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The Change Report

A Caritas Australia report about the change your generosity has helped create.

By Caritas Australia

THANK YOU

Each day, I am deeply inspired by the courage and resilience of women living in some of the world's most vulnerable and remote communities. Despite enormous challenges – from conflict and climate change, to poverty and inequality – they continue to strive for brighter futures, and their strength moves me profoundly.

According to a United Nations report, around 260,000 women died in 2023 from preventable pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes – that is one woman every two minutes. While progress has been made in recent years, women in rural and remote areas remain among the hardest hit, facing barriers such as shortages of skilled health workers, long travel distances and limited infrastructure. These inequities make access to antenatal checkups, emergency obstetric care, and safe delivery far less certain.

At Caritas Australia, we believe that empowering women is transformative – not just for them, but for entire communities. That is why our annual Women for the World campaign is so important and close to my heart. This year, we spotlight Pronali, an Indigenous woman from rural Bangladesh.

Through Caritas Bangladesh’s Safe Motherhood Program, she trained as a midwife and now provides essential care in remote areas where healthcare is limited. Pronali is now recognised as a vital healthcare worker, and she dreams of opening a clinic and helping her children pursue medical education.

Thanks to your generosity and our dedicated local partners, women like Pronali are gaining the tools they need to build better lives for themselves and their communities, such as access to food, clean water, education, training and healthcare. Your compassion and support of our mission make this possible.

In this edition of The Change Report, we revisit stories of Leaia in Samoa and Aloma in the Philippines, showcase the pivotal work of our First Australian partner, Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation, and bring you updates from Myanmar and Gaza.

On behalf of everyone at Caritas Australia, thank you for your steadfast support. I hope you enjoy this edition of The Change Report and continue to stand with us in creating a world where every woman and girl can thrive.

With gratitude,

Kirsten Sayers

Chief Executive Officer, Caritas Australia

Program snapshot

Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation

Caritas Australia’s Visit to Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation

Recently, we had the privilege of visiting Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation in Western Sydney – a space where culture, connection and support intertwine.

Founded by five Aboriginal Elders, Baabayn offers a place of cultural resilience and healing grounded in identity. It is a place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to strengthen or rekindle their ties to culture, Country and each other.

During our visit, we got to witness some of the stories shared between visitors and Elders. Whether it is chatting over a cuppa, children learning in the homework club, or Elders guiding others, Baabayn shows how healing happens through relationships and culture.

Baabayn also connects people with government services, other centres, and education providers like TAFE, offering culturally appropriate support in navigating these systems. It fills a crucial gap in connecting with services that often have not been designed with needs and perspectives of First Nations peoples at their centre.

One highlight was the Mums and Bubs group’s book Why Our Children Are Proud to be Aboriginal. Illustrated by young mothers who are participants in the Baabayn Mums and Bubs group, the book brings together a collective effort in celebrating cultural pride, nurtured into future generations.

“Through artistic expression, I’m able to own my culture and honour my grandparents… Coming to Baabayn lets me speak with Elders, share experiences, and grow my sense of self,” said Sheridan, one of the participants.

We were also able to learn about the Fences and Walls project, where Elders and women plant native seeds, symbols of healing and growth, which the next generation will nurture as they carry forward Elders’ stories and strength. This integral project reflects ongoing healing, truth-telling, and the challenge of systemic barriers faced by First Nations peoples.

The work of Baabayn provides vital lessons for all Australians alike, such as the value of slowing down, listening deeply and respecting lived experience.

Baabayn is a great example of First Nations-led grassroots programs building resilience locally and in a way that simply wouldn’t exist otherwise.

Caritas Australia is proud to continue to support and amplify the voice of Baabayn.

Sheridan painting at the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation headquarters. Photo: Caritas Australia.

Women for the World

Helping women across the world break the cycle of poverty and thrive.

Pronali's story

In remote villages of Bangladesh, where more than half the population lives below the poverty line and indigenous communities often lack access to education and healthcare, maternal health remains a critical concern.

Studies have shown that women in Bangladesh are over 40 times more likely to die in childbirth than Australian women (123 in every 100,000 births compared to just three in Australia). For women of reproductive age, pregnancy-related complications account for up to 1 in 5 deaths.

To make matters worse, only half of deliveries in Bangladesh are attended by trained health professionals, leaving many mothers to give birth without help. A lack of education also plays a vital role as it doubles the risk of maternal death, with women in rural and indigenous areas most at risk.

Like many women in her village, Pronali’s early life was shaped by poverty. After completing her secondary schooling, financial hardship forced her to abandon further studies and she married young. For years, she was a full-time housewife, caring for her husband and two children, with little community involvement or opportunities for income.

Before her training, there wasn’t a single qualified midwife in her village. This meant expectant mothers faced the dangers of childbirth without skilled support. Everything changed in 2021, when Pronali joined the Community Managed Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience Program (CMLRP), run by our partner Caritas Bangladesh and supported by Caritas Australia. Through the training, Pronali learned about an opportunity that sparked a deep passion – Rural Midwife Training.

