Global COVAX Facility
It costs just $5 to fully vaccinate someone.
Lower middle-income countries' vaccination rates are currently only at 2-3%, some as low as 1%. UNICEF is leading the largest and fastest vaccine supply and delivery operation in history, covering more than four-fifths of the global population. Along with partners, UNICEF has already delivered over 1 billion doses of vaccines to 144 countries and territories, with 85% of these doses delivered to 86 low- and middle-income countries. UNICEF strives to ensure equitable access to high-quality vaccines for people around the world, no matter their wealth or whereabouts.
We are appealing to Australian philanthropists to support the rapid response now required.
If you would like to support UNICEF in delivering vaccines to lower-income countries, click here.
Early learning starts now
Papua New Guinea
It is estimated that a child born in Papua New Guinea today will reach 38 per cent of their potential, due to many challenges such as poor nutrition and access to and quality of education.
The first years of life provide the best window of time to address these issues and ensure children the best opportunities in life.
This is why this UNICEF initiative is supporting the establishment of 55 Early Childhood Development centres. Children and families will have access to age-appropriate learning with an emphasis on school readiness, basic education in the areas of hygiene and sanitation; nutritious meals; and positive parenting initiatives, preparing 3,300 kids – including at least 60 children with disabilities – to take a running leap into life.
Funding Target: $513,729
A gift of just $800 could deliver regular parenting support sessions in one community, covering topics such as early stimulation, nutrition, health and child protection.
Crunching the numbers on newborn survival
Timor-Leste
All babies have the right to a bright future, but in Timor-Leste, 1 in 50 newborns don’t make it through the first few weeks of life.
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health, as well as healthcare staff to improve the quality of care by introducing quality standards; improving access to health services for all, particularly mothers, children and people with a disability; developing comprehensive datasets to better understand and address the causes of maternal and newborn death; and provide improved water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and materials into health facilities.
By combining the power of people, data and infrastructure to tackle the leading causes of newborn mortality, this program will impact 8,000 children, 2,285 pregnant women and 80,000 people in the broader community – and give the babies of Timor-Leste a fighting chance at life.
Funding Target: $409,121
A gift of $10,000 could equip one health centre with disability accessible water and sanitation, serving a community of approximately 22,232 people.
A strong start to life for PNG’s youngest citizens
Papua New Guinea
Imagine if all it took to keep your child safe was a cuddle. Hypothermia is a contributing factor in more than 60 per cent of newborn deaths, even in countries with tropical climates – but in many cases, the solution can be as simple as ‘kangaroo care,’ or skin-to-skin contact. In Papua New Guinea, where one out of every 45 babies dies within their first month of life, UNICEF is working alongside the Government to introduce an innovative health package, encouraging new parents to initiate kangaroo care while also providing extensive training and support to health professionals for quality newborn care. The program is improving the quality of care in hospitals right through to local health facilities and village health volunteers who visit each home in the community.
The program aims to significantly increase neonatal survival rates and routine immunisations, reaching at least 73,180 mothers and fathers, and 25,992 newborns in their communities in two provinces.
Funding Target: $285,000
A gift of just $856 could train a village health volunteer in maternal and newborn healthcare.
Changing hearts, changing minds
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
In Laos, vulnerable children often struggle to achieve their full potential. This UNICEF program provides support, rehabilitation and care for kids especially at risk, including children in contact with the law and children with disabilities, creating opportunities for a brighter future.
Paralegals and community and village mediation unit members are being trained to deliver child-friendly legal aid and diversion programs to keep young people out of the justice system and provide legal support to child (and women) survivors of abuse.
Families and caregivers of children with disabilities, as well as relevant government agencies and service providers, are receiving education and training to raise awareness of these children’s rights and improve their access to high-quality, low-cost physical, social and emotional care. Combined, these programs will positively impact more than 3,000 men, women and children.
Funding Target: $170,000
A gift of just $100 could help to improve care and support for 10 children with disabilities in Laos.
