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PrintOur Policies
Oxfam Australia's work is guided by policies which, at the broadest level, are developed by the Oxfam Australia board. We are currently developing a set of policies that cover the core aspects of our work.
The board's Community Reference Committee (CRC) is responsible for consulting with Oxfam Australia supporters on policy issues, informing the board about supporters' views, monitoring the effectiveness of existing policies and drafting new policies.
How are Oxfam Australia policies structured?
Oxfam Australia policies are divided into a number of categories, including:
- Ends policies stating our organisational outcomes, and
- Position policies which outline our analysis of poverty-related issues and the areas where change is needed.
Policies are constructed in a series of nested levels depending on their specificity and scope. There is only one level 1 policy for each policy category. It is the most broad and all-encompassing, providing context for all of the other policies underneath it. Level 2 policies cover a particular area within the overall scope of the level 1 policy, and with each level, the focus of the policy becomes more specific.
For example, our Global position policy (level 1 - abbreviated as POS 1) sets the framework for the Globalisation policy (level 2 - POS 2.3), which in turn provides the background to our policy on Trade liberalisation (level 3 - POS 2.3.1).
Ends policies
Ends policies outline the outcomes that Oxfam Australia wishes to achieve, who should benefit from Oxfam Australia's work and in what kinds of ways.
Oxfam Australia has adopted the following Ends policies (abbreviated as END):
- END 1 - Global Ends Policy
- END 2.1 - The Right to a Sustainable Livelihood
- END 2.2 - Right to basic services
- END 2.3 - Right to be Heard: Social and Political Citizenship
- END 2.4 - The Right to an Identity: Gender and Diversity
- END 2.5 - The Right to Security and Life
Ends policies 2.1 to 2.5 are broadly aligned with the five rights-based Aims set out in Oxfam International's Strategic Plan for 2001-2004.
Position policies
Oxfam Australia's position policies set out our analysis of current problems that are perpetuating poverty and injustice in the world, and our approach to resolving those problems.
Position policies are generally structured in three sections:
- The problem (an analysis of its scope, impact and causes)
- Oxfam Australia's principles (the principles we draw on in order to approach the problem in our work)
- Consequently, Oxfam Australia calls for (the specific points on which we are seeking to bring about change)
Oxfam Australia has adopted the following position policies (abbreviated as POS):
- POS 1 - Global position policy
- POS 2.1 - Meaning of development
- POS 2.2 - Human rights approach to development
- POS 2.2.1 – Rights of Indigenous peoples
- POS 2.2.1.1 – Rights of Indigenous peoples in Australia
- POS 2.2.1 – Rights of Indigenous peoples
- POS 2.3 - Globalisation
- POS 2.3.1 - Trade Liberalisation
- POS 2.3.2 - Climate change
- POS 2.3.3 - Australia's response to asylum seekers
- POS 2.3.4 – Engagement with the private sector
- POS 2.5 – HIV and AIDS
- POS 2.6 – Gender Justice
Other policies currently under development deal with armed conflict, and the rights of Indigenous Australians.