Policies, Philosophies and Position Papers

Can volunteers achieve the MDGs without unintended damaging consequences?

Are volunteers achieving the MDGs without also being a conduit of neo-colonial transculturation? As a practitioner I’m not so sure we in volunteer organisations prepare people adequately to avoid them falling into this trap and I’m concerned that the imposition of various structures for funded service providers might mitigate against a better approach.

This paper was presented on December 1st at the "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals: Old Problems, New Challenges" conference, hosted by La Trobe University and ACFID in partnership with AusAID.

Palms Australia's response to the Australian Government Volunteer Program (AGVP) Review

In March 2009, AusAID published a review of the Australian Government Volunteer Program (AGVP). The review was conducted by consultants hired by AusAID and drew interesting conclusions about the strengths and shortcomings of the current Government Program. It also made suggestions about future directions for the program. Always interested in increasing the effectiveness of international development efforts, Palms offered this commentary on the review and its suggestions and presented some observations of our own.

Embracing Vulnerability in an Age of Fear

Recurrent issues of civil unrest, terrorism and natural disasters have understandably led to sending governments and agencies placing an increased emphasis on volunteer security. An overemphasis on these considerations, however, can serve to distance volunteers from their national counterparts and reduce stakeholder participation. Conversely, programs which encourage volunteers to understand and embrace their vulnerability result in mutually enriching and challenging relationships which enhance community ownership of both the development program and the volunteer's security.

This paper was presented at the Volunteering Futures Forum, co-hosted with the University of Wollongong.

Submission the Senate Inquiry into the economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific

This submission critiques the misrepresentation of governance issues at the heart of many approaches to Aid in the region. In order to address these challenges, quality education and mentoring must be available to all levels of society and the structures which reward misbehaviour must be altered.

Exposure/Immersion Programs - A Position Paper

Many organisations offer short-term visits which they name Cross-cultural Immersions, Exposure Tours or Study Tours. While such programs can be beneficial to their participants, they often neglect the effects on the host community. Furthermore, they risk providing a stereotypical view of another culture which degrades and damages.

This position paper was presented to a meeting of Immersion facilitators and provides a useful starting point for discussion of these trips. For an experience built upon the arguments in this paper, consider joining Palms' Encounter Program.

Volunteering in a neo-liberal development paradigm

A Timor-Leste case study written by Nichole Georgeou and Brendan Joyce for the magazine Just Change. An examination of mixed political motives which damage Australia's aid program.

A Volunteer Ethos

What does it mean to be a volunteer and what can volunteers bring to development.

Development Philosophy

Palms Australia seeks to "encourage just, sustainable, interdependent and peaceful development." (Mission Statement). Just what do we mean by development?

Why Palms is Unique

10 Great Reasons to Support the Work of Palms Australia.