RedR Australia Chair, Elizabeth Taylor, and CEO, Kirsten Sayers, attended the showcase of Australia’s commitment to humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery through a photography and video exhibition.
There were 19 photos and two videos that profiled and celebrated Australian humanitarian experts funded by the Government to operate in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, including a featured video highlighting the work of RedR Australia and Australia Assists as part of the Syria response.
RedR Australia’s feature video highlighting the impact of the efforts of Australia Assists deployees and their host organisations to the Syria response in Jordan.
The former Foreign Minister gave an opening address, acknowledging her pride and support of humanitarian and emergency responders, followed by Save the Children CEO Paul Ronalds, and Australia Assists deployee Terri O’Quinn, who represented RedR Australia.
Terri was deployed through RedR Australia to UN Women in Fiji in February, and during her address reflected on her recent role, acknowledging the significant opportunity in the Pacific to support programs that ensure women and vulnerable groups are empowered during disaster response.
“It was an honour to speak at Parliament House and have the opportunity to promote how, through its support of agencies like UN Women in the Pacific region, the Australia Assists program through RedR Australia is contributing to improved gender equality and human rights in disaster preparedness and response,” said Terri.
“As a Communications Officer deployed to UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, my role included amplifying the voices of local and diverse humanitarians and highlighting that women and vulnerable groups – such as people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQI+– need to be able to participate, lead and be empowered by disaster preparedness and response.”
This image of Tristan Turner, deployed through the Australia Assists program by RedR Australia, also featured in the exhibition. Tristan was stationed at the World Food Programme in Bangladesh as a Site Engineer, where he was involved in the construction of a 28-metre low-water bridge over the Bakkhali River in Cox’s Bazar, to provide access to closer food distribution points. Photo credit: Max Greenstein, RedR Australia
The ‘Australia’s Humanitarian Action’ exhibition is featured in a three-part series on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) blog:
https://blog.dfat.gov.au/2018/08/20/australias-humanitarian-support-part-i-australians-in-action/
