Visiting a Compassion sponsored child and /or child development centre

Compassion Australia Sponsor visit application forms. please download complete and return to visityoursponsorchild.com.au:

605 Camberwell Rd
Camberwell Vic 3124 Australia
Fax: +61 3 9889 0111

Compassion Australia Sponsor visit process and agreement. Please download application form here.

A visit with a sponsored child or with the children at a Compassion child development centre can be a very exciting and memorable occasion for both the children and the visitors. 

Please take time to read through the following information so that you understand the necessary processes involved in arranging a visit. 

Compassion Australia requires a minimum of two month’s notice to arrange a visit with a sponsored child or to a Compassion child development centre.  It takes a considerable amount of time for our field country staff to make the necessary arrangements, so we cannot guarantee approval for a visit with less than the minimum required notice. It would be regrettable if you missed the opportunity because there was not enough time for the necessary arrangements to be made. Before Compassion can submit a visit request to the appropriate field country office you must provide us with the following: 

A signed Visit agreement form:

This agreement must be signed by EVERY visitor 18 years and over before a visit to a sponsored child or a child development centre can be arranged.

Administration fee:

There is a non-refundable administration fee of $100 per sponsor visit—regardless of the number of visitors or number of children to be visited in one country. Note: If more than one country is to be visited, the fee will be $100 per country. Please send a cheque payable to Compassion Australia or call 1800 224 453 to pay by credit card.

Proof of suitability (Police check or Working with Children card):

In accordance with Compassion‘s Child Protection Policy, all persons 18 years and over must supply us with proof of suitability before visiting a Compassion sponsored child or a Compassion child development centre.  You must apply for this immediately, as it can take some time for your application to be processed.

Any ONE of the following is acceptable:

A current Australian Federal Police Criminal History Check. Forms available here. 

Note:–   on page 2, point 4, the required code number is 28
on page 2, point 5, mark “no” – we do not require a fingerprint check                 

Remember to include the proper fee, plus a copy of your licence plus a copy of one other form of identification when you send your application off to the Australian Federal Police
IMPORTANT: This application form should be sent directly to the Australian Federal Police, NOT to Compassion Australia.
Proof that you hold a CURRENT Working with Children Suitability Check.  Please send us a copy of your proof of suitability as soon as you receive it. We do not require originals to be sent. 

The costs: 

You are responsible for all costs relating to visiting your sponsored child or the Compassion child development centre, including those of the Compassion staff member who will accompany you on the day. Our staff do their best to keep these costs to a minimum. 

Possible costs might include:

·         Vehicle hire, including petrol and insurance, for travel to the child development centre.

·         Public transport costs for you and the accompanying staff member to and from the child development centre.

·         Accommodation for you and/or the staff member, if an overnight stay is required.

·         Meals for you and the staff member.

·         Lunch for your sponsored child and accompanying family members at an inexpensive restaurant.

It is preferable that you pay these expenses as you go. Please try to save our field staff the embarrassment of having to ask you to pay. If necessary, the field country office will invoice Compassion for the related expenses, and you will be invoiced by Compassion Australia upon your return. We appreciate if all outstanding payments are made as soon as possible after you return so that the field country office can be reimbursed in a timely manner.

Health Precautions 

We strongly recommend that you contact you doctor prior to your departure to discuss immunisations or medications that you may require.
Wealso strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance with a medical component. 

Once Compassion has received your Signed Sponsor Visit agreement, Administration fee, and a copy of your proof of suitability, we will submit a visit request on your behalf to the field country office. It can take several weeks for this request to be approved, as field staff have to seek visit approval from the local Compassion centre and if the sponsored child’s family. However, most visit requests are approved. If in the unlikely event that your visit is not approved, we will notify you of the reason.

Once approved, your assigned Compassion Australia travel service consultant will work through the details of the visit with you in collaboration with the tour and visit coordinator of the field country. 

Once everything is finalised, Compassion Australia will send you a trip confirmation outlining full details of the visit, including contact details of the local Compassion staff in the country. The itinerary for the day is totally at the discretion of the field country staff. 

