What you need to know

• Can I visit my sponsored child?

  Thank you for your interesting in travelling. We know that meeting your sponsored child is a life-changing experience!

  Right now, we’re in the process of developing what a future travel experience will look like. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both sponsors visiting children and for the children themselves is vital. As a result, we are currently not facilitating any visits.

  We’re pleased to let you know that we’re planning to recommence trips in 2024. To express interest in or find out more about visiting your sponsored child, please speak to your local Compassion representative or call our team on 1300 22 44 53.

  While travel is not happening at this time, the life-changing work of the local church has not stopped. You can find out how Compassion’s local church partners have been loving and supporting vulnerable children throughout this challenging time by visiting our Where We Work page.

  Thank you for your patience and understanding and for continuing to pray for Compassion assisted children during this time.

• When will Field Experience Trips restart?

  At this stage, Compassion Australia is unable to commit to a date when trips and visits will restart. Once this information becomes available, we will let our supporters know. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

• Can I register for a future Field Experience Trip at this time?

  At this point, Compassion Australia is not accepting registrations for trips or visits. We will inform our supporters when more information is available. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

• What will future trips and visits look like, considering COVID-19?

  The health and safety of the children we serve, our supporters and our staff is of great importance to us. While it is unclear what travel will look like in the future, any new measures resulting from the pandemic will be communicated to our travellers prior to registration, so they are aware of what actions Compassion is taking to make travel as safe as possible.

• How does the travel suspension affect Compassion assisted children?

  One of the strengths of Compassion’s ministry is that we work in partnership with local churches in developing nations. They are uniquely positioned to know and understand the needs of the children in their communities and provide necessary support. While we know that Field Experiences are life-changing experiences for both sponsors and children, the practical care and support that children receive through the Child Sponsorship Program is not impacted by Field Experiences.

• WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF ME ON A COMPASSION TRIP?

  Travelling overseas to see how children are being released from poverty is incredibly exciting and can have a tremendously positive impact both on you and the children, church staff and volunteers you visit.

  To maximise the experience for you and for all your fellow travellers, we’ll ask you to engage in all group activities and participate fully in briefing sessions as you prepare to go, travel, and debrief from your time overseas.

  We’ll also ask you to follow the guidance of your Field Experience Leader to ensure we respect cultural practices that may vary significantly to those in Australia.