Herbert (Herb) and Betty Feith

Herb Feith, far right.

Photo: Australian Volunteers International

Herb and Betty Feith were co-founders of the Volunteer Graduate Scheme (VGS), now known as Australian Volunteers International (AVI). 

Herb Feith first visited Indonesia in 1951, where he worked with the Indonesian Department of Information for two years, earning local wages, living in the community and becoming fluent in Bahasa Indonesia. Herb and his wife Betty wanted other young Australians to enjoy the same experience, and in the early 1950s under an intergovernmental agreement, they established the VGS to foster closer relations and to build the capacity of the newly-formed national Indonesian public service. 

AVI has been a leader in international volunteering since.  Jakarta was the first location to receive Australian volunteers and Indonesia continues to be the top destination under the Australian Volunteers for Development program.