Exposure to tragedy killing our generosity

SOCIAL media has been blamed for giving Australians “compassion fatigue” as the world’s natural disasters are beamed to devices in the palm of our hand.

Announcing his resignation from World Vision, Rev Tim Costello said yesterday Australians simply couldn’t digest the increasing number of events that were broadcast instantly like never before.

“The rate of disasters has continued to grow and the exposure to them means people just don’t want to know,” Rev Costello said. “It’s too much ... I think that social media exposure has meant people have turned inward.”

He said it was only when unfathomable incidents occurred – such as the images of the Turkish soldier carrying the body of a drowned refugee toddler in 2015 – that charities experienced cut through.

“It’s those moments where the world goes, ‘Oh my God – that’s awful’. Then they give.”

Rev Costello announced his resignation to World Vision staff yesterday, having served with the charity as chief executive and then chief advocate since 2004.

He admitted heading into disaster zones had taken a toll.

“To be honest, I came back from the last disaster in Sumatra, where the earthquake and tsunami occurred there and I was much more knocked about than I was on previous disasters.”

Now 64, he said he was proud of the work the charity had achieved, particularly following the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami. World Vision raised $110 million in six weeks following the disaster.

He said he was also proud of having played a part to help raise the alarm after the regime in Myanmar prevented aid getting through to victims of the 2008 cyclone.

He said Australia could still do more when it came to overseas aid.