Safer World for All Update

In April of 2025, we wrote to you about the Safer World for All campaign – encouraging the Federal Government to maintain and support Australia’s foreign aid program. That same month Baptist pastors, chaplains, and their spouses from across the State gathered for the Annual Baptist Pastoral Retreat, where we had the opportunity to share about our vision to see the Australian Foreign Aid Budget to increase from 0.65% to 1% of our total Federal Budget.

On behalf of Baptist World Aid, we want to thank you for the generosity of your compassionate response in signing our postcards to push for a Safer World for All. Together we gathered 101 signatures from church leaders all around WA. This is an overwhelming response, showing our representatives in Parliament that Baptist Churches care about ensuring emergency aid and ongoing development support for our neighbours in the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond. At a time where conflict, climate and funding cuts put millions of lives at risk, Australia has an opportunity to provide genuine leadership in our region, and we are grateful for the support our Baptist family has shown in sharing our vision of an Australia that remains a generous, reliable, and engaged partner, living out the values of compassion and justice that we hold dear.

Ed Devine (WA Relationship Manager) and Theo Doraisamy (Advocacy Volunteer) have also had the privilege of sharing Safer World for All at 3 Baptist Colleges in WA and collecting 210 student signatures to be sent to parliamentarians. Together with the 101 postcards, we have reached out to all 16 members of the Australian House of Representatives, sending out your signatures with additional information, and making contact with each elected representative.

Next Steps

Our partners at Micah are hard at work to set up Safer World for All for the next phase of the campaign. While the election may be over, there is still incredible need across vulnerable communities around the globe – particularly in the Middle East, and in Myanmar. Please watch this space as we keep you updated on our next moves in advocacy, both as part of the Safer World for All campaign, and other advocacy actions that we at Baptist World Aid will get involved in.

We would also encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch with Baptist World aid to find out how you can pursue justice in Jesus’ name for your neighbours across the globe – as individuals, churches, workplaces and communities. With our leaders and schools engaged, we have a powerful opportunity to raise our voices as the body of Christ for a Safer World for All.