut Explosion – Survivor and Responder

On August 4, a catastrophic explosion blasted through Beirut. Lebanon was already in a critical situation with high unemployment rates and rising poverty in the wake of a long battle with COVID-19. When 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the capital, it sent the country into an extraordinary crisis. […]

Official Opening of the ADRA Op Shop Morisset

“There was a massive turnout – over 600 people came!” – Cas Foster, ADRA Op Shop Morisset Manager. When Cas Foster put up a Facebook post on the ADRA Op Shop Morisset page on Saturday night, she imagined she would reach a couple of thousand people if she was lucky. […]

Beirut Explosion – ADRA Responds

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) response teams in Lebanon are providing essential emergency supplies to recovery workers and survivors of the massive explosion in Beirut’s port.  The huge blast that struck the Lebanese capital city on August 4, killed at least 158 people, wounded more than 6,000 people, and […]

Recognition from Federal MPs for work in Victoria

From 6pm on Sunday 2 August, Victoria entered stage 4 restrictions and a State of Disaster was declared by the Premier. This decision, while necessary to help slow the spread of the second wave of coronavirus, has the potential to push already vulnerable people over the edge. The ADRA team […]

A letter of thanks

For the many ADRA staff and volunteers around Australia, they throw themselves headfirst into the position of serving their local community. And while they never expect praise, it is truly humbling to receive a letter of thanks. Which is what Kate Barratt, the Redwood Community Centre Manager, received in her […]

Paying it forward in Victoria

Even at the best of times, winter is a challenging time for the vulnerable. Warm coats and good boots can be expensive, making them difficult to come by. But with the added stress of COVID, making it through the winter would be tough. So when a man walked through the […]

Denison Grellman Appointed New CEO for ADRA Australia

Denison Grellmann has been appointed as the new CEO for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia. Mr Grellmann will replace outgoing CEO Paul Rubessa, who announced in April that he had accepted the position of Manager – Investment and Financial Services with the South Pacific Division. With a […]

Getting to know our new CEO

ADRA Australia is excited to be welcoming Denison Grellmann to the team in the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). We thought we would ask him a few questions so you can get to know him. Tell us about yourself and your family My wife Priscila and I are both […]

Thank You!

I have always known that you, our ADRA supporters, are special. Even in these uncertain times, you have shown incredible faith and generosity through your giving to our Overcome Appeal. Thanks to your support, we were able to raise $1.15M during our Overcome Appeal. These vital funds mean that now […]

Cambodia’s response to COVID-19

ADRA Cambodia has responded to COVID-19 through supplying personal protection equipment and education materials for communication of effective quality information so that community members will make the right choices in their personal hygiene, sanitation and social distancing behaviours to prevent, control and respond to COVID-19. The support took place in […]

ADRA Zimbabwe continues to provide relief during lockdown

Like most of the world, Zimbabwe has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The country has been on lockdown since the beginning of April, with only essential workers able to commute to and from their workplace. The rest of the population is at home with no access to their various […]

Jodie’s Story

“I was really struggling to scrape money together for even the basics, including food.” This is what Jodie, who was at crisis point, says. A reduced disability pension and inability to work made her incredibly vulnerable.  “A friend told me about a place that would help me out with food,” […]

The Pickle Sisters

“Before we did not come out of the house,” says Mina, one of three Nepalese women who together are known as the ‘Pickle Sisters.’ “We just had to do housework, cut grass and collect firewood.”  Sadly, the story is the same for many women in Nepal, with generational poverty and […]

10,000 Toes Update – May 2020

From its conception in 2018, 10,000 Toes has been working to Turn the Tide on Type II Diabetes in the South Pacific. Check out the below newsletter for updates on the work and reach of the campaign, recipes, and how much has been raised so far!

ADRA News Winter 2020

Read the Winter 2020 edition of ADRA News below.

CLOSER Project Wrapping Up

The CLOSER Project in Malawi to wrap up by 30 June 2020. Thank you for your support of the CLOSER Project (Creating Livelihood Opportunities for Sustainable Food and Economic Resilience) in Malawi, from its beginnings as Tsogolo Labwino Project, meaning “Towards a Brighter Future.” Thanks to you, more than 29,000 people in […]

ADRA News – Winter 2020

The second greatest commandment

Words: Paul Rubessa If you read through the gospel of Matthew, by the time you arrive at chapter 22, the influence of Jesus’ earthly ministry is growing. He has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey with believers laying cloaks and branches on the road and shouting, “Hosanna to the son […]

Thank you

Thank you for your willingness to help the most vulnerable in these tough times. Because of your help, struggling parents will be able to feed their families. Personal Protective Equipment has been provided to our volunteers, allowing them to continue to serve their communities. And those experiencing loneliness in this […]

Outgoing ADRA CEO Changed by Dedication to Service

When CEOs depart, it is common practice to acknowledge their contribution to bringing about change to the organisation. Paul Rubessa, who today announced his soon departure from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia, instead highlighted how the agency’s people – particularly its supporters, volunteers and staff – changed […]

Changing seasons – my journey with ADRA

One of the many things that Linda and I loved about living in Melbourne (more than 20-years ago now) were the distinctive seasons. The changes were really noticeable – from summer to autumn, autumn to winter, winter to spring and then back to summer. There is something special about changing […]

ADRA finds innovative ways to help the most vulnerable

This article was originally published by the Adventist Record in March, 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, ADRA Australia programs are continuing to find innovative ways to serve their communities. Community meals have now become takeaway, counselling services have moved online and care packages, including toiletries, are being […]

Our doors are open to keep serving during COVID-19

As the COVID-19 crisis intensifies in Australia, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia is committed to keeping its doors open to help those who need it most. “Our mission is to serve the most vulnerable in our communities,” says Paul Rubessa, ADRA Australia CEO. “We are seeing that […]

COVID-19 Update from ADRA CEO

A message from Paul Rubessa, CEO ADRA Australia: With concern growing around the spread of COVID-19, ADRA Australia is committed to do its part in both slowing its spread while continuing to meet the needs of the communities with which we work. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Australia […]

Virus or not, hygiene saves lives

A message from our CEO, Paul Rubessa. The spread of COVID-19 has affected the way that many people go about their daily lives. I hope you are staying safe and well. The good news is you are still helping people, despite the virus. Around the world, ADRA works with local partners on […]

Bridget’s story of survival

“I was alone… and the whole house collapsed on me.” In Chimanimani, Zimbabwe, 20 year old Bridget was woken by the roar of her house collapsing around her. That night, more than 370 lives were lost as a cyclone ripped through her town. “I called for help, but it took […]

Transformative Hope – August’s Story

August sits on the round wooden stool beside her mud brick house. Her four children are running around playing games nearby. She looks down at the bare earth ground, before looking up confidently. “I have my dreams for my children and what I want them to become in the future,” […]

Drought Response in Biloela

Early on Sunday morning, three days before Christmas, a small but committed team of volunteers banded together for a road trip north to Biloela to provide much-needed drought relief to the community. It is an area, like much of Queensland, that has been hit hard by the on-going drought. What […]

