Survey reveals Aussies’ altruism

RESEARCH conducted by a national aid charity confirms Australians are the most generous in the world, with four out of five looking to support their neighbours in times of crisis.

Red Cross Australia surveyed more than 2000 people nationally and the Qualtrics survey found that women were 1.3 times more likely to offer assistance than men and young people had a higher care factor than older Australians when it comes to donating aid.

The survey revealed, compared with men, women were more likely to believe that we should take action at an individual level and that they feel more connected with humanitarian issues through their day-to-day lives than men.

The perception Millennials cared more about their screens than people, was dispelled by the survey that found people under 25 to be 1.5 times more likely to want to help others than people aged over 65. People under 25 were the most likely of any other age group to believe we should take action at an individual level.

Launching the annual “Bring More Good Appeal”, Red Cross chief executive Judy Slatyer, said even in tough times Australians had shown care and compassion.

“A number of global studies in recent years confirm that Australians are among the most generous in the world and our survey confirms that,” she said.

“Australians feel that it’s well within their reach to make a real difference and help their neighbours.”

There are more than 20,000 Red Cross volunteers across Australia, including Roland Kalamo, a former refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo now based in Mount Gambier.

The former journalist was forced to flee his country due to death threats issued because

AUSTRALIANS FEEL THAT IT’S WELL WITHIN THEIR REACH TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE AND HELP THEIR NEIGHBOURS

RED CROSS CEO JUDY SLATYER

of his efforts to expose official corruption.

He fled to the Kakuma refugee camp, in Kenya, where he faced hardships, and further death threats but through the Red Cross he set up a social enterprise, providing English lessons and jobs for those trapped in the camps.

In Australia, he has continued as a Red Cross volunteer helping people track down loved ones in Australia and overseas.

Last year, in partnership with the University of Geneva, he was invited to Paris to talk about how technology could help migrants and refugees to access higher education.