Once you are in the field country we ask that you contact the local Compassion office to confirm your pick-up place and time. 

When you return, Compassion Australia will email you a visit report for you to provide us with feedback and comments about all aspect of your visit to the Compassion child development centre or with your sponsored child. 

Compassion’s commitment to you 

Compassion Australia is committed ensuring that visits to Compassion child development centres and with sponsored children are truly rewarding experiences. In order to do this we are committed to: 

• Working through the visit process in a timely and efficient manner.

• Answering your questions as fully as possible.

• Protecting Compassion assisted children by insisting that all visitors provide us with one of our approved proof of suitability options and ensuring that all visitors are accompanied by a Compassion staff member at all times during a visit.

• Explaining the reasons for a visit not being approved.

• Working closely with Mission Travel Group to provide a great travel experience.

• Praying for you as you travel.

• Receiving your feedback when you return. 

Our field country staff are equally committed to making your visit as memorable and enjoyable as possible. However, please be aware that there may be unexpected constraints such as issues of security, social unrest, natural disasters etc. that could impact your visit. Our staff will endeavour to advise you of any issues before you leave Australia. 

We recommend that you register your travel details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade www.smarttraveller.gov.au before you leave Australia.

All about Sponsor Visits

Compassion’s policy states that a staff member from the country office must accompany each person or group visiting a sponsored child or a Compassion child development centre. He or she will speak the local language and understand the local culture and unique circumstances of the children. So, please take the opportunity to learn from the staff member and ask any questions you might have. Remember that there will be cultural differences, so if there is something that you do not understand or to avoid any potential miscommunication or misunderstanding, please consult the accompanying staff member.    

• Visits to sponsored children or Compassion child development centres occur over one day, unless the distance is too great to manage. We prefer not to arrange visits on Sundays or special holidays, unless there is no other option. It is important that our field staff spend these times with their own families and friends. Please remember that the person accompanying you is taking time out from their usual schedule.
• A Compassion staff member from the field country office will meet you at a pre-arranged pick-up point (usually your hotel) and bring you back to the same drop-off point at the end of the visit.  The duration of a sponsor visit or a visit to a Compassion child development centre will usually be up to six hours, but this can vary.
•  When you meet sponsored children for the first time, they may appear very shy. In some cultures, children are not used to being the centre of attention and they can feel little overwhelmed. Some children are not used to questions being asked to them directly, so they often don’t know how to reply. Please be patient and encouraging. The accompanying Compassion staff member is there to help you. 
• Your Compassion travel services consultant should be able to answer most of your questions and will refer to our field country office for any additional information required to make your visit as special as possible.

• The Compassion staff member may take you to the child development centre where you will meet with your sponsored child, observe the centre activities, meet the Compassion centre staff and the other children.

• The children at the Compassion centre may sing and dance for you and you may be provided with a meal or a snack.

• You may be invited to visit your sponsored child’s home and meet some of the other family members.

• You may have the opportunity to take your sponsored child shopping or to a restaurant for lunch (both are a huge treat for the child and accompanying family members).

• You may be asked if you’d prefer to take your sponsored child to a theme park or the zoo rather than meeting at the child development centre.

• The Compassion staff member may suggest that you purchase some appropriate groceries for the family at a local store en route to meet your sponsored child. In some countries purchases are done by the staff on your behalf to save time and you will be expected to reimburse them afterwards.

• In some cases it may be necessary for you to stay overnight after a visit because of distance. Many field country staff are reluctant to travel on the roads after dark because of safety issues.

• If your sponsored child lives in a very remote area or if travel to the area is considered unsafe by Compassion staff, it may be suggested that the child is brought to visit you in the city or town where you are staying. This is a common option, for logistical reasons, for those wishing to visit several children from different Compassion centres.

• Your sponsored child will usually be accompanied by at least one parent and/or a staff member from the church partner.

