This stamp issue features three great international humanitarians, officially honoured by Australia for their significant acts of courage, leadership and humanity.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997) became an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1982, for her significant work to help the poor in Australia and internationally. She was presented with the award at a ceremony in India, the country where she founded her Missionaries of Charity. Today, volunteers from all over the world descend on the Missionaries of Charity centres in Australia, Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe to assist with the work that began over 60 years ago.

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was made an Honorary AC in 1999. At a presentation ceremony in South Africa, former prime minister John Howard said, "You are a person whose moral leadership… capacity for forgiveness and reconciliation have given the world an example that I don't think in our lifetime we will see again".

Raoul Wallenberg (1912–?) became Australia’s first Honorary Citizen in 2013. Present at the award ceremony at Government House, Canberra were many of those he saved from Nazi extermination, who made new lives in Australia. Then governor-general Quentin Bryce spoke of Wallenberg’s refusal “to be indifferent in the face of inhumanity and hatred”.