Tammie and Brett – Bushfires in Cobargo

Tammie and Brett live in the country town of Wandella, just outside Cobargo. On 31 December 2019, they were woken in the middle of the night from a phone call. It was their son, who was out battling the bushfires with the Rural Fire Service. “You need to leave,” he […]

Update on the Bushfires and ADRA’s response

Here is another update about how your support has enabled ADRA to help those affected by the devastating bushfires. Below are just a few examples. A lot more is happening all around the country. Albury Adventist Church members, with ADRA’s help, coordinated the purchase and delivery of food and supplies to the Country Fire Association (CFA) volunteers […]

ABC radio report features ADRA volunteers

Our hardworking volunteers across the country are helping with the devastating bushfires. From Bega to Bairnsdale and Biloela to Kangaroo Island, ADRA volunteers have been providing accommodation, food, water, generators, food for livestock and other requested items. Recently, ABC Radio featured ADRA’s response. ABC Radio Interviewer David Sparkes described ADRA Bairnsdale as “a highly organised […]

ADRA’s response to the Bushfires

The bushfires that are ravaging Australia are devastating. Dozens of lives have been lost and hundreds of houses burned to the ground. Since November, ADRA together with Seventh-day Adventist churches and volunteers, has provided food and accommodation to people affected by the bushfires, and has supported the firefighters. Below are just a few examples of the many ways your […]

Shatha’s New Vision

Last week Shatha’s older sister’s glasses were stolen.   At just 6 years old, Shatha knew she had to do something. She didn’t chase down the thieves or make ‘lost-and-found’ posters – instead she promised her sister that one day she’d become an eye-doctor so she could help.   This was the latest in a series of traumatic events in the […]

Fighting Hunger

At eight years of age, Zira knows the pain of feeling hungry. And her mother knows the desperation of seeing her children starve and the shame of them being chased away from school. The family lives in a remove province in Zimbabwe and this is their story. A Daughter’s Story: […]

ADRA News – Summer 2019

Thank You from the ADRA CEO

Thank you so much for your support of the ADRA Appeal this October. Whether you organised or participated in a fundraising event, whether you door-knocked in your local community or collected donations at a public place, or whether you gave directly to the Appeal, your efforts and your generosity will […]

Love Gift

Your Love Gift will help the people who need it most – children who will otherwise die from starvation, girls who have no choice but to leave school, and parents who’ve given up hope. This gift is your way of working with God to help others. Your Love Gift of […]

$1,000 Treadle Pump

Without irrigation many farmers cannot grow enough to feed their family or sell for an income. You can provide a treadle pump to a farmer so their farm can thrive.

$1,500 School Toilet Block

A school without a toilet leaves students vulnerable and more likely to drop out of school early. You can gift an entire toilet block to a school, giving students a safe and hygienic place to use.

$10 Essential School Supplies

School supplies are scarce in developing countries. Your gift will enable a child to make the most of going to school by providing them with a resource pack.

$9 Fight Hunger

A malnourished child is in critical danger. Because of you, a child will have meal replacements for one month so they can survive.

$100 Diabetes Screening Kit

Diabetes is taking lives and limbs in the South Pacific. You can help reverse the tide of diabetes by providing a screening kit. This initiative is part of the 10,000 Toes campaign.

$800 Breeding Buck

Growing a goat-rearing business helps vulnerable farmers improve their income. By providing a valuable breeding buck, you can enable a farmer to expand their business.

Mia’s Story

Mia has always been community minded and service driven. Having grown up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mia knew about ADRA. And so, within months of moving to Brisbane with her husband and two children, she reached out to the local ADRA Community Centre in Logan and began to volunteer […]

Tyson’s Story

At 21 years old, the cycle of alcohol abuse, drug use, and declining mental health seemed inescapable for Tyson. A couple of years ago Tyson was living a normal life. He had a full time job, a loving family, and a healthy relationship with his girlfriend. But gradually, his life […]

Coonabarabran Op Shop continues funding to those in need

At its April meeting, the Coonabarabran ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) Op Shop committed funding of $21,000 to be distributed to community group organisations in the local district, and also some overseas projects. This included $2,000 to victims of Cyclone Idai in Africa and a school education project in […]

Christian women leaders advocate against Pacific violence

Female representatives from the Seventh-day Adventist Church met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other senior parliament members in Canberra on September 17-18, to advocate the issue of violence toward women and children in the Pacific. Greater Sydney Conference Adventist Women’s Ministries director Beryl Landers and Australian Women’s Christian […]

Official opening of Zen-sory Space and Play Area

On a cheerful and sunny afternoon, Mallee Rose Cottage – the ADRA Community Centre in Macquarie Fields – officially opened its new Zen-sory Space and Play Area. For the past six years, Mallee Rose Cottage has been a refuge for families in Macquarie Fields. With services ranging from counselling to […]

First Adventist safe house opened in PNG

This post was originally written for and published by the Adventist Record. In what is believed to be a first for Papua New Guinea Union Mission, the Silva Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church has opened a family violence shelter on their property in June Valley. The refuge will provide temporary accommodation for those […]

Your 10,000 Toes Update

The 10,000 Toes Campaign is a partnership between ADRA Australia and the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist church committed to stamping out diabetes in the South Pacific. Dr Lillian Kent, a Conjoint Lecturer at Avondale College of Higher Education, has recently completed the 10,000 Toes program trial in Fiji. The […]

Hidden Gems in the Mitcham Op Shop

The Mitcham ADRA Op shop is a humble store located on the outskirts of Melbourne selling various clothing and household items to shoppers. Those who come into the store are welcomed by the store’s manager Marina Wirenski and the volunteers that help keep the store in order. Marina promotes meeting […]

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The future for They Are Not Alone project

The They Are Not Alone (TANA) project started a few years ago, sparked by a lecture from Avondale’s Dr Brad Watson and spearheaded by one of the students who listened to the lecture, Linda Ciric. The initial campaign had two goals: to raise $100,000 through a partnership with ADRA Australia […]

Oil and development in Timor Leste

One of Australia’s closest neighbours, Timor Leste, is a young country. In fact, it is currently the fourth-youngest country in the world. After centuries of occupation, Timor Leste was officially declared independent in 2002. Since then, the nation of Timor Leste has been working hard to establish itself and repair the physical […]

Jamal’s Story

Jamal* is an eight-year-old girl from Syria. She lives with her parents and three siblings all in a one-room home in the Dekweneh area of Lebanon. Their house is hand built by their father with only blocks of stones. Staying with five members in a confined area distracts Jamal from […]

The global impact of ADRA’s reach

ADRA Australia is part of a global network and has offices all over the world. In Australia alone, we partner with 11 countries. Often we focus on what ADRA Australia has done within our borders and through these partner countries. But this means we can easily forget how far ADRA […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Redwood

