Australian Red Cross Delegates Program

30Delegates Program Annual Report 2011-2012Promotion ofAustralian identityAustralian Red Cross highlights the work of its international aid workers through anumber of mediums whenever possible. To recognise and promote thehumanitarian work that Australian Red Cross delegates are undertaking in the AsiaPacific region and further afield, news updates, case studies and interviews havebeen regularly uploaded to the Australian Red Cross website, published in theHumanitarian and Upfront magazines, as well as promoted through public media.In the last financial year, ten case studies were developed and publishedhighlighting the work of delegates in the areas of water and sanitation, shelter,disaster management, health, economic security and monitoring and evaluation. Allcase studies included a text box emphasising the financial contribution of AusAIDto the Delegates Program.Between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012, the work of Australian Red Crossdelegates was recognised throughout the Australian and international media,including over 100 print and broadcast interviews. Highlights included featurearticles in The Weekend Australian, The North Shore Times, and The LauncestonExaminer, and radio and television interviews on Radio National and ABC News 24.There was an increase in media coverage over the Christmas period, with anumber of print media articles focussing on delegates who were remaining onmission away from home over the festive season and demonstrating thecommitment of Australians to global humanitarian assistance.Delegates conducted interviews to shine a spotlight on specific issues, such aswater and sanitation on World Toilet Day and World Water Day, internationalhumanitarian law in South Sudan, effects of climate change in India andBangladesh, the safety of health workers in conflict zones, and HIV in Timor Leste.Radio, television and press interviews were also given to promote Australian RedCross responses following disasters and in other emergency situations. Australiandelegate James Boyce reported on the Fiji floods, Giovanni Trambaiolo reportedfrom conflict-ravaged South Sudan and Samadhi Marr commented on the unrest inWestern Myanmar.A short four-minute video was produced highlighting the inspiring work of AustralianRed Cross Shelter delegate Chris Howe in Haitii, working with local counterparts onrecovery efforts following the devastating earthquake in 2010. Rebuilding Haiti,brick by brick can be viewed at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd7OIBZnBB8&list=UUPdw6KubqBJ40u_aQsbWhVw&index=1&feature=plcpPrior to deploying on mission, delegates are provided with clothing and otherequipment clearly marked with the Australian Red Cross logo, including polo shirts,shorts, caps, and bags to wear in the field that visibly identify them as Australian.This visible exposure, combined with the professionalism of delegates, significantlycontributes to the promotion of a positive Australian identity in the Asia Pacificregion and beyond.