As many of you prepare for holidays or celebrations and spending time with families during this festive season AAI members prepare for what is traditionally the International Disaster Period (October to March). This is the time when due to forces of nature there becomes an increased workload and demand for international assistance to disasters. AAI members are aware that there are those communities that will not have the opportunity to celebrate festivities, and are prepared to sacrifice this import time in the year to respond to disasters.

Please spare a moment in your celebrations to think about the sacrifices and commitment made by not only disadvantaged communities, but also the many Humanitarians who must leave the comfort of their homes, paid employment and loved ones to work in what are often dangerous and remote regions of the world. Working in conditions that also do not have all the expected comforts you would be use to including drinkable water, healthy food and a dry comfortable bed.

AAI would like to thank all those who have volunteered with us and those who provide valuable contributions in supporting and funding our projects. We hope this will be a peaceful time for humanity and that everyone is able to enjoy being with their families.

Thank you for your support during 2008 and your continued commitment to supporting disadvantage communities anywhere that they may be.

Frank Tyler
Director of Operations

Click here to read AAI's Annual Report 2008

CEO, Marc Preston, attended the Civil Military Co-ordination (CM Coord) Staff Training Course on behalf of AAI that was recently conducted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, Switzerland. Marc was one of only two NGO representatives and the only Australian on the course.

CM Coord is the essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in humanitarian emergencies that is necessary to protect and promote humanitarian principles, avoid competition, minimize inconsistency, and when appropriate pursue common goals. Basic strategies range from coexistence to cooperation. Coordination is a shared responsibility facilitated by liaison and common training.

The course brought together both civilian and military personnel from 23 countries who are actively involved in co-ordination roles within their respective organisations.

The skills acquired on the course and the interaction with other humanitarian practitioners will greatly assist AAI in the delivery of coordinated programs in both natural disasters and complex emergencies.

During November AAI CEO Marc Preston attended the Asian Disaster Response and Reduction Network (ADRRN) annual conference that was held in Nepal. The main aim of the network is to promote coordination, information sharing and collaboration among NGOs and other stakeholders for effective and efficient disaster reduction and response in the Asia-Pacific region.

A large number of NGOs from the region were present and AAI was appointed the focal point NGO Australia. AAI has contributed to the networks three year strategy and commenced a number of initiatives including bi-lateral partnerships with network members to support a number of healthcare programs.

For more information go to the ADRRN site here.

On the 18 th of November, Dominic Bowen deployed to the Northern City of Chiang Mai in Thailand. Dominic was invited to observe an ADRA / World Vision Disaster Response Training and Simulation Activity. World Vision and ADRA staff from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Burma attended the course. Course observers were drawn from World Vision, ADRA, Islamic Relief and AAI offices from around the world.

The course consisted of a theoretical component and a five-day practical simulation in the Chiang Mai province. The theoretical component consisted of Satellite, Radio and GPS principles, the Sphere Humanitarian Guidelines, Critical Incident Management and humanitarian standards.

This was followed on the morning of the fourth day by a simulated-disaster when mock-flood and landslides, caused by increased water flows from the Mae Chaem River had caused damage to near by villages and farms, requiring a response from NGO ‘emergency response teams'. Both teams, amounting to almost 25 people, arrived in Ban Yang Loung village after nightfall on the first day. Over the course of the next four days the teams conducted their assessments, responded to mock-head office requests, challenging mock-television interviews, and managed mock-injuries, missing staff, and government liaison duties.

The simulation was a very worthwhile experience that enabled staff from many different countries throughout the region to gather together and train in a realistic environment where they were able to receive valuable feedback from disaster response experts, enabling a more effective humanitarian response in the likely event that they need to respond to a disaster in the future.

AAI are promoting to Corporates its extensive skills in management and decision making in emergency situations and how to apply this to the corporate environment. AAI has a range of initiatives which can offer corporate clients training, workshops, presentations in topics such as crisis management, corporate social responsibility and leadership development in crisis. Corporate volunteering opportunities are also offered to those looking for a more hands-on experience.

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

Please contact AAI for further information.

Timor Leste

AAI is implementing a long term healthcare project for Atauro Island, off the coast of Dili, where it is currently conducting the rural healthcare project. AAI provide support and supervision to the Ministry of Health programs by conducting activities in areas such as, outreach and mobile healthcare clinics, health promotion and capacity building of local healthcare staff.

AAI also focuses on providing initiatives in broader health issues including public health, water and sanitation. AAI completed a large scale water filtration system for the Government of Timor-Leste and installed the first SkyBank system for the Timorese Parliament building in Dili. Using the SkyJuice Foundation's SkyBank water filtration unit, AAI have been able to provide a low cost, gravity fed and easy to maintain water filtration system.

AAI is supporting the Hospital of Hope - Timor-Leste (HOHTL) which plans to build a world-class training hospital to provide free healthcare and support the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health. The Timor-Leste Government has now selected the location of the hospital and is arranging a free lease of land agreement. AAI provide an operational project management service for the HOHTL.