PNG earthquake: The long road to recovery

In February 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake devastated the Southern Highlands of PNG. The mountainous area was completely isolated. 544,000 people were affected, 26,000 were left without a home, and 200 people were killed. Homes and other vital infrastructure crumbled, and locals were faced with the enormous task of cleaning […]

Blacktown Centre equips next generation of counsellors

The ADRA Community Centre in the heart of Blacktown is supporting Sydney’s most vulnerable people. Run predominantly by volunteers, the Centre offers a range of services from food parcels to social work, but is best-known for its free quality counselling. “Financial stress is common among people who receive counselling from […]

The Least of These – A Call To Serve

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” [Matthew 25:40] “Freely you have received, freely give.” [Matthew 10:8] The Bible has numerous examples of Jesus loving people with actions, not just words. We live in a […]

Paul’s Heart for Service

The first year anniversary for the ADRA Op Shop in Chinchilla has been bitter-sweet. As the Op Shop volunteers celebrated one year of offering help to the local community on 26 June 2019, they were missing a very important volunteer who has been instrumental in the start-up and success of […]

Sabbath School guide focused on helping ‘the least of these’

This post was originally written by Linda Edorsson for the Adventist Record. Church leaders from the South Pacific are making a global impact through the third quarter’s Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, which challenges readers to respond to injustice, oppression and suffering by highlighting the Bible’s call to “do justice”. […]

School Renovation

“Imagine if” – turning ideals into reality

I love being a parent. And I usually jump head-first into whatever activities my kids show interest in – although there have been a few exceptions. So last September, when Abbey invited me to join her on a challenge to go without chocolate for one year, I said “yes” – […]

A Life of Service

Maxine Abblott always wanted an active and meaningful retirement. For the last eight years, she has maintained a busy but happy lifestyle by volunteering for ADRA. Maxine started out by helping a few people every week, but now she is helping more than 200 people per week. “I’m an on-the-ground type […]

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World Refugee Day — June 20

June 20 is World Refugee Day, a day when the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) joins the United Nations and the world to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees, and show support for families forced to leave their homes due to persecution or conflict. ADRA remains […]

Development vs. Welfare

Most Australians are familiar with the fish analogy: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This simple concept is the basis of development work around the world. While it is human nature to […]

Elvira’s Story

It’s 2am in the morning. Rain is pounding on the tin roof. Elvira wants to just roll over and fall back to sleep – but nature calls. She picks her way through the overgrown grass outside the house and ventures as far into the bush as she dares: surely no […]

ADRA News – Winter 2019

Agribusiness and Water for Better Life

Maria’s Story

The sound of roosters crowing fills the air long after the sun has risen. Maria leads us between the wooden houses of her village to an open space in the shade of palm trees. Although missing a leg, she sits with barely any difficulty. We are in a rural village […]

A Day in the Life of an ADRA Connections Trip

Mr & Mrs Brooks from Edinburgh College share their experience from Vanuatu of a week well spent on an ADRA Connections Trip. An ADRA Connections trip is more than the sum of its parts: local hospitality, tropical heat and island beauty; labour-intensive physical work, made light by many hands; island […]

Your Update on Cyclone Idai

It has been over a month since Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc on the lives of millions in southern Africa. Since then, your generous donations have been vital in providing life-saving support to survivors. ADRA’s immediate focus has been on providing food, clean water and psychological support to thousands of traumatised […]

A sanctuary in the heart of Blacktown

In the heart of Blacktown, perched above the hustle and bustle of commuters pouring out of the train station, lies the ADRA Blacktown Community Centre. For over a decade, a dedicated team of mostly volunteers have been serving their local community by meeting their greatest physical and emotional needs. The […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Belmont

An hour in their shoes

This post was originally written for and published by the Adventist Record. A few years ago I attended Voices for Justice, an annual event organised by Micah Australia. Its purpose: to inspire, train and equip Christians to speak with federal politicians about global poverty. As the years have passed, the exact details […]

ADRA Australia transitions from emergency accommodation arrangement

As you may know, thousands of ADRA volunteers, in partnership with the NSW State Government, have been providing assistance with accommodation arrangements during emergencies in NSW since 1975. Providing accommodation to people in emergencies was only made possible by the commitment, dedication, and passion of these volunteers. They have given […]

Devastation in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai

Communities in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have been devastated by what is being described as the worst natural disaster to hit the southern hemisphere. Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique on March 14, resulting in a trail of destruction. Heavy rains and ferocious winds swept through the three nations, causing […]

Addressing depression after the drought

Depression and anxiety are mental health challenges that have faced many people in communities affected by severe drought. Even once physical relief comes, whether through rain or funding, the effects of depression and anxiety linger. To address this in drought-affected communities, ADRA invested in training 46 people as associate directors […]

ADRA Australia to transition from Keep Girls Safe Project

ADRA Australia will Fund Keep Girls Safe Project until December 2019 Your support of the Keep Girls Safe project in Thailand, in partnership with ADRA Australia, has provided shelter to girls in need, helping them to stay in school longer and access improved employment opportunities. Over the past three years, […]

Dewi’s Hope

Everyday life for Dewi, her husband Abyasa and their two children changed in the blink of an eye on September 28, 2018. Dewi, Abyasa and their three-year-old son, Budi, had been selling fish at the markets in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and were on their way home. The family piled onto […]

$500 Crisis Shelter Pack

Disasters destroy homes and lives. Your gift can provide a Crisis Shelter Pack including tarpaulins, ropes and pegs for five families devastated by a disaster.

ADRA Drought Relief Appeal: Anna’s Story

The drought is severe. You’ve got livestock to feed with hay that costs a minimum of $480 per bale — without it, your animals will starve to death. Your newly-fledged farming business is one you’ve put everything into, but because you’ve not been in operation for long enough, you’re not […]

ADRA responds to Townsville Floods

The people of Townsville have always been community minded, so the response to the current flooding is no exception. Having received a year’s worth of rain in nine days, Townsville is facing some of the worst flooding in its history. Thousands of houses have been affected, schools have shut down, […]

Relief from the Drought

Your donations to ADRA’s recent Drought Relief Appeal are making a real difference in the lives of farmers and their families. Take the rural kids from far-flung farms and stations who look forward to the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) sports camp every year for example. The camp is an […]

Thank You ADRA Appeal Volunteers

The ADRA Appeal in October saw thousands of volunteers being compelled to serve in their local communities and to help people in need. “Thank you. We’re grateful to have so many incredible volunteers who generously give their time to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Paul Rubessa, ADRA Australia […]

Advocates raise voice to get #KidsOffNauru

ADRA supporters were among a group of Australian Christians calling for the release of children held in immigration detention on Nauru. The statement was made by participants at the Justice Conference at the Melbourne Town Hall on October 27. “As Christians, we cannot in good faith be complicit in, or bystanders […]

Kids, Carols and Christmas

Organising an ADRA Christmas Tree fundraiser is easy, and it can be a lot of fun! Deina Bailey explains. Over the past few years, our church (Lilydale, VIC) has featured the ADRA Christmas appeal at our annual Carols night. Here’s the story of how we’ve built the event to now […]

How does the ADRA Appeal help?

