Palms Australia

Palms Australia is an international aid and development agency that sends skilled volunteers to share their skills with requesting communities around the world.

Palms Australia's national office is based in Sydney, although state coordinators are located throughout Australia. Established in 1961, Palms Australia has placed volunteers with communities and organisations in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, South America and in Indigenous communities in Australia.

Palms Australia supports community development by sending volunteers at the request of the receiving communities. Volunteers work alongside local people and receive an equivalent living wage.

History

Palms Australia started in Sydney in 1956 as the Paulian Association. Groups formed in around 100 communities to identify local social justice issues, reflect on values and take appropriate action to address social inequality and assist people in need.

After identifying that similar issues needed to be addressed globally, in 1961, the program was extended to communities overseas that request the placement of skilled volunteers to help develop health, education and other facilities. Since 1961, Palms Australia has placed over 1500 volunteers in 39 countries around the world.

The Fair Trade Coffee Company

In 2006, Palms Australia established The Fair Trade Coffee Company, a not-for-profit, community cafe in Glebe, NSW. All proceeds from the cafe went towards funding Palms Australia's work in their partner communities. In 2008, The Fair Trade Coffee Company won the 'Best Coffee in Sydney' award from the independent media group.

In May 2009, the café celebrated World Fair Trade Day with dances and drum beats from community drummers and dancers from across Sydney. The event made Sydney one of 10 global cities marking the theme of the day, to 'Make a Big Bang to Beat Poverty'. The event attracted over 700 people within 1½ hours.

In 2011, The Fair Trade Coffee Company closed its doors and moved to an online store.

Further reading
  • Georgeou, Nichole, Neoliberalism, Development, and Aid Volunteering, New York: Routledge, 2012. ISBN 9780415809153
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