What is Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD)?

The AYAD Program is an AusAID initiative that aims to strengthen mutual understanding between Australia and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region whilst making a positive contribution to development. The Program achieves these aims by placing skilled young Australian (18-30) on short-term assignments of 3-12 months duration in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. AYAD volunteers work with local counterparts in Host Organisations to achieve sustainable development outcomes through capacity building, skills transfer and institutional strengthening. AYAD has three intakes each year; one in March/April, one in June and one in September/October.

Click here to learn more about the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD).

Click here to learn more about AusAid initiatives.

Where does AYAD send volunteers?

AYAD currently sends volunteers to the following countries in the Asia Pacific region:

Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, Philippines, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

What kinds of assignments does AYAD accept?

The AYAD Program accepts a range of assignments across sectors that include Education, Environment, Gender, Governance, Health, Infrastructure, Rural Development and Trades. AYAD believes in responding to the needs of partner countries and ensures that no volunteer assignment replaces local staff. AYAD also works in line with the Australian Government’s overseas aid program priorities when sourcing volunteer assignments.

Host Organisations

The AYAD Program places volunteers with organisations in the Asia Pacific region. AYAD calls these organisations ‘Host Organisations’ or ‘HOs’. Host Organisations (HOs) are government departments, non-government organisations (NGOs), educational institutions and private companies who host a volunteer for the duration of an assignment. Host Organisations will designate a supervisor for the AYAD volunteer and counterpart(s) with whom they will work directly and need to provide an orientation program within their organisation for the AYAD when they first arrive.

Developing an AYAD Assignment Proposal

Once you have identified a need within your organisation and would like to host an AYAD Volunteer you will need to develop an Assignment Proposal to submit to AYAD. AYAD has an Assignment Proposal Form which clearly sets out the information needed for this proposal. The AYAD In Country Manager (ICM) based in each host country is an excellent resource during the assignment proposal development process. ICMs can help Host Organisations to develop assignments that fit within the priorities of the AYAD program in each country.

Click here for the contact details for each AYAD ICM.