UnitingCare Australia is encouraged by the Government’s response to the coronavirus crisis, but has called for further details and investment in measures that provide targeted and longer-term support to those most in need.
Tag: Social Justice
For this year’s International Women’s Day, Kate Leaney, Social Justice Officer at the Uniting Church WA, takes 5 minutes with us to reflect, and share some of her inspirations and passions.
The Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, Rev Steve Francis, has today called on the RSL of WA to reconsider its position to ban the flying of the Aboriginal flag and the performance of Welcome to Country ceremonies during ANZAC and Rememberence Day services.
“This is an extremely disappointing decision by the RSL WA that creates real hurt for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.
West Australian faith-based and community groups and organisations, including the Uniting Church WA, have signed the joint RenewWA statement, calling on the State Government for reliable jobs, renewable energy and a safe future for all.
Launched at Cottesloe beach this morning, the statement reads:
“With rich renewable energy resources, abundant supplies of battery metals and potential to generate renewable-derived Hydrogen for export, WA has a bright future ahead if the benefits of a clean energy economy are supported by strong government action on climate change.
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Editorial: ARPA recognition
We have some exciting news this edition, as Revive magazine recently won an Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) Award!
We won a Gold Award for the ‘Best Social Justice Article’, Rethinking plastic: Local action on a global issue,’ published in our June 2018 edition.
The award ceremony and conference was held in Christchurch, New Zealand, in September. I wasn’t able to attend, however, Maggie Johns, Media and Communications Manager for the Uniting Church WA, attended and accepted the award. With this being only our second edition in our new format after taking a short hiatus earlier this year, I’m stoked for the magazine to be appreciated in this way.
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Review: Stories from the Inside
2019, a podcast from Social Reinvestment WA
Stories from the Inside is a podcast from Social Reinvestment WA, a coalition of WA organisations, including the Uniting Church WA, working to fix our broken justice system. Each episode features one person’s story from inside that system and how the people around them – their children, partners, parents and siblings – have been affected.
Storytellers are honest and open about their experiences, and not afraid to own up to their own behaviour. The real impact though, is the stories of how they ended up on the journey towards the justice system in the first place. Stories of trauma, violence and neglect.
There’s Tyronne, who grew up in foster homes and when reported sexual abuse was ignored, and was then punished by his abusers. Or Theresa, with almost her entire family spending time in prison. Or Jennifer, whose son was incarcerated for something as simple as unpaid fines.
Hearing Renna’s story in the first episode really made me think about just how terrifying her situation was. Renna was homeless and abusing alcohol. She needed assistance and support, but instead was met with aggression – something she’d come to expect from authorities.
During September, the Uniting Church WA supports the Season of Creation through Sustainable September. You can get involved by downloading and using resources, available online at ecochurcheswa.net/worship.resources
As one of the Biblical scholars intimately involved in The Earth Bible project, Rev Dr Vicky Balabanski shares her thoughts on Christian faith and its connectedness to all of creation.
Rev Steve Francis, Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, alongside 22-year-old Alexandra Hutchinson and Hanamoa Vaitogi, member of Perth Samoan Uniting Church are encouraging church members to participate in the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September.
UnitingCare Australia urges the Government once again to abandon the flawed Drug Testing Bill before Parliament today.
Those unfortunate enough to be battling addiction need support services and counselling, not humiliation and welfare quarantining.
There is a consensus of voices from across the organisations who work with the most vulnerable people in Australia demanding a preventive, evidence-based approach.
Three religious leaders, including a Uniting Church minister, and three lay people were arrested on Thursday September 5 at the site of Adani’s proposed Coal Mine in Central Queensland. Reverend Alex Sangster, Dharmacari Tejopala and Dharmacari Aryadharma refused a ‘move on order’ by police, along with Christians, Mark Delaney, James Thom and Angela Merriam.
Six other Christians joined them blocking work at the site and called on Gautam Adani to abandon the project. The group held a religious ritual of prayer and song in the direct route of Adani contractors preventing them from entering the workers’ camp.