Category: News & Announcements

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News & Announcements

Building ties through service learning

Through the service learning program at Wesley College, a relationship has formed between the Uniting Church WA school in South Perth and Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, in Bassendean.

Cyril Jackson Senior Campus is a school in Bassendean which caters to year 11 and 12. It offers alternative learning, enrolling some students who have been expelled from other schools, and  refugees from around the world.

Five years ago, the Zonta Club of Perth was offering scholarships to female students at Cyril Jackson, giving Wesley College the idea to offer scholarships to the male students. With the aim of  raising enough money to give two $500 scholarships, in the first two years, three were actually awarded. In 2014 and 2015, three scholarships of $600 were awarded. Last year, three scholarships  of $750 were awarded. In addition, the recipients receive a Wesley Sports Bag including a hat, pen, shorts and water bottle.

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Dongara looks to the future

In a process to create a safer, more comfortable and welcoming church, Dongara Uniting Church have replaced their old, ‘traditional’ style pews for new chairs.

In a transition that’s taken over  three years to complete due to the church being heritage listed, the congregation have agreed to retain four pews for historical purposes. The rest have been sold to individuals; some for use in homes and gardens, some will be repurposed into other items.

The congregation has recently been in touch with the family of the person who built the pews and are working on creating a documented history. It is thought they may have been built using  Oregon timber which was originally cargo on a shipwreck off the coast of Dongara.

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Budget 2017: The Good the Bad and the Unfair

UnitingCare Australia’s National Director Claerwen Little says despite some constructive measures the 2017 Federal Budget needed to do more for the most vulnerable Australians.

“The commitment to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by an increase in the Medicare levy is a significant measure and a landmark worthy of celebrating,” said Claerwen.

“The full funding of the NDIS from 2020 will afford greater dignity and independence to Australians with permanent and significant disability.”

But Ms Little lamented punitive measures targeting the unemployed and welfare recipients.

“The very worst elements of this Budget impose harsh compliance measures on jobseekers for no apparent benefit to their employment prospects.

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A budget of few blessings

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Stuart McMillan, says that, on balance, there is little to rejoice about in the 2017 Federal Budget.

“A two-year freeze on foreign aid, punitive new welfare measures including drug and alcohol testing for the unemployed, and the extension of income management just make life harder for the poor and most vulnerable,” said Stuart.

“In all this week’s commentary about winners and losers, we should remember that the poor are the ones who lose out most when governments neglect their needs. They are the ones who should be our focus.”

“Regrettably there are few blessings in this Budget for the poor in spirit, nor the prospect of the kind of support I’d expect of a wealthy developed nation like ours.”

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New Assembly appointment for Rob Floyd

The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly Standing Committee has approved the appointment of Rob Floyd as the associate general secretary, Assembly Resourcing Unit.

Rob will move to this new senior leadership position in the Assembly from his current role as national director of UnitingWorld.

Rob is committed to the work of the Uniting Church and the Assembly, and has sought to live out his faith through this work. He brings extensive experience in the life of the Uniting Church, in particular his leadership roles in UnitingWorld.

The general secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia, Colleen Geyer, said she was looking forward to working with Rob in the new role.

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Volunteers span the state for our seniors

As the demand for aged care services continues to grow, Juniper is working to double its capacity to respond to help meet the needs of older Western Australians.

Juniper, a Uniting Church WA agency, has one of the largest aged care footprints in the country with much-needed services delivered as far north as the Kimberley, as well as the Mid-West throughout metropolitan Perth, the Wheatbelt and right through to Albany in the Great Southern.

More than 450 dedicated volunteers span this vast area, brightening the lives of Juniper’s residents, home care clients and their families in many different ways.

Volunteer co-ordinator, Tim Law, said volunteers make a big difference to the lives of people in Juniper’s care undertaking a diversity of interesting roles and tasks.

“Our volunteers help with all sorts of things from companionship, activity groups, bus and buggy driving, administration, pastoral care and even a bit of acting!” he said.

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From the Archives: KUCA

In 1978, the year after union of the Uniting Church in Australia, the South Australian synod started planning a children’s rally, KUCA (Kids of the Uniting Church in Australia). Their first rally was held in 1979, the International Year of the Child.

In 1984, the Uniting Church WA launched a KUCA rally of its own, and by 1985 there were 52 Sunday Schools and other children’s groups affiliated with it, with around 500 children involved. The first overnight camp took place in Parkerville in October 1985, giving rural groups the opportunity to stay overnight.

A newsletter, YAK (You and KUCA), was produced by the Uniting Church SA, in conjunction with other synods, filled with puzzles, activities, poems and stories. For many years, the organisers of  KUCA produced a t-shirt transfer, which was widely recognised and worn by many people around the Uniting Church WA. The KUCA costume, a kookaburra body suit, was also a hit for many campers.

KUCA camp is now known as KCO (Kids’ Camp Out) and still attracts congregation groups from all over the Uniting Church WA. It has evolved a lot over the years, now incorporating junior  leaders and a synod wide event on the Saturday evening. Turn to page 13 for pictures from the most recent KCO, held in March. This year, KCO held a birthday party for the Uniting Church’s 40th Anniversary.

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Working together against modern slavery

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Stuart McMillan, has welcomed the combined advocacy efforts of ecumenical, interfaith and community partners in support of a Modern Slavery Act for Australia.

A coalition of organisations including the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania’s Justice and International Mission (JIM) Unit has recently lodged a submission with a Parliamentary Inquiry into a Modern Slavery Act.

The submission co-authored by JIM’s Dr Mark Zirnsak makes a strong case for greater transparency about slavery-like conditions in Australian supply chains, an area that the UK Government has legislated since 2015.

“As Christians we believe that human beings are made in the image of God. To enslave another human is an outrageous attack on human dignity,” said Stuart.

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Innovative aged care services hub milestone in the Kimberley

Creation of an innovative aged care service hub in Kununurra has taken a big step forward.

Juniper, a Uniting Church WA agency providing community and residential aged care, has announced that Pindan Contracting, an experienced construction company, has been appointed to build the organisation’s new 30-place care facility.

Juniper chief executive, Vaughan Harding, said the project was a boost for Kununurra, delivering important infrastructure and services to the town and wider community.

“The commencement of construction is a significant milestone and we will see over the coming months the creation of a modern facility that will serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for aged care services designed to meet community needs and aspirations,” he said.

“The project will help stimulate local employment, career pathways and opportunities for student placements.”

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New national director for Frontier Services

Jannine Jackson has been appointed as the new national director of Frontier Services.

Jannine comes to the role with extensive experience in fundraising and marketing in the faith and non-profit sectors, both in New South Wales and nationally.

Her background includes senior leadership positions at the McGrath Foundation, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Mission Australia. She is a member of Toongabbie Anglican Church in Sydney’s west.

The general secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, Colleen Geyer, said she was looking forward to working with Jannine.

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