It’s October, which means the annual ADRA Appeal is here! Our senior fundraising manager Aleksandra Ewing shares some insights. How does the ADRA Appeal help? Where does the money go? The funds raised during the ADRA Appeal go to support people in need in Australia and overseas. This funding is […]

Falling Through the Cracks

Four years ago, Jonathon was comfortable. Then his life turned upside down. He recounts an incredible journey of heartbreak, despair and, ultimately, hope. It’s 2am. Cold and dark. Jonathan lies awake, shivering. The abandoned factory Jonathon and his three young boys call their home is not peaceful and quiet. Next […]

Eden Valley Academy to continue independently

Eden Valley Academy (EVA) will continue to run independently following a mutual agreement between EVA founder and director Helen Hall and ADRA Australia which ends ADRA’s partnership with the project. ADRA Australia’s involvement with EVA commenced shortly after the Academy was established in 1983. The Academy provides education and vocational […]

Thank You… Directly from Nepal

During our end-of-financial year, we were blown away by the generosity of our donors. If you were one of them, thank you! We have a special ‘Thank You’ video for you. It comes directly from Nepal because your recent generous donation means so much to us all. [WATCH BELOW] From […]

Vital Connection

Code of Conduct

ADRA Australia Code of Conduct 1. Purpose and Scope This Code of Conduct sets out the expectations for the behaviour and standards of professional and personal conduct for ADRA Australia’s employees (including Conference ADRA Directors), volunteers, contractors, committee members and Company Directors (ADRA Australia Personnel) in the performance of their […]

A Light Bulb Moment

One Friday morning in April, I enjoyed a beach sunrise with one of my daughters as part of a school activity. It was an experience I have filed away in my precious memories. Once the activity concluded and the parents were excused, I took the opportunity to enjoy a quick […]

Bhagwati’s Amazing Story

In a small hillside village in western Nepal, Bhagwati kneels beside the fire and warms her hands in front of red-hot coals. As she prepares breakfast for her two children, the sun creeps above the fog – its warm glow beginning to heat the chilled air. On the menu this […]

ADRA receives 5-year DFAT accreditation extension

ADRA Australia has been granted full accreditation from the Australian government for another five years. The accreditation, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), means ADRA is eligible to receive annual government funding for development projects. The accreditation process is lengthy and rigorous, designed to ensure NGOs are […]

Solomon Islands Dental Project

Speaking up for Fairness and Generosity

Ahead of next week’s federal budget, there have been reports of further cuts to Australia’s foreign aid budget. In response, Adventist leaders have spoken out, encouraging church members to advocate for a fairer and more generous approach. ADRA Australia CEO Paul Rubessa said he was “alarmed” to hear reports of another […]

Contact Us

ADRA Responds to PNG Earthquake

During the early hours of February 26, a massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The quake was the largest earthquake recorded in the region for almost 100 years. Since the major earthquake, there have been dozens more powerful aftershocks and tremors. Because it shook such a remote part […]

ADRA Responds to Fiji flooding

ADRA has responded to flooding after a cyclone affected parts of Fiji earlier this month. On April 1, Tropical Cyclone Josie passed over Fiji affecting mainly the western part of Fiji. While it was only a Category 1 storm, parts of the country experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall over a short […]

ADRA Volunteers Respond to Bushfire Emergency

A team of ADRA volunteers has been personally thanked by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for their efforts responding to the devastating bushfires in south-eastern NSW. Hundreds of people were evacuated to Bega and Bermagui following the Tathra bushfire that rapidly spread on March 18. The fire […]

Learning Through Play

A Safer Future

ADRA delivers Cyclone Gita relief

ADRA has distributed hundreds of food parcels to vulnerable people in Tonga following Tropical Cyclone Gita. On February 12, Cyclone Gita devastated the Kingdom of Tonga. The Category 4 storm was the strongest in 60 years and caused significant damage and destruction. Wind speeds of over 230km/h battered the country and heavy […]

Anwara’s Story

It was 2am when Anwara climbed into the boat. In the teeming darkness, strange hands passed her up toward the bow and unfamiliar bodies pressed against her. She called out softly to her children, her hands feeling about for their faces. The small boat, weighed down by more than 40 […]

Why Orphanages Are Not Best Practice

Children are so often at the heart of why we give to charity. In them we see the hope for a better future. This is perhaps why so many people support orphanages all around the world. However, development experts and credible NGOs increasingly believe that orphanages can cause harm to […]

Generosity That Comes Full Circle

As a child, Christmas was always exciting for me. I remember well the joy of creating a gift for my mum or dad: gluing shells and pasta to a frame and wrapping it up in paper I had decorated myself. I was practically shaking with excitement as I watched them […]

Get to know our new CEO

As you may already know by now, we have a new CEO – Paul Rubessa. But you might be wondering: “Who is he?” So we thought we’d ask Paul a few questions, so you can get to know him. Can you tell us about yourself and your family? I grew […]

Meet the Mackay Op Shop Volunteers

Tuesday 5 December was International Volunteer Day. Below, four volunteers share their stories.   Maciej A listening ear—this is what local pastor Maciej provides to the customers at ADRA’s Mackay Op Shop by volunteering. He remembers a lady coming into the shop one day looking distressed. “I could tell she needed someone to […]

Diary from a Disaster Zone – Rohingya Crisis

In September, Michael Peach spent 2 weeks in Bangladesh leading ADRA’s response to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. We’ve asked him to tell us what it was like. While you were in Bangladesh, what did your typical day look like? 5:30am: Wake up and prepare for a 6am Skype call […]

Save 10,000 Toes

Debbie’s ADRA Appeal Story

The day starts with prayer in Berwick, Victoria as volunteers from Pakenham Church prepare for a roadside traffic collection for the ADRA Appeal. Debbie, leading her team of 22 volunteers, says she’s always surprised by the people who give. “It’s those with the battered cars that just hand you this […]

Church Partnership Program

“A time to share”: How to organise a Christmas Tree Fundraiser

“Christmas time is a time to share!” says Kylie Jensen, year 5 teacher at Northpine Christian College in Queensland. “Sadly, many children each Christmas not only miss out on a gift, but also go without food.” This sad reality of poverty and hardship was what compelled Kylie to organise a Christmas Tree fundraiser […]

Mark Webster receives ACFID award

Outgoing ADRA Australia CEO Mark Webster has received a prestigious award from the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for the NGO sector. Each year at its national conference, ACFID presents the Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding […]

Minds in the Fields

In early October, the ADRA Community Centre in Macquarie Fields in southwestern Sydney held an important event. Minds in the Fields is an initiative run by the ADRA Community Centre in partnership with the local Police to help remove the negative stigma surrounding mental health. The event was particularly aimed […]

Thank You – Grant Christmas Wishes

Soul Cocoa Plus

Blais’s Story

Blais sits relaxed in the plastic chair under his house. His wide grin reveals a friendly personality as he tells his story. It starts in another part of the Solomons: Choiseul Province, northwest Solomon Islands, where he was born. These days, Blais has a wife and two young girls, aged […]

$100 Baby Goat

Goats are a valuable source of income for vulnerable farmers. Help a farmer start a goat rearing business to provide for their family and to send their children to school.