Since joining the program, Pronali has become not only an essential health provider but also a role model. She now provides antenatal check-ups, safe deliveries and health education – saving lives and building a healthier future for her community.

“During delivery I had a lot of complications. I thought if I can help others in my own way, so that no one else has to suffer, it would be a blessing.” – Pronali.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Pronali received three weeks of intensive training on safe motherhood practices. She learned to recognise early warning signs, perform health checks such as blood pressure and weight monitoring, and refer high-risk cases to government clinics. In her first three months alone, she safely delivered six babies – and since the program began, not a single maternal death has been reported under her care.

Along with your generosity, this program is supported by the Australian government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Pronali training the women in her village. Photo: Sumon Corraya/Caritas Bangladesh.

About the Community Managed Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience Program

Pronali is one of many women transforming maternal health outcomes across rural Bangladesh. With your support, the CMLRP has reached thousands of mothers and families through training, check-ups, safe deliveries and education.

41 midwives took part in follow-up training on rural midwifery skill development.
564 pregnant mothers received a total of 1,713 antenatal check-ups during the reporting period.
205 mothers delivered safely with the help of trained midwives.
178 mothers facing complications were referred to government clinics for urgent care.
50 trained midwives and 180 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) together supported 22,400 rural pregnant women with antenatal, safe delivery and postnatal care.

Thanks to your support, women like Pronali are not only saving lives, but also reshaping what is possible for their communities.

“Now every day pregnant women come to me for check-ups and call me for home deliveries. The villagers and family members honour me as an important person – their family health provider.” – Pronali.

Pronali providing healthcare to a woman in her village. Photo: Sumon Corraya/Caritas Bangladesh.

Leaia Update

Back in Project Compassion 2024, we introduced you to Leaia, who lives in the Upolu region of Samoa with her husband, brother, sister-in-law, and five children.

Their home is built from recycled scraps and, without a connection to a piped water system, the family relied solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street. The school water supply was also unclean.

A lack of clean water and proper sanitation didn’t just make life inconvenient, it affected the family’s health and disrupted the children’s education. During the dry season, the children sometimes missed school because they couldn’t bathe. Simple daily routines like cooking, cleaning and staying healthy were constant challenges.

Thanks to the compassion and generosity of people like you, life has changed dramatically for Leaia and her family. With your support and that of our partner Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at her home, providing the family with a reliable source of clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing. This simple but life-changing improvement meant better hygiene and health, and the chance for the children to attend school regularly.

It is clear just how far the family has come. Leaia’s children are growing up strong and healthy, and their home is no longer just a shelter – it is a place where they can thrive. In addition to the water tank, the family now has a proper toilet and shower, greatly improving sanitation and reducing the risk of waterborne diseases or disruptions to her children’s education.

Our partner Caritas Samoa is continuing its work in rural communities, installing hygienic toilets and water systems to improve health and dignity for families like Leaia’s. Over the last 12 months, the WASH Initiative to Strengthen Education and Health program, delivered by Caritas Samoa, has helped:

4 water tank (10,000L) harvesting systems for 4 schools, and training on water tank maintenance and hygiene practices.
30 households with 5,000L water tanks.
Deliver community trainings on water tank maintenance to 19 households in the Upolu region and 11 households in the Savaii region.

Leaia’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference your compassion can make. Together, we are helping to build stronger, healthier futures for families across Samoa.

Leaia standing next to the new water tank in her home in Samoa. Photo: Caritas Australia.

An update from Aloma in the Philippines

You may remember Aloma from our Women for the World campaign in 2021.

In the coastal areas of the Philippines, extreme weather brings devastating consequences, threatening the safety and food security of thousands of families. The country faces more than 20 typhoons each year, and in remote areas, rebuilding can take years.

For Aloma, the turning point came in 2013, when Typhoon Santi tore through her village. Her home was damaged, and the destruction of banana and coconut plantations left her community struggling to find food and income.

Determined to help her family and neighbours recover, Aloma joined the Integrated Community Development Program run by the Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation Inc. (SPACFI) and supported by Caritas Australia. Thanks to your generous support, she learned bookkeeping, ecological conservation, first aid, and Disaster Risk Reduction skills.

Today, even after stepping down as her Barangay’s (district) Official, Aloma remains deeply involved in community life. She regularly works with her district’s partner nursery, leading planting activities. Inspired by her leadership, the entire community – children and adults alike – built a mangrove nursery. These mangroves not only protect the coastline but also create breeding grounds for fish, providing vital income for her village and its neighbours.

Aloma has also made tree planting a personal tradition, planting as many trees each year as her age – 45 last year, 46 this year – and tending to the mangroves to ensure that they are thriving.

Her dedication extends beyond the environment. She now serves as Parent Leader for the 4Ps program in her district and as Secretary of the Local Council for Women, advocating for women’s welfare across her municipality. Balancing her livelihood, family care, and environmental stewardship, Aloma continues to be a driving force for resilience and hope in her community.

Aloma at her local nursery. Photo: SPACFI.

