Australia

Restless Development in Australia was established in 2001 in response to the lack of engagement opportunities provided to young people to take part in meaningful, sustainable long-term placements working in solidarity with young counter-parts in Africa and Asia or in Australia in our own Australian Indigenous communities.

We believe that young people in Australia have a great deal of energy and have an interest and commitment in tackling the challenges that young people face both in Australia and overseas.

We provide a range of opportunities to engage young people in Australia in effecting positive change and social justice in developing countries and communities. The work of Restless Development Australia includes:

• Recruiting, providing in-depth training and sending volunteers to work on our long-term sustainable community development placements in India, Nepal, Uganda and Zambia in solidarity with counter-parts from the countries we work in. All of our overseas Country Programs utilise between 95 – 100% of their volunteers from their own countries
• Through a partnership between one of our core partners, Australian Volunteers International and Macquarie University’s Global Futures Program, students of the University are sent to participate on projects and internships in a needs-based arrangement with Restless Development India
• Recruiting and sending skilled technical assistants to provide capacity building and technical support to our country program staff in our offices in Asia and Africa
• We also provide opportunities to young people from New Zealand to volunteer in Zambia through our partnership with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) based in Wellington, New Zealand who share our vision for a fairer, more socially just world.
• We are currently in the final stages of working towards a partnership with the Tangentyere Council based in Central Australia where young non-Indigenous Australians will work in solidarity and partnership with Indigenous young people to work with youth who are and were previously engaged in petrol sniffing or other unhealthy practices in positive diversionary activities, leadership training and diversionary programs. In addition to the work being conducted for this project, it also provides an important opportunity for a two-way exchange, mutual respect and understanding and to provide a forum for young people to engage in reconciliation in action.

Our evidence-based approach is for young people in developed countries to be partnered to live and work with local and/or national counterparts for the duration of the placement in recognition of the value and importance of local knowledge and culture.

Engagement and work with Restless Development in Australia is often the beginning of a long-term involvement in the program and we seek to keep past volunteers a part of us through our Alumni network. This is an exciting period for growth for Restless Development in Australia so get involved!

Do you have the passion to make a difference? Have a look at our Placements Tab!