$6,300 Electric Pumped Well

Water is an integral part of everyday life. You can provide an electric pumped well giving clean water to drink and irrigation for community gardens.

Paul Rubessa appointed new CEO of ADRA Australia

12 October 2017: Paul Rubessa has been appointed as the new CEO of ADRA Australia. Mr Rubessa will replace outgoing CEO Mark Webster, who announced in July that he was moving to Bangkok to work at ADRA Asia. Formally the manager at Risk Management Services (RMS), Mr Rubessa will begin […]

Messy, Crowded & Muddy But Never Hopeless

As we drive into the refugee camp, everyone in the car falls quiet and just looks through the windows. I almost could not believe my eyes: shelter after shelter on hills, in the forest – anywhere where there is space. Everywhere. And so many people. People walking on the road, sitting in every shade or […]

Rohingya Refugees Desperate for Food, Shelter

The Rohingya refugee crisis has forced more than 400,000 people to flee their homes in Myanmar and take refuge in makeshift camps in Bangladesh. Helal left Myanmar with his mother, his wife and three children. “We fled with only the clothes we are wearing. I don’t know where my father […]

Advocates Fundraise to Keep Girls Safe

Students from Central Coast Adventist School (CCAS) in Erina, NSW have raised more than $11,000 for ADRA’s Keep Girls Safe project in Thailand. During the school’s week of spiritual emphasis, chaplain Leighton Heise wanted to challenge and inspire students to think beyond their own backyard and “give hope”. The school chose […]

ADRA Responds to Hurricane Irma, Floods in Asia, Earthquake in Mexico

Catastrophic flooding, huge earthquakes and devastating hurricanes are affecting millions of people from Nepal to Mexico. With a vast international network, ADRA is able to respond comprehensively to almost every disaster. Here is a summary: Hurricane Irma In the Caribbean, ADRA is conducting rapid assessments to determine the most significant needs […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Macquarie Fields

ADRA Responds to Nepal Flooding

Severe flooding in Nepal, India and Bangladesh has killed more than 1200 people and left millions of people displaced. As a global network, ADRA is responding to assist thousands of people in Nepal affected by this crisis. In Rautahat, ADRA has already distributed shelter items, food packages and hygiene kits to 450 households. […]

Gift in your Will

Your Legacy is Their Future With your help, the next generations in need in Australia and around the world will experience life as God intended it for them – free from poverty and disadvantage. You can rest assured that your thoughtful gift will be used carefully and wisely to make the […]

Townsville Food Pantry

Generosity flourishes as ADRA breaks record

Generous donors have contributed to ADRA Australia receiving its largest ever total during the agency’s end-of-financial year appeal, meaning thousands of people will be able to flourish. The total amount donated tallied $996,758, just short of the $1 million target. ADRA Australia chief executive Mark Webster described the final figure […]

Mark Webster departs as CEO

25 July 2017: ADRA Australia chief executive Mark Webster has announced he will be leaving the organisation after six years to take up the position of Regional Director at ADRA in Asia. Mr Webster said he is looking forward to his new role, based in Bangkok, but said the decision […]

Amazing Things Are Happening

In the last financial year, your support enabled so many amazing things to happen for people in need. Thanks to your generosity, more than $16 million was invested to help 441,000 people in 21 countries. What an incredible effort! None of this could have happened without your support. Here’s a snapshot of your impact: […]

We Stand With Refugees Worldwide

For decades, ADRA has championed the rights and wellbeing of people displaced by conflict and persecution—men, women and children of all different faiths, ethnicities and nationalities who have survived unspeakable hardship, terror and loss. In 2016 alone, more than 1.5 million refugees, internally displaced and stateless people in around 40 […]

Don’t show me the money, show me the truth

As Christians, our task is to be light in the darkest places. We do all that we do in service to our great God. We do it in His strength and we trust in His provision. We love people and we long to see them living full and purposeful lives. […]

Church Agencies Partner on Humanitarian Response

16 June 2017 The Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has announced a consortium of eight church agencies as one of the successful agencies that tendered for the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP). The AHP is a five-year $50 million commitment from the Australian government which brings together […]

Doing Good, Better

The impulse to help is a hallmark of humanity – both evolutionists and creationists agree that selfless acts are something which make each one of us uniquely human. Even more so, as a community of faith it’s exciting to realise that within every compassionate action lies an insight into the […]

Florence’s Fight to Flourish

A warm smile greets everyone who arrives at her door. The house is made of solid brick and covered in a neat thatched roof. Inside, the aroma of dinner is wafting through the hut. Florence squats next to the pot, carefully stirring the hot soup she has made for her […]

ADRA Community Centre – Springvale South (Settle Assist)

Fighting to Flourish

Esau grins widely as he picks up his little boy and kisses his cheek. A tall, strong man with broad shoulders, Esau commands attention. As he puts his arm lovingly around his wife and poses for a photo, they laugh out loud together. At just 27 years of age, gentle […]

East Africa Famine: ADRA Responds

The already impoverished Horn of Africa is in crisis. Famine was declared in central Unity State in South Sudan in February while sub-counties within several other countries including Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen are on the brink of famine. Over 20 million people are facing life-threatening food shortages and […]

Picking Up The Pieces

As the water recedes, the full scale of the devastation is revealed. Towns across NSW and Queensland have moved into full swing cleaning up the mud and debris left by the floodwaters. “People are in clean up mode at the moment,” says Tracy Hamilton, ADRA’s program officer who has been […]

Update: ADRA Helping Cyclone, Flood Clean-up

ADRA is continuing to assist people affected by Cyclone Debbie and flooding in Queensland and Northern NSW. ADRA Emergency Volunteers have been hard at work across the regions hardest hit. Evacuation Centre staff at Kingscliff have not only housed almost 200 people in need, they have also taken on the […]

ADRA Responds to Floods in NSW, Queensland

ADRA emergency management teams are responding to major flooding in Northern NSW and Southeast Queensland. ADRA volunteers at the Kingscliff Evacuation Centre in the Northern Rivers helped more than 150 people find emergency accommodation on Thursday. ADRA NSW Emergency Coordinator Janice Frey said flooded roads and full motels were proving […]

ADRA Responds to Cyclone Debbie

ADRA Australia’s emergency response has been activated after Cyclone Debbie devastated North Queensland on Tuesday, with wind gusts exceeding 260km/h. ADRA is seeking to conduct inspections of the affected areas to determine the needs, playing an important coordination role with local churches in the area. The priority is reaching areas where communications […]