Meet our new CEO

We are delighted to announce Kirsten Sayers as the new Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Australia. Kirsten was appointed CEO in April 2025, after serving eight months as Interim CEO. She first joined Caritas Australia as a Board Director before stepping down from that role to lead the organisation.

Kirsten brings extensive leadership experience from community, national and international arenas, including ten years as CEO of RedR Australia, President of RedR USA, and CEO lead for the RedR International Federation.

A former international lawyer and trade and investment diplomat, she has held senior diplomatic appointments in Paris, Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore, and ASEAN, and is specialised in Indonesian, Islamic and Chinese law. She speaks multiple languages, including Mandarin, French, Swedish, Norwegian and Vietnamese.

Since stepping into leadership, Kirsten has been inspired by the extraordinary dedication of the Caritas Australia team, our partners, and our community of supporters. Guided by a deep commitment to service and by the call to “Here I am, Lord. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8), she embraces this new chapter with purpose and commitment.

“I am excited to embrace this new challenge and further advance Caritas Australia’s mission and I look forward to working alongside communities – both in Australia and abroad – as we strive together for justice, dignity, and lasting change.” – Kirsten Sayers.

Kirsten Sayers (centre) with Caritas Australia Board members Virginia Bourke and Matthew Clarke. Photo: Caritas Australia.

Emergency update

News from the war in Gaza and the earthquake in Myanmar

Ongoing conflict in Gaza

The people of Gaza are enduring catastrophic conditions, where more than 2 million people are crammed into an area smaller than 363 square kilometres and 88 percent of the territory remains under military control or evacuation orders. Food, water and shelter are disappearing. To make matters worse, famine has recently been declared, with reports by the Ministry of Health in Gaza and the United Nations indicating that deaths from starvation are rising daily.

“The continued human suffering and loss of civilian life because of this conflict cannot continue, with a peaceful resolution now a humanitarian and life-saving necessity." – Sally Thomas, Humanitarian Manager at Caritas Australia.

Amid violence and displacement, your generosity is making an incredible difference. Our partners, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Jerusalem, are helping provide life-saving assistance in the form of emergency food, clean water, hygiene kits, shelter materials, and psychosocial support for children and families.

Since conflict began, our partners have helped 1.7 million people in Gaza with essential goods and services. So far, they have supported:

Over 860,000 people in Gaza and thousands more across the region.
Over 820,000 people with food parcels.
Over 156,000 people with bedding supplies.
Over 115,000 people with hygiene supplies.

We are helping Church partners who have opened their doors to families with nowhere else to turn.

Even as humanitarian access remains restricted and the situation grows more desperate, our partners continue to serve courageously in the hardest places – work now echoed by the 1,376 Australians who have signed the Pledge for Life-Saving Aid to Gaza, calling on the Government to act urgently to protect humanitarian access so that food, water, and medical supplies can reach those most in need.

To learn more and to donate, please visit our Gaza Emergency appeal on our website.

DONATE TODAY

Our partner, Caritas Jerusalem, providing healthcare to people affected by the conflict in Gaza. Photo: Caritas Jerusalem

Myanmar earthquake

Earlier this year, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, leaving a trail of destruction across the country. At least 3,800 people were killed, 4,800 injured and over 220,000 displaced. Entire communities were flattened, with approximately 55,000 homes destroyed and up to 80 percent of infrastructure near the epicentre damaged.

“In the immediate aftermath of an earthquake we tend to see emergency services battling against destroyed infrastructure and struggling to move tons of rubble to save lives. Roads may be blocked and hospitals may be damaged, all of which hampers recovery efforts.” – Sally Thomas, Caritas Australia’s Humanitarian Manager.

Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with 19.9 million people – more than one-third of the population – in need of assistance before the disaster.

The earthquake has compounded these challenges, overwhelming hospitals, destroying vital infrastructure and cutting off remote areas from life-saving aid. Markets have been disrupted, power and water supplies wiped out and communications remain unreliable.

Families who lost their homes are sleeping in the open, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks. Children and vulnerable groups face acute food insecurity, and an alarming shortage of clean water and healthcare.

With your generous support, our local partners are on the ground responding to the most immediate needs of affected communities.

Our partners have helped support a total of 32,138 people through provision of:

Shelter kits.
Hygiene and sanitation kits.
Food assistance and clean drinking water.
Multi-purpose cash assistance.

The ongoing response will include emergency shelter, food and clean water access, sanitation and hygiene support, health and psychosocial support, and support for recovery efforts.

Buildings destroyed by the Myanmar earthquake. Photo: Benny Manser for Caritas.

THANK YOU!

As always, we are immensely grateful for your ongoing generosity and for your commitment to helping us fulfil our mission. On behalf of everyone at Caritas Australia, we hope that you enjoyed this spring edition of The Change Report.

Footnotes

Cover: Pronali with women and children from her village. Photo: Sumon Corraya/Caritas Bangladesh. All photos belong to Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated

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FootNotes

Cover: Pronali with women and children from her village. Photo: Sumon Corraya/Caritas Bangladesh. All photos belong to Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated