Australian Lutheran World Service is the overseas aid and resettlement agency of the Lutheran Church of Australia. It operates under a constitution approved by the General Synod of the LCA, and is consistent with the objects of the LCA Constitution.

The main ALWS office is located in Albury, New South Wales. Its positioning is partly historical as outlined above, but also strategic being central to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. This provides easy access to government, and enables close cooperation with other aid agencies who are predominantly located in Sydney and Melbourne. 

ALWS also has staff located in Brisbane, Melbourne and Portland (VIC). In addition, ALWS has established an office with a small staff in Lae, PNG to manage the Church Partnership Program with the Evangelical Lutheran Church PNG.

ALWS is governed by a LCA appointed board made up of directors from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and its chairperson Pastor Peter Hage.

ALWS has a small staff because it implements the majority of its refugee and development aid through the global program of Lutheran World Service. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and operates field programs in over thirty countries around the world.

For emergencies ALWS channels its assistance through ACT Alliance which is the joint emergencies office of the World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation. It is also headquartered in Geneva and through its membership has the capacity to extend emergency assistance to people almost anywhere in the world.

As highlighted above, ALWS has developed a significant partnership with the ELC-PNG and its various departments to assist them deliver effective health, education and development services. Similarly, ALWS is developing closer ties with the Lutheran churches in Indonesia through a unique Centre of Learning to assist them enhance their capacity to serve the communities with whom they live and work.

Mandate:

They love because God first loved us (1John 4:19). Jesus said, "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers and sisters of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me." (Matt 25:35,36,40)

Vision:

ALWS envisages a world where love comes to life (cf 1 John 4: 9-12). A world where all people live in just societies, where they are all empowered to achieve their full potential, uphold their rights and the rights of others for a life with peace and dignity; and where they are all inspired to remember, welcome and support those who suffer from poverty and injustice. (cf Gal 2:10 & Lev 25:35) 

Mission:

ALWS reaches out in love, for justice. They bring together people willing to work in service to help end suffering. As partners, they work openly and accountably, supporting programs which welcome, respect and bring hope through care to those fleeing from, or hurt by, disaster, poverty and oppression. They add their voice to those of the unheard and the excluded, together crying out for justice so that they can all live in just and sustainable communities.