ADRA prepares for Cyclone Debbie

Communities in North Queensland are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the severe Category 4 storm expected to hit on Tuesday morning. It’s the largest cyclone to make landfall in Australia since Yasi devastated the Townsville area in 2011. ADRA Australia stands ready to respond. Kevin Munro, ADRA’s National Manager for Emergency Management, has […]

‘I have nothing to feed my family’: Famine, starvation crisis in East Africa

“I have nothing to feed my family,” Gedie says. She is a single mother of 8 children. As she sits inside her grass hut, she describes the urgency of her situation. Failed rains have caused her gardens to wither and livestock to die. With training from ADRA, Gedie used to grow […]

Celebrating Inspirational Women

The Power of Women To celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to acknowledge all the women who contribute to making amazing things happen. Whether it’s our volunteers, supporters, staff or beneficiaries, we’re grateful for your contribution – without you, ADRA would be nothing! We want to highlight some inspiring women who […]

ADRA Employs Pacific Emergency Coordinators

For the first time, full-time ADRA emergency coordinators will be employed in five South Pacific countries to help prepare for disasters. The positions in Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands will strengthen the emergency management capability of the ADRA offices in each country. ADRA offices in Australia, […]

Sanitarium Volunteers Make a Difference

A team of 10 employees from Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing, Life Health Foods and Vitality Works have volunteered through ADRA Connections to work with the Water for Life project in Vietnam. The team members, who were all recipients of the Spirit of Sanitarium Award (SOSA), took part in an ADRA Connections […]

Disaster & Famine Relief Offering

Millions of people like Tetiana and her 10 year old son have their lives turned upside down by disasters every year. Disasters like the conflict in Ukraine, the flooding in Australia, and the earthquakes in Türkiye devastate millions of lives. The need for food, water, shelter, medicine and safety is […]

Syria: a new year, a continuing crisis

As we wind up celebrations for one of the most significant events on the Christian calendar, Syria – the Cradle of Christianity – enters the sixth year of a conflict that has caused profound human suffering and horrific destruction. In a population of 21.4 million people, 13.5 million require humanitarian assistance, 4.9 […]

OHI Thank You

OHI Donate

Change a life Open Heart International provides the opportunity for those living in developing countries to receive specialised healthcare that they deserve, yet cannot access.

The Difference Water Makes

November is the hottest, driest time of the year in in the south-eastern provinces of Timor Leste and, in communities that have been affected by the recent El Niño drought, they are hoping for the wet season to begin soon. But in the village of Luca, the pump that supplies their […]

ADRA Community Care Centre – Logan Central

Taking a Back Seat

Taking a Back Seat We all know the jokes about the meddling in-laws whose advice, even though they mean well, is often far from being helpful. So when it comes to helping people in poverty, is our well-meaning support really beneficial? Or are we just like meddling in-laws? This issue […]

The Gift of Gratitude

The Gift of Gratitude ‘Thank’ and ‘you’ are two of the most basic words in the English language. Yet, when combined they can have a powerful impact on people. When travelling to a country for the first time, I have always found that learning the phrase ‘thank you’ in the […]

On The Road With ADRA

Sunday, October 16: The Sunday morning traffic is sporadic at first but builds steadily across the morning. We are shielded from direct sunlight by a glary grey sky and occasional breezy gusts buffet us with the grit and exhaust of the passing traffic. With each sequence of the traffic lights […]

Farewell Pam Wood, a Justice Champion

The phone rings. Pam Wood glances down, picks up her mobile and answers in a cheerful voice. It’s yet another person needing help. As manager of the ADRA Community Centre in Logan, one of the leading community centres in the area south of Brisbane, Pam is constantly confronted with people […]

Kiribati Youth Urge Greater Climate Action

Two Seventh-day Adventist women from Kiribati have shared stories of how climate change is impacting their nation and called for greater action against climate change as guests of the Voices for Justice conference, hosted by Micah Australia in Canberra on November 19–21. Tinaai Teaua and Vasiti Tebamare are youth leaders in […]

Creating a Brighter Future

Creating a Brighter Future Mrs Linh lives in a remote village in the Cao Bang Province, one of the poorest areas in Vietnam where many ethnic minorities live in poverty. Linh and her husband are farmers and they have two children: a son in fifth grade and a daughter in […]

$250 Sewing Machine

Earning a living can be particularly difficult for a person with disabilities living in a developing country. By providing a sewing machine and training, you will help them start a life-changing tailoring business.

$50 Crisis Food Hamper

Australians surviving disasters are often left with nothing. You can provide a Crisis Food Hamper to an Australian family affected by disasters and help them get back on their feet.

The Human Face of Hurricane Matthew

When Hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti, it left hundreds of thousands of people in the Central American desperate for help. To assist in the relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm, ADRA deployed an emergency response team full of global disaster experts. ADRA is providing immediate food, water […]

All I Want for Christmas…

All I want for Christmas is for others to thrive. Your generosity this Christmas can give a family in need the chance at a better life. Get your church, school or workplace involved and help make a meaningful difference this Christmas. Thank you for your selfless generosity so that others can benefit!

ADRA Christmas Tree

You can grant Christmas Wishes! Register now to help your church, school or organisation run a Christmas Tree fundraiser.  

Why You Should Attend Voices For Justice

By Jordan Bolst In October last year I was part of a group of students from Avondale College that attended the Voices for Justice conference held in Canberra. I had never heard of Voices for Justice before and I was not sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised about […]

ADRA Responds to NSW Floods

Major flooding in central west NSW continues, with ADRA assisting at least 35 people in Forbes to find temporary emergency accommodation. Three ADRA volunteers and one area coordinator have been dealing with some of the most vulnerable people the community. The ADRA team is also being complemented by some Anglicare […]

Volunteers Knocking to End Poverty

James and Carol arrived weary and broken. Unemployed and homeless, they had just been moved out of the local caravan park because they ran out of money. All they had was their car and a few possessions inside. They were greeted at the ADRA op shop with warm smiles and […]

Disaster Relief

Family Member Registration

Thank You For Your Application

ADRA Embraces Open Heart International

25 July 2016: Open Heart International (OHI) is being transferred from Adventist Healthcare Limited (AHCL) to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia. The change is being made to leverage opportunities for growth, enhance the impact of both organisations in developing countries and improve efficiencies. Having commenced as a […]

Thank you $50 challenge

Stories of Change – 7 Day Trip

Learning Through Play – 15 Day Trip

Learning Through Play – 10 Day Trip

ADRA Community Care Centre – Blacktown

Blossom Project

ENGAGE Project

Remedial Education for Children in Lebanon

GOAL II

Best CHOICES

Thank You

Thank you for your generosity in helping others to live as God intended – free from poverty and disadvantage. You will receive your tax deductible receipt via email.

ADRA Appeal $50 Challenge

Thanks for taking part in the 2018 ADRA Appeal! All volunteers are required to register with ADRA Australia, whether participating in a door-knock activity, public place collection or any other fundraising activity.

$30 Children’s Books on Health

Education and health are the most powerful weapons to break the cycle of poverty. Your gift will provide reading books with important health messages for school children in their local language.