Click here to read more about our Timor Leste Program

Jogjakarta, Indonesia

AAI’s Indonesian Representative, Eva Pitaloka, recently coordinated the move of the Regional Officer to a new building in Jogjakarta. The new office is only around the corner from the previous location. The new address for AAI Indonesian Regional Office is:

No. B2 Casa Bella Cluster Casa Grande Sleman,
Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Indonesia is an area where AAI are focusing on water and sanitation, livelihood and Disaster Risk Reduction projects. AAI are also continually improving its 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 long supported health training in the Thai/Burma Border Region by implementing trauma medical courses for refugee Burmese health workers in Border towns of Thailand. Preparations have now been completed for the next series of course to be conducted early next year.

AAI also has an important education initiate for the Burmese refugee population in this area were we are identifying, training and co-ordinating volunteers to teach English Language skills to the refugee students in refugee schools. This education project supplements 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.

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

Bangladesh, Dhaka

AAI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) in Bangladesh to assist in providing volunteer doctors and nurses and to undertake co-operative projects in healthcare and disaster management.

The DCH was established in 1988 and is a trust owned private, non-profit and self financed organisation providing health care for low-income underprivileged people in Dhaka Bangladesh.

Since its inception in 1988, DCH has been experimenting with an integrated and sustainable health care delivery system at an affordable cost both in the urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. It has 24 primary health care centres and operates a 75 bed hospital in Dhaka which works as a referral centre and provide mainly tertiary level health care.

Applicants interested in medical and nursing positions with the DCH should complete the online volunteer application form and refer to the appropriate position number in your application.

Volunteer of the Quarter

AAI would like to congratulate Yvonne Oberhollenzer on being awarded the Volunteer of the Quarter for her exemplary efforts in developing position papers on behalf of AAI that will be used for the Asian Disaster Response and Reduction Network (ADRRN). Yvonne has considerable experience in the field of education and policy development. She recently conducted research for the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) on the current state of relations between the military, police and Australian non-governmental organisations in responding to complex emergencies and natural disasters and was able to draw on this background to produce policy outcomes that will now be used by all ADRRN members.

AAI Staff movements in our current programs

Headquarters

In November Marc Preston, CEO, visited all AAI international program locations to review projects and meet with staff and volunteers. Marc also travelled to Geneva to undertake the OCHCA 24th United Nations Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CM Coord) Staff Course. He then travelled to Nepal for AAI as the Australian Representative for the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network.

During October - December, Frank Tyler, Director of Operations and Marina Tyler, Executive Officer, travelled to South America. They are both back in Melbourne working on AAI's program development and preparing for the busy disaster season ahead.

Dom Bowen, International Security and Information Manager attended the December ADRA Disaster Response training activity held in Chang Mai, Thailand. Dom was one of the many thousands of people who were trapped in Thailand during the recent airport seizures. Dom has now returned to Sydney and is assisting with DRR planning.

Nathan Mullins, International Program Manager, is in Melbourne working on writing a book of his personal international experiences before he travels to consult in the Middle East over the Christmas period.

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 volunteer doctor, Suzanne Lippert has recently returned home to the US after completing a two month placement.

Indonesia

Eva continues to manage our regional initiatives in Indonesia while AAI is establishing new projects.

Marc Preston

Marina Tyler

Paul Piaia

Eva Petaloka

As the Christmas season places high demands on both AAI staff and potential volunteers, AAI will not be conducting training until March 2009.

It is essential that all volunteers wishing to register with AAI complete the Introduction to 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 on the course as they became available.

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

The concept of the “Responsibility to Protect” in humanitarian interventions.

During the recent cyclone that devastated Myanmar there were calls by some members of the international community to intervene, by force if necessary, based on the concept of the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P).

The core of R2P is that, sovereign states should retain the primary responsibility to protect their own people from mass atrocities. But if they manifestly fail to do so, through either incapacity or ill will, then it becomes the collective responsibility of the international community to take appropriate action. Sovereignty conveys no immunity when massive human rights violations are involved. The emphasis is on prevention and assistance for states in need. And any further response necessary stresses using the least coercive and intrusive effective means possible. Force might be needed, but only in extreme and exceptional cases, and with Security Council approval.

The R2P concept was proposed by a Canadian-sponsored international commission in 2001, and it took only four years for the principles to be adopted, without dissent, by the UN General Assembly.

Gareth Evans, former Australian foreign minister, who is president of the International Crisis Group and author of "The Responsibility to Protect: Ending Mass Atrocity Crimes Once and for All" has stated that:

“Three big challenges remain for like-minded governments and civil society organizations who understand and accept the power of the R2P norm:

AAI have regular 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 refer to our Timor Leste page for a detailed description of the AAI Rural Healthcare Project and for the position description on our jobs page. Positions for doctors are now available for the Mar – Jul 2009 placement.

AAI are supporting the Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) in Bangladesh by providing volunteer medical and nursing staff. This is a long term project and placements include both hospital based and rural primary healthcare clinics. Further details on the DCH can be reviewed on www.dchtrust.org and for a position description on our jobs page.

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.