Important Issues:

•  Although it is tempting, we ask that you please refrain from giving your contact details to your sponsored child, or any family members. The children and parents are aware that all correspondence and contact is done through Compassion.
•  The staff, translators and centre workers are also asked not to correspond personally with sponsors–please don’t make it difficult for them by asking whether they want to stay in contact with you.

•  You will see children living in poverty who are not registered with Compassion. It is normal to feel compelled to help a particular child—especially the siblings of a sponsored child. Please leave all decisions about registration of children to our church partners as they are the experts and are most informed about the needs of their communities. Please do not make promises to unregistered children, as it can lead to disappointment.

•  It is common for sponsors to return from a visit wishing to sponsor a particular registered child they have just met. Whilst we will do what we can to find out if that particular child is still available for sponsorship we can make no guarantees.   

After seeing the homes and living conditions of sponsored children, many Compassion supporters decide to give a family gift or make a donation to a particular Compassion child development centre. Please contact us to arrange this. 

Gifts for sponsored children:

Practical gifts are always greatly appreciated. Sponsored children live in countries where even affording the basics can be a challenge. Purchasing expensive toys is of little value. Here are some practical suggestions:

Too many gifts can be overwhelming and excessive gifts can create jealousy. A few well chosen gifts will be much appreciated.

Sometimes children will give you a small gift in return; a handmade piece of jewellery, a bag or a picture they have painted etc. Please accept these gifts graciously and if it is something you know Australian quarantine will not let you bring back into the country, please wait until after the visit before disposing of it.

Because families share, the gifts you bring will be a treat for the entire family. You may like to give out balloons, gum or lollies for siblings and friends to enjoy during the visit. You could also give a gift for the entire family. It is more practical —and a boost for the local economy— if these sorts of gifts are bought within your child’s community.  Groceries, sheets, towels, cooking pots etc are just some of the useful things that can be locally purchased and given to the family. The staff member accompanying you can help you with this. Of course, there is no obligation to give gifts. 

If when visiting a sponsored child other gift ideas come to mind, please make a mental note to follow up when you get home, but do not tell the child.  We have heard of many children waiting for well-intended spoken promises to be fulfilled. 

Whilst on the field, many supporters and sponsors have great ideas and plans to assist a particular Compassion centre. If you find yourself in this situation, please wait until you return home and discuss your ideas with Compassion Australia. Because they do not wish to offend, field staff and Compassion centre workers sometimes find it difficult to say no to a supporter’s proposed idea, even if is not the most effective way of helping the centre or creating sustainable development in the area.  We will gladly seek advice on your plans from the Partnership Facilitator in the field country office. He or she is uniquely positioned to understand the long-term development needs of your sponsored child’s community.

Remember that your visit itself is the best gift of all. Take time to be with the children, to learn about the families, to greet parents and others you encounter. During this time you will learn a great deal and it will help you understand more about the situation and allow you to pray more effectively.

Smoking & Alcohol 

As part of the Compassion Program the children are taught good health and hygiene practices. Because we desire our sponsors to be seen by the children as positive role models, it is requested that sponsors refrain from smoking when visiting field offices, Compassion child development centres, or children’s homes. No alcohol is to be consumed at any time when at or in the vicinity of any Compassion field office, Compassion child development centre, or child’s home.

Dress

Different cultures have different dress standards. However, as a rule women are requested to dress modestly and not wear mini-skirts or low-cut tops when visiting Compassion field offices, churches and child development centres. Covered shoulders, below-the-knee length dresses and skirts are the preferred option in rural Africa and in South Asia. Shoulders must also be covered in parts of South- East Asia. Three quarter pants and long pants are generally acceptable in Central and South America and in most of South-East Asia and in urban centres in Africa. Men are required to wear long trousers when visiting churches and/or Compassion centres. 

Compassion Australia Sponsor visit application forms. please download complete and return to visityoursponsorchild.com.au
605 Camberwell Rd
Camberwell Vic 3124 Australia
Fax: +61 3 9889 0111 

Compassion Australia Sponsor visit process and agreement. Please download application form pdf here.