$30 Seeds

Community gardens help disadvantaged families to grow produce for food and to sell at markets. You can give seeds to help start a community garden.

$20 Chickens

A chicken can provide eggs for food and income, and fertiliser for people’s gardens. Help a family receive a chicken.

$12,000 Irrigation System

Rural farmers struggle to access clean water for drinking and crops. The gift of an irrigation system will provide farmers with clean water and will improve their farming and increase their income.

$15 Water Filter

Without clean water, people become sick. You can help families stay well by gifting them with clean water.

$120 Toilet

Without a toilet, people in disadvantaged communities are forced to use the bush around their houses. Thanks to you, a family can receive everything they need to build a sanitary latrine.

$450 Water Tank

Access to clean water can be hard to find. Your gift of a 1000L water tank will provide clean water to a community, taking care of their water needs.

What Kind of Freedom?

There’s a stranger in her kitchen and three-year-old Meita doesn’t welcome the intrusion. Eating a bowl of rice with her mother and six sisters in their rugged kitchen, Meita’s round cheeks are painted with thanakha—pale yellow paste traditionally worn by women and girls in Myanmar (Burma). Her eyes are wide […]

I Do Not Want to Remember: Said’s Story

Said is only 14, but has experienced hardships that no child should face. In Serbia, he shared his family’s story: “Mum and dad told us that we are going to Europe. We did not took anything with us, except of one spare clothe for each of us. They did not […]

Community Centres Restore Hope

Brendan* first visited Redwood Community Centre in 2014 to collect food from the ‘Chewsday Bite’ program while living locally. But soon after he became homeless and started re-using illicit substances again. He was homeless for almost a year and in that time became addicted to ‘Ice’, was charged with theft and […]

Customer Receipt

When the bombs fell: Loubana’s story

It’s been three years, but Loubana’s children still have nightmares about the day their Syrian home was bombed. “I remember when I hid under the stairs when the bombs were falling,” says Nour, who was only 6 at the time. Loubana and her family had a good life in Syria. […]

Beyond the crisis: Global refugee facts

The ongoing Refugee crisis in Europe may have grabbed the media’s attention, but it is only one example of refugee movements in the world. Beyond sensational headlines, there is so much more to know about these displaced men, women, and children who are often escaping the same terror many of […]

Latest News

Stories of Hope

The other day, my wife was just sitting down to work on a study assignment when the tranquillity of our home was disturbed by an exclamation of frustration. “I can’t find my pen! You know, the one with the stylus tip on the end.” Study, and in my case work, […]

Harvesting Hope

Gazing upon the plains of Old Bagan, Myanmar in the early morning is breath-taking. While intricately designed temples and pagodas dot the landscape, it is the vast canvas of the master craftsman that stirs me. The sky awash with pinks and blues of every shade, the distant mountains a deep […]

ADRA Appeal

Love Thy Neighbour this ADRA Appeal by providing Aussies in need with groceries and food, helping them to ease the financial burden and get back on their feet. The ADRA Community Projects Offering will take place in Adventist Churches across the country on October 5. Please, give generously. We have […]

Annual Report

Each year ADRA Australia produces an Annual Report as part of our commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability. It is a key way we can celebrate the many inspiring stories from across the year, offering an insight into the amazing things people are doing with us, covering our work and performance during […]

Corporate Information

Incorporation and Charitable Status Public company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act. Registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. Tax Concessions and Fundraising Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as: A Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) An Income Tax Exempt Charity (holding tax […]

Our People

Our leadership team meets regularly to discuss strategy, to approve new projects and initiatives, to monitor and report risks and to manage compliance, including safety.

Work With Us

International Program Coordinator Full-time Wahroonga, Sydney   We are seeking a qualified and experienced Program Coordinator who is passionate and knowledgeable about the development sector and who will make a real contribution to our International Programs team. The Program Coordinator will work within the International Programs team with responsibility for […]

ADRA Condemns Aid Cuts in Federal Budget

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has condemned the federal government’s $224 million cut to overseas aid that makes Australia’s aid budget the least generous in its history. Cuts announced in the 2016-17 federal budget on May 3 mean Australia will give just 0.23 per cent of gross […]

ADRA Responds to Drought in Africa

In response to the serious drought affecting countries across southern and eastern Africa, where El Niño conditions have caused the lowest ever recorded rainfall between October and December 2015, the global ADRA network is responding. It is estimated that 40 million rural people and 9 million poor urban people who live in […]

ADRA, Sanitarium team up in Fiji

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has partnered with Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing to deliver more food aid to hungry communities following Cyclone Winston in Fiji. Boxes of Weet-Bix and So Good were donated by Sanitarium for ADRA to deliver to people most in need. More than 620 families received packs […]

Syria Crisis: Five Years Later

March 2016 marks fives years since the Syrian civil war began. Since then, almost 500,000 people have died as violence rages and tears the country to pieces. Millions more have become refugees, strangers in their own land, forced to desperately seek refuge in foreign lands. The crisis continuing to unfold is the worst humanitarian […]

Cycling for Syria

Between 7-9 March, 41 cyclists participated in the Queenstown Classic in New Zealand, a cycling fundraising event organised by 25000spins to raise money for charity. Of these, 26 fundraised for ADRA to help Syrian refugee children attend school in Beirut, Lebanon where they have escaped the Syrian war with their families. Glenn Townend, president of […]

Vanuatu: Sweet Potatoes Arrive Just in Time

We stopped at the roadside market to buy some fresh coconuts and have a chat to the women. On offer was steamed corn, young coconuts for drinking, yams still covered with dark black earth, and lots and lots of crabs wrapped in green leaves slowly waving their claws in the […]

Vanuatu: One Year Later

The village is peaceful, washing drying in the afternoon sun. It’s too hot to do anything much other than find a place in the shade, hopefully with a breeze. John Andre is sitting on a chair outside his kitchen. He looks a little uncomfortable, as he has a lapel mike […]

Fiji: Distributions & Needs Assessments Continue

More than 1,000 families have received food and hygiene kits in Fiji after distributions by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). Food packs containing rice, lentils, tuna, sugar and biscuits were given to 501 families in Ra Province, one of the worst hit areas, along the northern coast of […]

Fiji: The Eye of the Cyclone

It was early in the afternoon on Saturday February 20. George and his family had just returned from church up the road in Naqia village on the eastern side of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. They knew that Cyclone Winston was on its way, but like many they were taken […]

Fiji: Navesau Teacher can still manage a smile

“At least I have free air conditioning now.” Talk about looking on the bright side. John is a teacher from Navesau on Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. During the wild winds of Cyclone Winston, he lost his house. Not quite all of it, admittedly. Three of the four walls still […]

Fiji: Family now sleeping in their car

“This is my first time to experience such a devastating hurricane. It was very devastating and very frightening.” Kalisito and his wife Francis came home from church with their four daughters on Saturday afternoon, and quite literally walked into one of the largest recorded cyclones in the southern hemisphere. The […]

