2008 has been another successful year for AAI in the delivery of international medical relief and humanitarian programs to underserved populations in need of assistance as a result of natural disasters and complex emergencies.

The most significant international disaster that occurred during this period was Cyclone Nargis in Burma where AAI deployed its Disaster Assistance Response Team to distribute emergency medical supplies and provide training assistance to national responders. AAI also continued its longer term programs in Indonesia , the Thai-Burma border region and Timor-Leste where it continues a highly successful partnership with Oilex Ltd in the implementation of the medical outreach program on Atauro Island .

The strength of AAI in both providing and maintaining such an effective capability has and will always be the commitment and energy of its staff, volunteers and supporters. Quality people are the medium through which AAI delivers the highest level of humanitarian assistance and programming and it is very privileged to engage some the best and most experienced people in the sector.

The AAI management team forms the backbone of its current organisational structure and drives its most significant initiatives. Its volunteers, both local and international, bring with them a unique set of skills and competencies and a common desire to “make a difference” to those less fortunate. AAI's valuable work would, of course, not be possible without the generosity and support of its donors (organisational, individual and corporate) as well as its Advisory Board who play both an active and representational role.

2008 also saw the further enhancement of AAI's professionalism in the NGO sector with the achievement of both approved status under the Overseas Aid Grant Development Scheme and Deductible Gift Recipient status recognised by the Australian Taxation Office. AAI will build on these achievements during 2009.

AAI strives to become recognised internationally as a humanitarian leader with a reputation for providing relief and assistance well outside the scope and capability of similar organisations and to effectively complement and augment the international humanitarian community in the delivery of outcomes anywhere in the world.

Thank you all once again for your support during 2008 and your continued commitment to the humanitarian imperative.

Marc Preston
CEO

Click here to read AAI's Annual Report 2008

In July this year, Marc Preston, CEO and Penny Sizer, Timor-Leste Health Coordinator, escorted former Australian Democrat Senator Lyn Allison, to view first hand the medical outreach program being conducted by AAI on Atauro Island .

Senator Allison was accompanied by her advisor Vikki McLeod and independent health consultant Dr Christina Richards. Also on the assessment mission was Mr Mark Sherwell, County Manager of Conoco Phillips and AAI Advisory Board Member, Felicidade Guterres. The assessment mission observed the AAI medical team comprising of Penny Sizer and local nurses, Caeser, Eduardo and Nunu conduct a remote outreach healthcare clinic providing consultation to over 45 patients for a variety of ailments and conditions. Without this outreach clinic being conducted, remote communities like these on Atauro Island would have limited access to healthcare. AAI incorporation with the District Health Service, ensures that these outreach clinics are conducted on a regular basis and provide communities with much needed services.

The assessment team had to travel via boat from Dili over the twenty nautical miles open water crossing of Wetar Straight. They then transferred to the Ataruo Island medical clinic outrigger boat to travel to the remote health post. This type of trip is common for the AAI Timor-Leste medical team, who travel for a week at a time by boat, vehicle and foot to remote Island communities.

Click here to read more about Senator Lynn Alison's assessment mission.

AAI Benefit Dance Party

On the 15th August, AAI and Room680 nightclub of Hawthorn, held a benefit dance party, Natural Disaster, to raise funds for AAI projects. It was a terrific atmosphere with people coming together for a night out for the best of all possible reasons and the spirit of generosity in the Room was awesome.

The benefit dance would not have occurred without the wonderful efforts of Kat Taylor, who organized the night with the assistance of the fantastic staff and managers from Room680 including Daven Kon and Nat.

If you supported the event, congratulate yourself for making it a wonderful night full of good cheer and good tunes. If you are in Melbourne, please drop into Room680 for a dance and a drink. The venue is located at 680 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. Room680 are great supporters of AAI. Check out their website at www.room680.com

AAI are fortunate enough to gain the pro bono services of the world renowned advertising agency, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne. Through our volunteer marketing advisers, Paul Reardon and Michael Hyde, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne have sponsored the development of a detailed corporate marketing strategy for AAI to promote its extensive skills in management and decision making in emergency situations and apply this to the corporate environment.

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne have highlighted a range of initiatives which AAI should offer corporate clients including, training, workshops and presentations in crisis management, corporate volunteering opportunities, corporate social responsibility programs and leadership development in crisis environments.

AAI are now offering these initiatives to corporate organisations and welcome enquiries for these services.

AAI have constant medical positions available in Timor-Leste. Volunteer doctors are required for rotating placements providing international health and primary healthcare to remote communities on Atauro Island, located off the coast of Timor-Leste. Please click here for a detailed description of the AAI Rural Healthcare Project and go to our job page here for the position description.

Positions for doctors are now available for the Jan Mar 2009 placement. If you are interested in applying please complete the online volunteer application form and refer to the position number in your application.

Other positions available in Timor-Leste include expressions of interest for a volunteer Emergency Healthcare Officer to manage the AAI staff clinic and a volunteer Water and Sanitation advisor. Interested applicants are to complete the online application form.

AAI's English Teaching Project on the Thai-Burma Boarder is seeking volunteer teachers for one to three month placements. Positions are open to volunteers who do not have formal teaching qualification. However, candidates must have relevant skills and experience in the areas of international development and must have tertiary qualifications.

Refer to our jobs page here for all your information.

Current Operations

Timor Leste

AAI continues to implement a five-year healthcare plan for Atauro Island where it is currently conducting the rural health project. AAI provide support and supervision to the Ministry of Health programs by conducting activities in areas such as outreach and mobile healthcare clinic support, health promotion and capacity building of local healthcare staff.

