Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

They significantly contribute to building the capacity of countries in our neighbourhood. Basically, our volunteers are helping countries to help themselves. Many are embedded in key positions in countries, both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, and they do different jobs. Often, they may go to a country to do a particular job but end up doing not just that job but a whole lot more. They become very integrated within the society. Often that is a very good measure of how Australia's contribution is having an effect at the grassroots of their responsibilities. Their assignments are often set out in our aid investment plans, and they are targeted and address particular needs that those countries have, particularly in relation to increasing their economic growth. For example, in 2015-16, 15 per cent of assignments were in the disability sector. (Time expired)