Action for World Development (1973-). Formerly the Joint Secretariat on Action for World Development (1971-1973).
Objectives - A society characterised by: equality and caring relationships between persons; communities of trust, respect, and co-operation; participation of all in decision-making processes; solidarity with all who act on behalf of justice; balance between contemplation and action.
Publicists - Ray Bush, Rod Girle, Michael Hales, Coralie Kingston, Mal McKenna, Noel Preston, Brian Towler.
Notes: A.W.D. was the result of the concern of all churches with the imbalance in world economies. Consequently the Australian Council of Churches and the Australian Episcopal (Bishops) Conference of the Catholic Church initiated a conference (1970), a joint secretariat and a study programme (1972). The result was the formation of A.W.D. Since then A.W.D. has become increasingly autonomous and now describes itself as an ecumenical network of people throughout Australia gathered into small groups, working for personal change and structural change which brings about justice, liberation and human development in their own lives and in the lives of others.