Our focus in Timor-Leste is also to provide initiatives in broader health issues including public health and water and sanitation. AAI have recently completed a number of small-scale water filtration systems for communities that do not enjoy access to clean drinking water and a larger water filtration system for the Timorese Parliament building in Dili. Using the SkyJuice Foundation's SkyHydrant water filtration units, AAI have been able to provide low cost, gravity fed and easy to maintain water filtration systems. Communities that received the systems have been thoroughly engaged in the project and have taken over responsibility for operating and maintaining the water filtration units.

AAI continues to support the Hospital of Hope - Timor-Leste (HOHTL). The HOHTL plans to build a world-class training hospital to provide free healthcare and support the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health. Negotiations are on-going between HOHTL and the Timor-Leste Government for the location of the hospital and lease of land. AAI provide an operational project management service for the HOHTL.

Click here to read more about our Timor Leste Program

Jogjakarta, Indonesia

In Indonesia AAI is focusing on areas of water and sanitation, livelihoods and Disaster Risk Reduction. We are also continually improving our emergency response capabilities for our Indonesia program. Our Java office remains the regional headquarters for AAI and is integral for emergency responses within South-East Asia region.

Click here to read more about AAI in Indonesia

Thai/Burma Border Region

AAI has begun an important education initiate for the Burmese refugee population in Mae Sot. We are now identifying, training and co-ordinate volunteers who will teach English Language skills to the refugee students in schools at Mae Sot. The first group of volunteers travelled to Mae Sot in September. These volunteers now form an important resource for the school program of this refugee community.

You will be aware that AAI has long supported health education by running trauma medical courses for health workers in Mae Sot and the education project will supplement our support to the disadvantaged Burmese refugee community. The Burmese refugees live in exile in Thailand , without access to health facilitates or education resources unless agencies, like AAI, assist them.

Help us assist by supporting these projects. We are seeking donations to support program costs and appropriate volunteers who can travel to Mae Sot to assist.

Click here to read more about AAI's work on our website.

Current Staff & Volunteer Information

Volunteer of the Quarter

Megan Nagy is a fulltime university student currently studying International development at Victoria University in Melbourne , Australia . The AAI medical training team first meet Megan whilst she was working as a volunteer teacher providing education to Karen refugees on the Thai-Burma Boarder. We were so impressed with her dedication and understanding of the refugee situation in Thailand that we invited Megan to volunteer with AAI.

Since the beginning of this year Megan has been an active member with AAI, firstly completing the AAI Introduction to Humanitarian Operations course and then assisting with the development of the AAI Karen Refugee Education Project. Megan's exceptional skills and commitment led to her being offered the AAI Volunteer Coordinator Position. Many of you may have now been contacted by Megan in response to available positions within AAI or to update you information on our volunteer database.

AAI Staff movements in our current programs

Headquarters

Marc Preston, CEO, has recently returned to Australian after spending six months consulting in the Middle East and has been busy visiting our international programs in the Asia-Pacific Region. Marc is currently in Geneva, after being invited to undertake the OCHCA 24th United Nations Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) Staff Course.

Frank Tyler, Director of Operations, has been travelling between South-East Asia and Melbourne during this quarter. Currently, Frank is in Melbourne and working on AAI's program development. In October Frank and Marina, Executive Officer, will be travelling to South America for a two month period. During this time they may not be contactable and all communications for Frank and Marina should be referred to Marc Preston.

Nathan Mullins, International Program Manager, is currently in Timor-Leste managing the Timor Program. Nathan has been instrumental in the implementation of our current water filtration projects in Timor and has been working on future program development in the region. Nathan will return from Timor in October and will then be travelling to consult in the Middle East .

Paul Piaia, the AAI Web Manager, is enjoying a very busy time at his new workplace, Mintleaf Studio. Paul continues to contribute his time to support AAI's website and advises on business management.

Timor-Leste

Penny Sizer, Health Coordinator, and Nairana Da Silva, Project Nurse, remain in our Timor-Leste program. The new volunteer doctor, Julie Alexander commenced in August and will be in Timor for a three month placement.

Indonesia

Eva Pitaloka continues to manage our regional office in Indonesia while AAI are establishing new projects.

Marc Preston

Frank Tyler

Nathan
Mullins

Penny Sizer

Humanitarian Training

Due to the high international operational demands in September AAI was forced to cancel the planned Introduction to Humanitarian Operations Course. We are extremely sorry to all those participants that booked on to the course. All fees have been fully refunded and those of you that applied for this course will receive discounts on the next course.

It is essential that all volunteers wishing to register with AAI complete the Humanitarian Operations course prior to being selected for a position. However, if courses are unavailable this will not disadvantage you in applying for possible positions with AAI. We encourage you all to continue to apply for positions as they became available.

The next Introduction to Humanitarian Operations Course is planned for February 2009 in Melbourne or Sydney . Click here to find out more about this course and to enrol.

Professional Humanitarian Development

The Regulation of Private Security Companies operating in the humanitarian sector.

On the 17 th of September 2008, experts representing 17 countries agreed on a new set of recommendations to enhance state control over private security companies and also reaffirm the obligations of states to ensure that these private contractors abide by international humanitarian law, according to a statement issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The “Montreux Document” was organized by the Swiss government under an initiative launched in 2006 and was presented by the ICRC who had been associated with the initiative since the beginning. According to the ICRC,

"The document clearly reaffirms the fact that military and security contractors dispatched to war zones must comply with international law, and that States have a particular responsibility for ensuring compliance,"

"It is now very important that states take concrete measures to prevent violations from occurring and to hold contractors to account for unlawful behavior"

The document, which is not legally binding, outlines for the first time ever detailed and practical measures to help states enhance compliance with international humanitarian law and ensure respect for human rights.

The measures are relevant when a state hires a private military/security company, when these companies are operating in its territory, or when a company is based in the territory of a state and provides military and security services abroad.