Community
Oxfam and Melbourne International Comedy Festival 
For over 20 years, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has proudly supported Oxfam's global development work through The Gala—a star-studded night of comedy featuring top local and international comedians.
The Festival also provides patrons and opportunity to donate to Oxfam when booking tickets for select shows. This long-standing partnership has helped transform thousands of lives by providing access to clean water, boosting incomes, improving agricultural productivity, reducing disease, and increasing access to healthcare and education.
For more information on Oxfam Australia, visit their website.
Who is Oxfam Australia?
One in three people in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilising the power of people against poverty.
Around the globe, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them.
In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organisations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.
Sammy J, Yolanda and Randy, South Africa February 2014.
Photo credit: Max Bastard/OxfamAUS
Light the Way Home
Launched during the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Light the Way Home has become an invaluable resource for vulnerable performers, offering them a safe and reliable way to get home after late-night performances. The initiative was designed with female, non-binary, and other at-risk individuals in mind, providing a much-needed solution for those working in and around Melbourne’s CBD.
Why It Matters
Performers, especially in the comedy scene, often find themselves working late into the night, earning modest fees that don’t always cover the cost of transportation. With limited public transport options available after hours, getting home safely can be a challenge—particularly for those who are most vulnerable to harassment or unsafe conditions at night.
How It Works
Light the Way Home allows performers to register for a Melbourne International Comedy Festival-administered Uber account, which provides free rides home when needed. The service is fully funded by generous donations collected during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ensuring that no performer has to choose between safety and affordability.
By helping comedians focus on their art without worrying about how they’ll get home safely, Light the Way Home is making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who bring laughter to the stage.
For more information, please email LTWHdonations@comedyfestival.com.au.
To donate, head to comedyfestival.com.au/light-the-way-home (page not ready)