FAQs

• What is Compassion Australia's relationship with Hillsong Church?

  Compassion Australia is an independent, non-denominational organisation and is not exclusively affiliated to any one church. We currently partner with Hillsong as well as over 1,000 different churches from a variety of denominations throughout Australia.

  All our partnerships are centred on a united purpose to see children released from poverty in Jesus’ name.

  You can:

  • Organise a Compassion Sunday event for your church
  • Sponsor a child
  • Contact us
• Does child sponsorship cause jealousy among children who are not registered?

  In selecting which children to enrol in Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program, our local church partners follow a child selection process which gives priority to children with the greatest need living within the surrounding community. In order to benefit as many families as possible, Compassion generally registers only one child from a family.

  Rather than being jealous, the rest of the family usually considers one child's sponsorship a great blessing because the support they receive enables them to dedicate more of their resources to providing for other family members' needs. Our local church partners also try to include siblings and parents in many of the child development centre activities, particularly Christmas celebrations, and usually also offer other programs and activities like Sunday school and school holiday classes that are open to all children. The size of monetary gifts that sponsors can give their sponsored children is also limited to help avoid jealousy among the child's neighbours.

  You can help your sponsored child's siblings to feel involved by including them in your letters and prayers, or giving a family gift, which will benefit each member of the family.

  You can:

  • Sponsor a child
  • Give a gift
  • Write a letter
• How does Compassion protect children?

  We are committed to demonstrating effective child protection practices at all levels of the organisation, including:

  1. Providing specific interventions when needed
  2. Providing on-the-ground training for all staff and volunteers
  3. Employing specialist child protection staff at national offices
     
  4. Maintaining a secure, anonymous reporting and follow-up system for abuse and malpractice
  5. Facilitating communication through secure technology
     
  6. Holding firm to a commitment from the entire organisation to maintain the child’s and family’s privacy and dignity

  Our Child Safe Policy is regularly reviewed and updated in line with any legislation changes in Australia regarding child protection and intervention issues.

  All people interacting with children and young people on behalf of Compassion Australia must abide by the Compassion Australia Child Protection Code of Conduct.

  If you have a concern about any of Compassion’s operations or child safety issues in Australia or overseas, please call us on 1300 22 44 53 or email compassion@compassion.com.au.

  We take your concerns seriously and will investigate thoroughly and provide you with a response in writing.

  If you would like to remain an anonymous whistleblower and make a complaint, we will make every effort to keep your identity confidential and only reveal it where necessary.

  Please email your complaint to:

  risk@compassion.com.au

  chairman@compassion.com.au

• What exactly does my sponsored child receive?

  Every child is special and uniquely made by God. Poverty looks different, but the goal for each sponsored child stays the same: good health, good skills, good relationships—and the opportunity to hear the Good News.

  Your generous sponsorship contribution each month helps supply resources to your sponsored child’s local church partner and provide a range of benefits to the children who are registered at that child development centre, including:

  • The opportunity to hear the gospel in a culturally relevant way
  • Learning opportunities, school supplies and assistance with school fees as needed
  • Health care such as medical check-ups, dental care and vaccinations
  • Nutritious meals as required
  • Key life skills and vocational training programs
  • Individualised care and attention

  Importantly, your sponsored child also benefits from developing a one-to-one relationship with you as their sponsor through letters, community updates, prayer and financial gifts. This personal friendship between you and your sponsored child is a source of hope and encouragement to the child and their family. Knowing there is someone in another part of the world that knows, loves and cares for them is a very special part of the sponsorship journey for a child living in poverty.

  You can:

  Give your sponsored child a gift

  Write a letter

  Contact us

• What is the role of church partners in the countries Compassion works in?

  We partner with local churches to fulfil our mission of releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Our partnership is based on mutual respect, common goals and a belief in the Church as God's chosen instrument for His work in seeking justice for children living in poverty. Every child development centre is an outreach of one of these churches, and church staff and volunteers provide the children with non-coercive, age- and culture-appropriate Christian teaching and church-run activities.

  The role of our church partners involves:

  • Maintaining complete, accurate and current information on each registered child in their care

  • Providing information on the program and operations of the partnership to Compassion

  • Providing regular reports to the Compassion national office in their country

  • Assessing all registered children's progress against child development outcomes

  • Working towards a planned and successful completion of every registered child's participation in the program

  • Ensuring all registered children have at least one adult staff member or volunteer who personally knows them, interacts with them and helps them to grow and develop through the ministry of the child development centre

  You can:

  Sponsor a child

  Make a donation

  Write a letter