Unlocking a lifetime of Australian academic expertise to support the education of the next generation across the Indo-Pacific.

A university education stands behind every teacher who inspires a child, every nurse who cares for a patient, every
engineer who designs resilient infrastructure and every public leader who serves their community. Yet across
the Pacific, Asia and Africa, many universities struggle to access the senior academic expertise they need to
build themselves. 

 

Australian Academic Volunteers Abroad (AAVA) was established to help bridge that gap. We are a charity
organisation that supports capacity-building across the Pacific, Asia and Africa by mobilising senior retired
Australian academic and professional staff to work as volunteers at partner universities, advancing the teaching
and research capabilities that drive national development.

Our model is simple. Universities identify their own priorities. We match these priorities with highly
experienced Australian academic leaders who volunteer their time and expertise. We work alongside universities to
help them achieve the goals they have already identified for themselves. The outcomes are stronger universities;
and graduates better prepared to support their communities and build their nations.

Established in 2023, AAVA has now had 20 volunteers at seven universities in six countries. We have partnered with
Australian Volunteers International (AVI) and mobilised volunteers through the Australian Government funded
Australian Volunteers Program (AVP). We have demonstrated that the model works. Universities are
requesting additional assignments. Volunteers continue to come forward.

The challenge we now face is responding to growing demand and building a sustainable organisation.
This document describes both what has been achieved and what remains possible. With your support, we can extend this work and enable more universities and their students to benefit from the
expertise of Australia's academic community.​​​​​​

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