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The Victorian Students' Aid Program is a nonprofit organization established by students at the University of Melbourne in July 2005. VSAP delivers vital equipment and health resources with students who travel to disadvantaged communities, usually as part of the elective component of their degree as a gesture of thanks for hosting the student.
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is dedicated to furthering a particular social cause or advocating for a shared point of view. In economic terms, it is an organization that uses its surplus of the revenues to further achieve its ultimate objective, rather than distributing its income to the organization's shareholders, leaders, or members. Nonprofits are tax exempt or charitable, meaning they do not pay income tax on the money that they receive for their organization. They can operate in religious, scientific, research, or educational settings.
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Melbourne's main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb north of the Melbourne central business district, with several other campuses located across Victoria.
One of VSAP's features is the use of the Wishlist. The receiving hospital or clinic is asked to write a list of the most urgently needed equipment and supplies, and VSAP aims to obtain as many of these items as possible. This may be through contacting manufacturers or other companies and requesting donations or using monetary donations to purchase the items. Pharmaceuticals are generally purchased in the receiving community to support the local economy and avoid customs issues. The Wishlist ensures that the aid is targeted - that is, the donations are needed and appropriate.
VSAP's establishment was inspired by a similar organisation at the University of New South Wales - Medical Students' Aid Project (MSAP). MSAP has delivered over $200,000 (AUS) to Bolivia, Ghana and many other places; in VSAP's first year over $2000 worth of supplies were sent to East Timor, Guatemala, Tanzania and the Melbourne Asylum Seekers' Resource Centre. [1]
The University of New South Wales is an Australian public research university located in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. Established in 1949, it is ranked 4th in Australia, 45th in the world, and 2nd in New South Wales according to the 2018 QS World University Rankings.
East Timor or Timor-Leste, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Maritime Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. Australia is the country's southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea. The country's size is about 15,410 km2.
The organisation consists of a body of students who contact potential donors and help out at fundraising events as well as a committee that is responsible for co-ordinating VSAP activities. Elected positions include a Central Liaison Officer, Treasurers, Secretaries, Sponsorship & Fundraising Officers, Equipment & Transport Officers, an Equipment & Transport Treasurer, Publicity and Events Officers and an Education Officer. General membership to the committee is open to all students.