Quaker Service Australia

Quaker Service Australia aims to express in a practical way the concern of Quakers for the building of a more peaceful, equitable, just and compassionate world. To this end, QSA works with communities in need to improve their quality of life with projects which are economically and environmentally appropriate and sustainable. To visit their website, read about their work or donate, click here. Donations can be sent by cash or cheque to Quaker Service Australia at 119 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010. Regular donations can be made by credit card — call 02 9698 9103.

Living Gifts

Quaker Service Australia has launched its Living Gifts Catalogue for 2009 - 2010. Instead of a pair of socks or chocolates, you can give your friends and family members a truly meaningful gift this year that will make a difference to someone’s life. You can choose between chickens for a farmer in Cambodia, pay a teacher's salary for a month in India, give a pig to a farmer in Uganda or support cultural tutors in Indigenous Australia. Your friend will receive a card from us thanking them for their contribution. To view all the available gifts, and place your order, simply visit the Living Gifts page of the QSA website.

Friends in deed

Friends in deed is the story of 50 years of Quaker Service Australia. Written by former Chair of Quaker Service Australia, Heather Saville, the book includes the memoires and photos of so many who have been involved in QSA's work over the past half a century. To read more about the new 50th Anniversary book "Friends in deed", click here

QSA Statement of Purpose

The purpose of Quaker Service Australia is to express in a practical way the concern of Australian Quakers for the building of a more peaceful, just, equitable and compassionate world. To this end, Quaker Service Australia works with communities in need to improve their quality of life through projects which are economically and environmentally appropriate and sustainable.

QSA supports projects which:

* Seek to relieve suffering and poverty
* Improve access to basic services
* Increase the knowledge, skills and expertise of those involved
* Make use of local materials and appropriate technology
* Promote sound environmental and ecological practices
* Create a reciprocal relationship between QSA and those whom the project is designed to assist.

QSA supports the UN General Assembly's eight Millenium Development Goals aimed at improving the living conditions of the world's most disadvantaged people by 2015. The MDGs were endorsed by 149 nations including Australia and are intended to provide a coordinated global approach to development assistance.

History of Quaker Service Australia

QSA will be 50 years old in 2009. In 1940 Alva Herbert of Adelaide wrote: 'I feel we must have an Australian Friends Service Council. We Australians must develop good relationships with all our Pacific neighbours'. Alva Herbert saw the need for an 'indigenous' Quaker Aid Agency with a geographic focus on countries in our own region. His vision has become a reality.

In 1959 the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Australia formed a Service Council, which has now grown into Quaker Service Australia. Although at first mainly a fundraising body, supporting aboriginal initiatives and development education within Australia and projects of Quaker Peace & Service (UK) and the American Friends Service Committee, it is now an independent Australian aid and development organisation.