Solidarity in Action:
Our Projects

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, as the global justice organisation of the Australian union movement, works to support stronger union and social movements in thirteen locations in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Southern Africa. We do that by working in partnership with thirty-nine local unions and community organisations through thirty projects and campaigns.

Our approach to development and movement-building work is centred in values of partnership, solidarity, equality, justice, and accountability.

We provide on-the-ground assistance which aims to address the causes of injustice and inequality, not the symptoms.

We support organised movements of people to make their own change possible, by exerting political pressure for just and sustainable solutions.

We recognise our solidarity with the working classes and marginalised people of the Global South and stand with them, as together we struggle for a better world.

We seek to deploy funds in effective and strategic ways, with accountability to partner organisations, funding bodies and our own members.

Here are some of the projects and campaigns we undertake in collaboration with communities in our region and beyond:

By working to support strong movements of people, we can fight inequality and corporate greed. History shows us we can demand a just world.

Kate Lee

Executive Officer, Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA

To learn more about how we put our solidarity into action, take a look at the 2023 Annual Report, where you can read about our partnerships and projects, the activism and advocacy of our members, and the progress of our campaign to ban asbestos across Asia.

400 x 250 Aceh
On Boxing Day 2004, Aceh was devastated by a tsunami. Indonesian unions were quick to respond. Since 2005 we have been supporting local training, networking and advocacy.
Under President Duterte, there's been a surge in strikes and pickets in the Philippines with workers demanding an end to short-term contractualization.
trade union development
Other OECD countries fund trade union development as part of their overseas aid budget. Why doesn't Australia? Here are five things you should know about Australian funding for Trade Union Development
KMU represents more than 115,000 workers in the Philippines. KMU's aim is to advance the commitment of workers and organisers to the trade union movement.
The School for Shan State Nationalities Youth (SSSNY) provides a social justice education program for young people to become active citizens participating in social and political change in Myanmar.
Life without a union
In July 2018, Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA's Executive Officer, Kate Lee, addressed unionists from all over Australia at ACTU Congress 2018.
In June 2018, Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA activists from our ACT Region Activist Group gathered for a fabulously fun night of trivia for Global Solidarity.
400 x 250 asbestos ETC Vic Delegates
The movement to ban asbestos in our region and around the world has had some wins this month. We’ve been in the news in Vietnam and made progress in Laos.
400 x 250 Terri Daktyl Dinner
Each year unionists in Adelaide commemorate the life of Terri Daktyl. 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the dinner. The evening did not disappoint!

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!