Indi Kindi
Our first five years lay the foundations for the rest of our lives — they’re where our brightest futures begin. Unfortunately, many children living in remote, Indigenous communities continue to experience significant multi-generational issues of disadvantages: in remote communities across Northern Territory, only one in ten Indigenous children younger than the age of 3 has healthy ears; five have Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) glue ear. This can result in hearing loss, which is associated with language delay, speech problems, and high vulnerability on entering school. Many children in these communities also lack access to essential services.
The Indi Kindi program seeks to address these problems. It is a ground-breaking early years program for 0 to 5-year-olds in remote Indigenous communities, integrating health, nutrition, wellbeing, nurturing care, culture, and learning to give children their best possible start in life. UNICEF Australia is partnering with the Moriarty Foundation to deliver the Indi Kindi program within three remote communities in the Northern Territory: Borroloola, Robinson River, and Tennant Creek. Together, UNICEF Australia and the Moriarty Foundation aim to shift the dial on Indigenous disadvantage with innovative programs that embrace Indigenous worldviews and local ownership and empowerment.
Indi Kindi is led by local women who receive accredited early childhood development training — with additional benefits by way of local language, cultural knowledge and creating skilled jobs on-Country.
Funding Target: $400,000 per community
A gift of $10,000 – will provide learning resources (e.g. books, stationery, art/craft equipment, music) plus food and supplies for delivery of nutrition program for one community
John Moriarty Football
Sport is a uniquely powerful tool in helping kids to thrive from an early age. In unlocking the potential of children, its agency is supercharged.
For this initiative, UNICEF Australia is partnering with the John Moriarty Football Foundation — Australia’s longest-running and most successful Indigenous football initiative. This transformational skills program uses football for talent and positive change — with a track record of improving school attendance and achieving resilient, healthier outcomes for some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities. In 2023, A Sporting Chance arrives at an exciting moment as Australia and New Zealand host the Women's World Cup, shining a spotlight on the game and its local superstars, which will hopefully include John Moriarty Foundation alumna such as Shadeene 'Shay' Evans and Jada Mathyssen-Whyman.
The program is currently kicking goals in 18 Indigenous communities across the NT, QLD and NSW and targets 6 – 18 year olds. The initiative utilises football (soccer) as an inclusive means to help Indigenous kids — boys and girls, of all ages and abilities — to improve their health, fitness, and wellbeing, to acquire social and leadership skills, and of course, to play footy, and have fun.
Funding Target: $240,000 to support one community
A gift of $20,000 – provides soccer equipment for six remote communities
New Sprints
Nothing changes lives like education — its gift is ever-lasting and multigenerational. However, students in remote Indigenous Australian communities often face significant barriers to accessing education.
In response, UNICEF Australia is teaming up with the Cathy Freeman Foundation to deliver the Sprints Skills Development Program — now achieving great things in Woorabinda, Central Queensland. Sprints is a trailblazing personal development project that helps empower 15 to 18-year-olds to plan and build on their innate strengths, finish Year 12, and gain valuable, in-demand labour market skills. The program supports young people to thrive beyond school — with mentoring opportunities, and ‘micro-credential’ certificate courses to help them with their transition to tertiary education or the world of work.
We hope to scale up this program and expand it to more communities through the generous support of donors.
Funding Target: $100,000 to support the ongoing delivery of the Sprints Program in Woorabinda
A gift of $10,000 – supports the participation of 8 students in a skills development course
Young Ambassador Program
In 2021, UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors conducted over 178 consultations with 4,078 children and young people aged 7 to 20 years across Australia in order to listen and learn about issues that affect them. Reports created from the Young Ambassador national consultations were presented to our Country’s decision makers at Parliament House in Canberra to advocate for better policies for young people in June 2021.
In November, a new cohort of Young Ambassadors were recruited from across Australia. From mental health advocates to former refugees, these incredible young people have come together to raise the voices of the children and young people.
In 2022 they will be trained in leadership, government advocacy, media and communications, and engaging with children and young people.
Funding Target -
$150,000 per year to run the program
A gift of $10,000 allows us to reach 1,500 more young people in consultation