Theresa Murphy

ACU graduate volunteers in developing country

Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) graduate, Theresa Murphy, has recently embarked on a two-year Global Volunteer placement on the small Pacific island of Kiribati.

The social work graduate will work on the country’s main island cluster, Tarawa, in a newly established local pre-school.

Theresa’s stay is part of an initiative by Palms Australia- an organisation working towards the alleviation of poverty in developing nations by assisting with long-term, sustainable development.

Theresa’s placement is in direct response to one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals - that all children should receive a full primary education by 2015 (Millennium Development Goals Report 2009).

 “Education is at the heart of reducing poverty,” said Theresa. “At the moment, most students on Kiribati do not complete their schooling. A structured early-childhood education will provide them with firm foundations for their primary and secondary education.”

Graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science (pastoral counselling) from ACU in 2007, Theresa has also been involved with community initiatives in and around Brisbane.

“For a long time now I have worked in childcare and with the homeless community of Brisbane,” she said. “To me, it doesn’t feel like I am doing anything special. I’ve always helped others. It is just in my heart to do this.”

As a Palms Global Mission Volunteer, Theresa is following a long line of ACU alumni who are committed to issues of social justice in Australia and around the world.