Fiji in the dark following Winston

Twenty-four hours after Cyclone Winston smashed Fiji the full picture of the destruction remains unknown. Power, water, communication, roads and other vital infrastructure remain cut and many parts of the country, including the regions likely hardest hit by the Category 5 storm, are uncontactable. The official death toll has risen to […]

Fiji Braces for Cyclone Winston

A category five tropical cyclone bearing down on Fiji threatens to devastate the country. Your donation to our Disaster Relief Fund can help people who have been affected. Urgent assistance is needed. Donate now. Cyclone Winston is travelling westward and is predicted to make landfall early on Sunday (local time). Winds […]

1000km Ride Raises $70,000

One day into their epic adventure – riding a thousand kilometres in ten days on a tandem bicycle – Louise and Nat Ginn had doubts. “After day one I wasn’t sure if I’d actually make it,” Louise said. “The first couple of days were quite painful, but after day three I […]

Drought Ravages the Pacific

    As the plane descends into Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, I’m shocked by all the brown outside. What I imagined to be tropical and green is anything but. Brown crops, brown trees, brown grass. The extent of the El Niño drought ravaging the country, and indeed the entire […]

Riding high for girls to Blossom

Bonnells Bay (NSW) Mother and son team Louise and Nat Ginn are all set to ride a gruelling 1,000 kilometres over 10 days to raise $100,000 for the Blossom Project. Their epic journey will begin on Monday 14th December and take them from Sydney to the peaks of Mt Kosciusko […]

#KNOCKTOBER: Pathfinders

written by Laura Mitchell. On October 17th, Avondale Memorial Pathfinders hit the streets of Cooranbong in their full uniform, armed with a pen, a receipt pad, and an abundance of youthful energy. Their mission: to inform their local community about ADRA, and collect monetary donations towards our many projects.   […]

All I Want for Christmas

I can still remember the disappointment. It was Christmas time and I must have been about eight years old. Like every other kid my age I’d been counting down the day until I could finally unwrap my stack of presents. The night before, I was so excited that I could […]

Do It Afraid

Do it afraid. That was the title of my daily devotional the day before I was due to fly out to a country I had never been to, to start a job I knew nothing about – and I was doing it alone. Has God ever asked you to uproot […]

ADRA Community Kitchens Thrive in WA

“The food is just so amazing! You feed us like we are your family.” “I feel safe here… I look forward to coming each week.” “You give us more than food – you give us friendship and love.” This is just a taste of the feedback that ADRA Cafes have […]

Friendships Bloom In ADRA’s Community Gardens

Cannington Community Garden – by Sarina Taituave  I recently attended the Cannington Church Camp in Western Australia to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 40th birthday. My husband Jeremy and I had been through a tough few weeks, and so were looking forward to some quality time away with family. What we experienced was […]

International Day of Rural Women

Celebrating Rural Women by Tracy Hamilton According to the United Nations, rural women make up over a quarter of the total world population. Rural women, particularly in developing countries, hold the primary responsibility for ensuring food security as they represent approximately 43% of the agricultural labour force, and produce, process, […]

Bopha Sun’s Story

Today, Bopha Sun is a happy and thriving woman—but three years ago, the picture was completely different. Bopha Sun grew up in a traditional farming community in Cambodia. When she was just 10 years old, her mother fell ill and Bopha Sun was forced out of school. Having missed out […]

Charlie’s Story

Charlie is 25. Every week, he volunteers a day of his time as a counsellor in Blacktown, Sydney. It’s a job that provides insight into the difficulties many people face. “The hardest part of counselling I think is being with someone in their struggle,” Charlie says. “While there’s a real […]

Review: Just Mercy

The story of Bryan Stevenson reads like that of the literary references his book—Just Mercy—begins with. The front cover features an endorsement from legal thriller writer John Grisham and the first two-thirds of Stevenson’s book could be read and reviewed well in the Grisham genre. The through-story is that of […]

Nepal: “We need food and shelter”

“We need food and shelter. There is nothing left in our village!” says Rami. She is from Lapa village in Dhading, close to the earthquake’s epicentre. The earthquake flattened her home leaving her son, Enos, trapped inside. For three days, Enos suffered under the rubble in extreme pain. The collapsed […]

Key Policies

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia is the official humanitarian agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As an organisation, we are committed to serving others so all may live as God intended. The wellbeing of our staff, volunteers, partners, beneficiaries, and supporters is of the upmost importance to us. In […]

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Our Board

Our Board oversees the direction of the organisation and monitors performance against the strategic plan. It has overall responsibility for the management of risks and compliance with legislation. It determines operating policy, approves plans and activities and appoints or approves the appointment of key personnel for the ADRA Australia Office.

Our History

In 2024, we are celebrating 40 years of operating as ADRA in Australia. Read more about this milestone here. ADRA began as a department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As a church with approximately 60,000 Australian members, Adventists are committed to demonstrating the love of God in real and practical […]

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How We Work

ADRA Australia works within a ‘Values-based Framework’ to achieve well-being and security for people on terms that are important to them. We ensure that all members of communities have the opportunity to participate in project activities without prejudice. We seek to build the capacity of overseas partner offices and local […]

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You are changing lives! Join us in serving humanity so all may live as God intended. Whether you donate, volunteer, or work with us, we thank you for being Justice, Compassion and Love for those who need it most.

ADRA Australia – Justice. Compassion. Love.

Complaints

Policy Statement ADRA Australia is committed to accountability, and we welcome complaints or concerns from anyone, especially those who are most vulnerable. We recognise the importance and value of listening and responding to concerns and complaints about the organisation, its work, or its personnel. ADRA Australia is committed to an […]

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Emergency Action Alliance welcomes $5m in government funding. The Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) has welcomed the support of the Australian Government for its Hunger Crisis appeal for Horn of Africa, with the government announcing a $5 million contribution today. Announced by the Hon. Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and […]

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Help people rise out of poverty! Your donation today will help fund ADRA’s life changing projects around the world. Thank you for your generosity!

Evaluations

Evaluations Monitoring and evaluation is integrated into project design and planning to ensure continuous improvement in program delivery. Learnings from one project evaluation will be used to inform ways of working for new and ongoing projects. Two final term and one mid-term evaluations were conducted in the 2017 financial year […]

Fundraising

There are many ways you can get involved, have fun and make a life-changing difference. You can register to hold your own fundraiser, join an existing event, or take part in the ADRA Appeal.

Volunteer

Be an agent for change! Join thousands of generous individuals volunteering their time and talents to support people and communities in need. ADRA Australia has many opportunities for you to engage with local programs. Please complete the form below and we will be in touch with more information about opportunities […]

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Help Aussies in Need Your donation today will help provide Aussies like Anne with food relief and housing support. Thank you for your generosity! Bank deposit details: Account name: ADRA Australia Donations BSB: 032 089 Account Number: 172 592 Reference: [Insert name of project] Then email [email protected] to get a […]

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Find answers to your questions about our work and the impact your support is having.