As Australians prepare for Christmas and the New Year break, Australian non-government aid agencies are preparing for natural disasters, with Australian Government help.

Under a new Humanitarian Partnership Agreement, the Australian Government is providing $10.5 million to Care, Caritas, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children and World Vision to ensure a faster, more co-ordinated response to rapid onset emergencies. Participating NGOs have been pre-qualified and have a proven track record in providing humanitarian assistance internationally.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd officially launched the new overseas volunteer program, Australian Volunteers for International Development, on 26 May 2011 at Parliament House, Canberra.

The new, integrated program will make it easier for more Australians to volunteer their services in developing countries, in support of the priorities of the Australian Government’s aid program.

Millions of Pakistanis still need aid: New report

With the world’s gaze on Pakistan, aid agencies today urged the international community not to forget the plight of the 21 million people whose lives were devastated by last year's floods.

In a new report launched today, The Long Road: Australian humanitarian agency response to the floods in Pakistan, ACFID highlights the ongoing humanitarian needs of the people affected by the 2010 Pakistan floods – one of the largest natural disasters in recent history.

To date more than 11,400 people have registered with the National Registration and Inquiry System.

Evacuation centres have been established in affected areas across North Queensland by local government and Queensland