Tzu Chi Foundation

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:50): Today I wish to talk about one of the organisations that assisted families affected by the Sampson Flat bushfires: the Tzu Chi Foundation of South Australia. Established in Taiwan in 1966, Tzu Chi (translating to 'compassionate relief') is an international humanitarian non-government organisation with its roots in Buddhist origins and beliefs. Started by a nun, it has grown from a group of 30 housewives donating a small amount of money each day into a global organisation with a network of 10 million members in 47 countries. Tzu Chi's ongoing efforts have seen it be awarded a special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The shared goal of Tzu Chi volunteers is to cultivate sincerity, integrity, faith and honesty within while exercising kindness, compassion, joy and selflessness to humanity through concrete action. Tzu Chi's four major missions consist of charity, medicine, education and humanity. Furthermore, there are ongoing efforts in bone marrow donation, environmental protection, community volunteerism and international relief. These eight concurrent campaigns are collectively known as Tzu Chi's eight footprints.

Its environmental projects include recycling plastic bottles into cloth in their recycling stations throughout Taiwan. In Australia, members of Tzu Chi annually participate in Clean Up Australia Day. Tzu Chi Australia is also involved in providing medical, dental and orthodontic care, including running a free dental clinic in the rural town of Tara in Queensland. Tzu Chi has organised complex surgeries for people in disadvantaged countries. As an example, they brought a Malaysian teenager to Adelaide for facial surgery.

A core area of Tzu Chi's work is humanitarian aid, providing relief in disaster-stricken areas, not only here in Australia but in other countries. Tzu Chi provided aid in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami, in Christchurch after the earthquake, and in Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis. It was also the first NGO to help with the aid of the Sichuan earthquakes in China and, as I understand it, was one of the only aid organisations allowed to use its own volunteers. In the 2011 floods in Queensland, Tzu Chi mobilised their volunteers, providing thousands of cash cards, medical kits, blankets and relief for those affected by the floods. In the 2013 bushfires in the Blue Mountains, Tzu Chi donated $180,000 to the relief fund.

In the case of the Sampson Flat bushfires in Adelaide, the Tzu Chi Foundation of Adelaide became aware of the direct impact when one of its Tzu Chi volunteers had a friend directly impacted. Sadly, the friend's home had been totally destroyed. Fortunately, the family were not at the property at the time. The Tzu Chi Foundation of South Australia hosted a donation event for the family in their headquarters in Wright Street, which I attended. Tzu Chi volunteers in their distinctive white trousers and blue polo tops made all welcome and at the event provided a donation of $1,500 to the family, handing over emergency cash aid and some necessities. The donation was not only limited to this family, as Tzu Chi announced at the event they aimed to donate $700 to all the families who had lost their homes as a result of the fires. The volunteers also visited affected areas providing relief work.

With the help of Tzu Chi, countless other community organisations of families affected by the Sampson Flat bushfires were provided with significant support. I am sure Tzu Chi and its volunteers will again come forward to support those affected by the recent Pinery fires. I thank the Tzu Chi Foundation for displaying compassion and generosity to our community. Tzu Chi and other like-minded organisations are a great example of the community spirit at work within our state.