Australia's overseas aid projects are to place more emphasis on improving education and health in Third World countries.
This is one of the main provisions of a policy paper, released by the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
Mr Downer says the paper, which will guide Australia's aid program over the next 10 years, will maintain a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
He says other countries expect this from Australia.
"The global community is looking to Australia to play a leadership role on certain development issues in Asia and the Pacific, particularly as other donors focus their efforts on Africa. This leadership role extends from HIV-AIDS and other trans-boundary threats, to approaches to the region's fragile states, to responding to emergencies and disasters. Above all, Australia is deeply committed to the development of our own region."