Speeches

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Reception for Bright Futures

Rod and I warmly welcome you all to Government House to celebrate the Bright Futures Child Aid and Development Fund and its 20th anniversary in 2025.

As former diplomats, we well appreciate the role of foreign aid and development work.

We have seen first-hand the impact of Australia’s aid efforts in developing countries, and how they are directly improving the lives of vulnerable people.

At a time of great uncertainty and changes to foreign aid on the world stage, Australia’s – and South Australia’s – contributions have never been more important.

Supporting the wellbeing of people less fortunate than us reflects who we aspire to be as South Australians: responsible and compassionate global citizens.

Foreign aid - driven by government, not-for-profit organisations or collaborations of both – plays a significant role in building peace and security throughout the world.

It creates economic and social opportunity and improves the health and wellbeing of millions of people.

South Australia’s aid efforts are also of benefit to our nation, promoting goodwill and respect, and growing people-to-people connections.

I thank Bright Futures for its work, over the past two decades, providing education and development opportunities for children and their communities in India, Pakistan, Uganda and Kenya.

Thanks to the generous support of donors, Bright Futures and its local partners have delivered schooling, health clinics, clean water projects, vocational training, disability programs and more.

Some donors here this evening have volunteered in-country on some of these projects, which no doubt brought great satisfaction.

I note Bright Futures’ focus on community ‘empowerment’, with all activities aiming to build greater capacity and resilience in local communities.

I congratulate the organisation on some of its most significant achievements:

  • Establishing a health clinic in Lukodi in northern Uganda, including a birthing service which has cut infant and maternal deaths;
  • In Nairobi, constructing the Dorcas Creations Kenya Women’s Empowerment Centre from shipping containers, a place of training and fellowship for women;
  • Providing clean water and education for the villagers of Youngson Abad in the Pubjab region of Pakistan;
  • And educating thousands of students in Bangalore, India, and recently purchasing land to construct a second school.

I thank all of Bright Futures’ supporters for their contributions which helped to bring about these activities.

More than $5 million has been donated over the past 20 years.

I thank the Board and staff for their vision and dedication to Bright Futures, its projects and its partnerships.

Flourishing smaller organisations like Bright Futures are an important component of our state’s not-for-profit sector.

Rod and I thank you all for your contributions to building ‘bright futures’ for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Coming events