International Help Fund Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct. The Code requires members to meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and financial management.
More information about the ACFID Code of Conduct can be obtained from International Help Fund Australia and from ACFID at: Tel: (61-2) 6285 1816 Fax:(61-2) 6285 1720.
International Help Fund Australia has a board of six directors, which regularly reviews our policies, values, programs, resources and the relevance and effectiveness of our programs and projects. The board ensures that International Help Fund Australia complies to all laws governing it.
Petra Campbell, MEM MEIANZ, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Petra is a journalist / producer / director / photographer by profession and a certified Environmental Auditor. In 1991, as part of a program she was researching for 60 Minutes on the consequences of Russian nuclear testing in Kazakhstan, she came into contact with a German aid organisation. As a result of this meeting, Petra worked in the field as the charity’s Child Sponsorship Program Coordinator for 13 years which gave her a solid experience and knowledge of conditions in Africa, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and Asia. Her work as both current affairs producer/journalist, and aid worker led Petra to many of the world’s disaster areas such as Ukraine after Chernobyl and Rwanda after the genocide. In 1998 Petra returned to Sydney, Australia and developed the Pacific Region Program for the same German charity. While this began as a Child Sponsorship Program it quickly became apparent that the Pacific Region was in need of greater developmental assistance. Petra then founded International Help Fund Australia to harvest the wealth of expertise, experience and generosity that fellow Australians can bring to their Pacific neighbours. In 2007 she was recognised by the United Nations Environment Program as an Asian –Pacific leader in Education for Sustainable Development. For the past three years Petra was a Visiting Research Associate at the Pacific Studies Department, School of Social Science and International Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, at The University of New South Wales. Petra is a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and is an energy and water assessor with the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors.
Grant McCall, BA BLitt PhD
Grant is the Director of the Centre for South Pacific Studies at The University of New South Wales as well an Associate Professor there. Grant is an anthropologist who researches and teaches about the peoples and cultures of the PacificIslands, most especially those living in Eastern Polynesia. Grant's role in the Centre for South Pacific Studies has brought him to research and teach in the field of development studies and Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1996 he embarked on 'Teaching the Pacific Forum', a four year project of workshops and professional development for high school teachers of history and social science in the PacificIslands, sponsored by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. He is author of numerous books and articles about the PacificIslands, migration and ethnicity.
Brett Hurley, BCom MB BS BSc LLB
Brett is both a lawyer and a doctor. He has vast experience in both professions and has worked in several large hospitals in Australia. Brett will be of great value on our board in helping develop our health programme and monitoring our risk management procedures.
Dennis Mok, BAppSc BAppSc MBA MBA MAIMS MASM FAIM FNZIM
Dennis is a Staff Officer of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps at Victoria Barracks, Doctoral Scholar at Macquarie University, and Management Consultant at Medical Management Consulting. He has extensive military operational experience in the Asia-Pacific Region. He has served in East Timor, Solomon Islands, and Indonesia as a member of the ANZAC Field Hospital. He has also worked as Consultant Medical Scientist for setting up medical laboratories in Dili, East Timor and Honiara, Solomon Islands. He has been awarded recently with the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal - for recognition of his humanitarian service in hazardous circumstances in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Dennis currently holds the position of Convenor for the Laboratory Leadership and Management Special Interest Group of The Australian Society for Microbiology (www.theasm.org.au); and, a member of Virtual Infection Centre Editorial Advisory Board (www.virtualinfectioncentre.com).
Cass Campbell, JP
Cass is a retired school teacher and businessman.
Financial Management
International Help Fund Australia recognizes the importance of irreproachable financial management. Supporters give their time and money in the expectation of full financial accountability. We strive to keep our administrative costs to a minimum and to ensure that funds sent overseas are directed to where they can provide the greatest benefit, and are properly accounted for according to requirements of regulatory authorities. International Help Fund Australia accounts are externally audited every financial year.
Legal Services
International Help Fund Australia is privileged to receive pro bono legal services of the Australian Law Firm, Freehills (www.freehills.com.au). Freehills have designed all International Help Fund Australia’s Memorandum of Understanding and contracts with Pacific partners and has provided assistance to for us to Pacific countries that have requested it in the area of environmental legislation.
How We Work in the Field
International Help Fund Australia seeks to make a tangible difference to peoples’ lives through its programs. Our current projects and programs focus on practical solutions to certain problems faced by Pacific Islands and involve a large sector of the community from grass roots through to volunteers, business, municipalities, national governments, international and regional corporations and agencies, donors and sponsors.
While International Help Fund Australia runs projects which can be of a localised nature and finite duration for a specific outcome because these projects can make a big difference to local development, we also recognize that development is a long term undertaking and International Help Fund Australia concentrates on multi stage programs which have a regional identity and which can take five to ten years to complete the full cycle.
Community Participation
Community participation at every level is the key to the success of International Help Fund Australia's programs and projects. International Help Fund Australia does not employ expatriates to live abroad and implement our programs. Instead we build on the capacities in the countries we work, sending out specialists when or if needed at the appropriate time.
Evaluation and Monitoring
International Help Fund Australia’s programs and projects are monitored regularly to ensure effectiveness and success. All projects are monitored by field visits and regular reports from the field to office staff. Projects and programs are all supervised by progress, evaluation and final reports.
Film: "Lan Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui Deliver Composting Toilets to Easter Island" ( Film Length: 5 mins). P. Campbell Film: "Polynesian Dancing for Beginners" Produced/Directed by Petra Campbell Film: "Kari Kari in Concert. Tapati 2005." Film: "Matato’a in Concert, Tapati 2005".
Grant is the Director of the Centre for South Pacific Studies at The University of New South Wales as well an Associate Professor there.
Brett is both a lawyer and a doctor. He has vast experience in both professions and has worked in several large hospitals in Australia. Brett will be of great value on our board in helping develop our health programme and monitoring our risk management procedures.
Dennis is a Staff Officer of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps at Victoria Barracks, Doctoral Scholar at Macquarie University, and Management Consultant at Medical Management Consulting. He has extensive military operational experience in the Asia-Pacific Region. He has served in East Timor, Solomon Islands, and Indonesia as a member of the ANZAC Field Hospital. He has also worked as Consultant Medical Scientist for setting up medical laboratories in Dili, East Timor and Honiara, Solomon Islands. He has been awarded recently with the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal - for recognition of his humanitarian service in hazardous circumstances in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Dennis currently holds the position of Convenor for the Laboratory Leadership and Management Special Interest Group of The Australian Society for Microbiology (
International Help Fund Australia seeks to make a tangible difference to peoples’ lives through its programs. Our current projects and programs focus on practical solutions to certain problems faced by Pacific Islands and involve a large sector of the community from grass roots through to volunteers, business, municipalities, national governments, international and regional corporations and agencies, donors and sponsors.
Community participation at every level is the key to the success of International Help Fund Australia's programs and projects. International Help Fund Australia does not employ expatriates to live abroad and implement our programs. Instead we build on the capacities in the countries we work, sending out specialists when or if needed at the appropriate time.