FAQs

• What age is the Good Neighbour docuseries suitable for?

  
  
  The Good Neighbour docuseries has been classified as PG by the Australian Classification Board. It contains mild themes and it is recommended that children under the age of 15 watch it alongside a parent or guardian. Some of the issues raised include real stories of child labour, and the loss of parents, which may be distressing for a younger audience.

  To find out more about classification ratings, please visit the Australian Classification website.
  

• What is the Good Neighbours Quiz?

  You may have received an email or My Account notification from Compassion Australia inviting you to take the Good Neighbours Quiz. This quick, two-minute survey will ask you three questions about what matters most to you when giving to others. Based on your responses, you’ll receive a result at the end of the quiz that predicts what valuable role you play in your neighbourhood and how your unique personality makes you an especially good neighbour.

  By completing the Good Neighbours Quiz, you are helping us to better serve you and other supporters. This helps us to partner together more effectively in our shared mission to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

  We use your responses and feedback solely for internal purposes and in line with our privacy policy.

  The quiz is completely optional so there’s no obligation for you to complete it. If you'd like to ensure you don’t receive any further surveys from Compassion Australia for the time being, you can update your communication preferences any time in My Account.

• What is child sponsorship?

  Through our Child Sponsorship Program, more than 2 million children are currently being released from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program doesn’t just address a child’s physical needs, but looks at the holistic development of their social, emotional and spiritual needs as well. The sponsorship program is delivered to registered children through their local church, who are best placed to understand the unique needs and cultural context of their communities. One child is connected with one sponsor who can provide life-changing support, encouragement and hope. Sponsors can write letters to their sponsored children and will receive regular letters from their child and updates from the field. Sponsors can also elect to give additional financial child or family gifts to assist with their greatest need.

  Find out more:

  How much does it cost to sponsor a child with Compassion Australia?

  What exactly does my sponsored child receive?

  Sponsor a child

• 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

• 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