Stars of sport, screen and stage gather in Sydney to celebrate the power of rugby to change children’s lives

26 July 2018: Over 300 representatives from Australia’s rugby and international development communities came together last night at Sydney’s Ivy Ballroom, raising over $150k to support children living in developing communities in Asia.  

Special guests included famed Wallaby legends George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, Wentworth star Danielle Cormack, and Wallaroo Emily Chancellor.

Frankie J Holden and wife Michelle Pettigrove, actors and long-time Ambassadors of ChildFund, shared MC duties on the night alongside guest interviewer Tracey Holmes of the ABC.

Nigel Spence, CEO of ChildFund, said: “This event was a unique opportunity to raise support for children in our region and celebrate ChildFund’s appointment as principal charity partner for Rugby World Cup 2019.

“This year, we have seen thousands of rugby fans around the globe show their support for ChildFund Pass It Back, our award-winning sport for development program.

“Last night, this generosity was matched by the rugby community in Australia. The funds donated will ensure that more children from developing communities get the opportunity to learn, play and grow through rugby.”

Using an integrated life skills and rugby curriculum, ChildFund Pass it Back not only promotes the right to play in communities where children have little or no access to organised sport, but provides important learning opportunities around leadership, problem-solving, gender equity, conflict-resolution and planning for the future.

Currently being implemented in Laos, The Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, the program strengthens the resilience of disadvantaged children and youth, and equips young people to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change and ‘pass it back’ to their communities.

One of the most remarkable achievements of ChildFund Pass it Back has been its success in attracting girls and young women to the game of rugby – over 50% of all players and coaches are female.

Lao Khang, a former ChildFund Pass It Back player who comes from a remote and rural village in the north of Laos, also attended the event.

A member of the Laos National Women’s Team, Lao Khang was listed in the BBC’s 100 Women of 2018. Working with the Lao Rugby Federation, which partners with ChildFund to implement ChildFund Pass It Back, Lao Khang is still actively involved in the program that had such an enormous impact on her own life.

She said: “I want to help involve as many Lao girls and women from rural and remote communities as possible in rugby so they too can feel brave and strong.”

ChildFund Ambassador and rugby great Stephen Larkham, who visited Laos earlier this year to see ChildFund’s work in rural communities, said: “ChildFund Pass It Back gives children in developing communities in the Asia Pacific region the opportunity to play tag rugby and learn important life skills.

“For these kids, from poor, low income communities, taking part is life-changing. I think it is an amazing program. I’ve never seen anything like it, and it makes me proud to be associated with rugby.”

In this year’s pre-election budget for the Coalition, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has tonight confirmed that there will be no reprieve for the Australian Aid budget.

Following what is the sixth consecutive cut to overseas development assistance (ODA), Australia is now spending just 0.2% of gross national income, a figure well below the internationally agreed target of 0.7%.

CEO of ChildFund Australia Nigel Spence said: “This is deeply concerning.

“Almost $1bn is donated by Australians annually to programs which improve the lives of children in the world’s poorest communities. It is extremely disappointing to witness the failure by government to reflect our nation’s values of generosity and compassion within its own policies.”

As the world marks the 30^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child this year, Mr Spence warns of the increasing global uncertainty for many children in our region, and the risk that the hard-won development gains of the past three decades could be lost as communities backslide into poverty.

“Many children and families are living with great uncertainty and insecurity. Extreme poverty persists for more than 400 million people and many more are economically vulnerable. Inequality has increased and the number of displaced people is at its highest level. In the camps of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, for example, there are over 700,000 Rohingya refugees; an estimated 40 per cent of these are children.

“In Myanmar, rising income inequality means many children are still being forced to forgo their education, as families rely on the earnings their labour generates to survive.

“Closer to home, countries like Papua New Guinea are experiencing new outbreaks of polio, while at the same time dealing with the ongoing tuberculosis epidemic.

“Globally more than 1 billion children experience physical violence or exploitation, and an estimated 120 million girls are subject to sexual abuse.”

“Australia can and should do more to support children and communities within our region.”

The Australian Aid program is not only an investment in the future development of countries within our region, but an investment in Australia’s own stability and prosperity.

In addition to its value as a soft diplomacy tool, ODA supports Australia’s Foreign Policy aims. Australian aid reduces poverty, and serves Australia’s interests by fostering economic growth in the region, creating new markets, building human capital and reducing the risks of conflict and displacement.

Mr Spence added: “The Australian Aid program was once a world leader but its effectiveness has been dramatically curtailed during the last five years.

“The reality is that if Australia continues to reduce its support for vulnerable children and families in our region, their pathway out of poverty becomes almost impossible.”