FAQ

We welcome expressions of interest from suitably qualified volunteers for various medical and nursing positions.

However, COVID-19 remains an ongoing global health risk in the project countries we work in and pushing hospitals to capacity. Our project countries are anticipating our return to continuing the work that Open Heart International has started. We are standing by when they are ready. It has not stopped us from our work. If anything, this period of change has emphasised how precious the training component of our projects really is. So, while we may have paused our medical project trips and onboarding of new volunteers, for the time being, we are working on how we can strengthen clinical capacity development and health systems in the countries where we work in.

We highly recommend you download our Volunteer Guide which will assist you in getting better acquainted with our organisation.

Open Heart International is very grateful for the goodwill and generosity of so many people.

If you are enquiring from a hospital with outdated equipment or capital items, we would welcome a discussion about the equipment if it is used in a medical speciality that we are currently implementing projects. We have an obligation to ensure that any equipment that is donated to hospitals in developing countries is fit for use, and can be sustainably serviced.

We would also welcome discussions with medical supply companies about donation of bulk unwanted stock of consumables that are still within expiry date, provided they are used in a medical specialty that we are currently implementing projects.

We do not accept “one off” or “assorted” boxes of consumables, pharmaceuticals or other supplies or equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches or the like.

Please contact us to discuss further.

We are not involved in bringing patients to Australia for surgery. The cost of providing surgery in Australia is significantly higher than the costs in the countries we travel to. We also believe that by providing surgery to patients in the country they live, we provide more familiar surroundings for recovery, and we leave a residual impact on the health system in the country that we visit. Furthermore, our work is focused on training and strengthening the clinical capacity of the local staff and health systems in the countries where we work.

The projects we undertake are a partnership between an in-country partner and ourselves, with specific goals to help that individual developing country. As the need is usually more than what we are capable of handling, it is usually not viable for the country to accept patients from other nearby countries.

We are an internationally focused organisation trying to improve the access to specialist medical care in developing countries. We are unable to support the costs of Australians to receive surgery in Australia, or for Australians that become ill or injured while travelling in developing countries.

We are always interested in having a discussion about potential new projects, and ways in which we can provide even more support to developing countries.

Please read about Our Impact to acquaint yourself with the type of projects that we undertake. Our projects are only successful when we are working with a strong in-country partner, either a hospital, not-for-profit organisation, or a government Ministry of Health.

If you believe that you are able to partner with us, please contact us for more information and to talk about your project ideas.

Open Heart International is very grateful for the interest, however we are usually unable to accommodate these requests. As you can imagine our partners have policies related to non-essential access to clinical areas within their hospitals.

Open Heart International has always had maintained a working relationship with ADRA.

In 2016, Open Heart International formally transitioned to operate as division of ADRA Australia. By joining forces, both organisations improve efficiency, impact and leverage opportunities for growth.

Please visit www.adra.org.au for more information about ADRA Australia.

Open Heart International was established in 1985 by Mr. Russell Lee, Mr. Rudi Morgan and Dr. John Wallace as volunteers, who all worked for Sydney Adventist Hospital at the time.

Open Heart International is a partnership of ADRA Australia and Sydney Adventist Hospital.

Sydney Adventist Hospital provides in-kind operational support. In addition, our office is located on the Hospital’s campus.

Please visit www.sah.org.au for more information about Sydney Adventist Hospital.

Open Heart International is part of ADRA Australia. It is therefore responsible to the Board of Directors and to the Executive Committee of ADRA Australia.

The day-to-day operations of Open Heart International are controlled by a Steering Committee under a Terms of Reference agreement with ADRA Australia. You can find details of our staff and Project Coordinators by visiting the Our Team page on our website.

The finances of Open Heart International are audited as part of the financial controls and mechanisms in place by ADRA Australia.

Open Heart International is a division of ADRA Australia. All relevant registrations and accreditations are held under the legal entity name – Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia Limited. We are a:

– Public company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act

– Registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission

– Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)

– An Income Tax Exempt Charity (holding tax concessions and exemptions relating to income, goods and services, and fringe benefits taxes), and operate an Overseas Aid Fund and Necessitous Persons Fund, endorsed as DGRs

– Fundraiser throughout Australia and registered under fundraising legislation as required.

– Fully accredited with the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (formerly AusAID). The stringent accreditation process provides the Australian Government and Australian public with the confidence that ADRA is a professional, well-managed, community-based organisation capable of delivering successful development outcomes.

– A member of Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), adherent to the ACFID Code of Conduct, organisational member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and a fully endorsed member of Australian Council for Social Services (ACOSS).

ADRA Australia, as our parent entity, holds the Deductible Gift Recipient status to allow your gift to be tax deductible. Your gift has been received by ADRA Australia, but it will be specifically used by Open Heart International.

Gifts over $2 are tax deductible.