News Stories

Celebrating Australians around the world this Australia Day

Posted 25 January 2012

Tomorrow all around the country, Australian’s will be celebrating all things great about Australian history, culture and development. While this national celebration is a great time for summer fun, Opportunity International Australia would like to honour those passionate and dedicated Australians who are living and working abroad in support of a greater cause. Many of these people work hard in often difficult places, separated from their friends and family to make the world a better place.

AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, has recently developed a television series called ‘Changing Lives’, paying testament to the work of dedicated Australians doing extraordinary jobs around the world. One episode features Mark Daniels, Opportunity’s East Asia Director (watch video below). Mark and his family moved to the Philippines more than two years ago to support Opportunity’s microfinance programs in the Philippines.

This Australia Day we would also like to acknowledge another staff member – Chris Murdoch, Opportunity’s Strategic Services Director, who relocated to Hyderbad, India with his family two years ago. Chris’s work in the area is incredibly valuable as he investigates a range of community development initiatives to support local communities.

A big thank you to all our staff working abroad this Australia Day (and those supporters, staff and volunteers working locally) and another thank you to AusAID for their continued support and the inspiring ‘Changing Lives’ series that encapsulates the incredible lives of Australians working overseas.

Happy Australia Day!