SYDNEY, Sept 23 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama Monday donated 650,000 Australian dollars (513,000 US), raised from his Australian visit, to establish health and education projects for Tibetans in exile and other disadvantaged groups.

Most of the funds would go to non-government organisations such as Save The Children Fund, Community Aid Abroad, World Vision and the Red Cross, the Dalai Lama's spokesman Paul Bourke said.

"Because of the overwhelming response to his holiness' visit in Australia, he has decided to redirect donations into a number of worthy organisations," he said.

Bourke said at least 100,000 dollars would be given to the Foundation for Universal Responsibility, established by Tibet's spiritual leader from funds he received when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The foundation promotes non-violence, world peace, harmony between different religious traditions and protection of the environment.

Many of the charities to receive donations were helping Tibetan refugees trying to establish their lives in exile, Bourke said.

"The funding has largely come from benefactors of the visit and generous donations from the public.

"The response has been fantastic. It's beyond what we expected, people have really warmed to the Dalai Lama and his philosophies," he said.

About 4,000 people saw the Dalai Lama open a nine-day Kalachakra, or Wheel of Time, ceremony here Sunday.

Kalachakra represents Buddhism's most profound and complex statement on matters worldly and religious.

The exiled Tibetan leader is expected to meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard later this week, before the Dalai Lama leaves the country on Sunday.

The Chinese government has warned Howard Sino-Australian relations have already been harmed following the Dalai Lama's meeting with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.