1. By Alanah And Jasmine

3. In 1953, Community Aid Abroad began in Melbourne’s suburbs as a church-affiliated group called Food for Peace Campaign, founded by Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker. Food for Peace sent weekly donations to a small health project in India, and eventually, Food for Peace groups were established throughout Victoria.

4. In 1962, a full-time campaign director was appointed and the name was changed to Community Aid Abroad. It’s name changed to reflect an aim to assist communities more broadly, rather than just providing food in order to maintain peace. Throughout the 1960s, local Community Aid Abroad groups were established across Australia.

5. In 1961, the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign was launched following the launch of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation’s five-year campaign, Freedom from Hunger. This community-based group aimed at raising global awareness about poverty issues around the world and gave the opportunity for people to directly support anti-poverty programs in developing countries.

6. Membership was only initially open to organisations rather than individual people. In 1964 the campaign grew to become a national organisation that conducted appeals for countries including India, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Ethiopia. It also supported Aboriginal issues and programs in Australia.

8. Empowering communities in developing countries to realise their rights and improve their lives.

9. Engaging with organisations and governments to change policies that cause poverty and inequality.

11. 58% of Oxfam’s staff are women

12. There are 111 experienced humanitarian aid workers on Oxfam’s Australian register.

13. From 2009–2010, Oxfam’s 3,174 volunteers contributed 115,325 hours of work. This included 1,781 volunteers at events, 715 serving on state committees and groups, 347 in Oxfam’s shops, 279 in national and state offices, 44 in Oxfam’s warehouse and 8 with Oxfam Trading.

14. Oxfam’s 2,775 office, community and event volunteers contributed 70,527 hours of volunteer service. This represents a dollar equivalent of $2.4 million in productivity or an additional 38.75 full-time positions.

17. Oxfam has numerous shops all over the world (Oxfam Unwrapped), which sell many fair-trade and donated items. The proceeds from these items usually go out to different charities or are used to further Oxfam's relief efforts around the globe. Much of the stock comes from public donations however recently products from developing countries ,for example clothing, toys and handcrafts are being bought.

18. Local fundraising events and collection is another method that Oxfam uses to raise money that they then use to pay for emergency and improvement work in the developing countries.

19. If you’re an employee, you can donate money directly through your pay on a regular basis and receive a tax-deduction as you give . It is a simple method to establish and run if you’re an employer.

21. The organisation has established offices and programs in regions including South Asia, Africa, East Asia and The Pacific within countries such as India, Zimbabwe, China, Cambodia, Fiji and Australia.

22. However these are over 70 countries and 8 regions Oxfam is situated at.

24. The Pakistan floods is one of Oxfam's current appeals. Recently Pakistan has experienced its worst floods in living memory and in order to help people deal with the current crisis and its aftermath Oxfam has launched a rapid relief effort to reach people with clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies.