Tag: Social Justice

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Social Impact

Community gathers to hear experts on WA Gas and its Climate Impacts

Wednesday 28 August saw approximately 60 people gather at Nedlands Uniting Church to hear from key experts on WA Gas and its Climate Impacts. The event was co-hosted by the newly formed WA Chapter of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA).

Both groups are committed to advocating for climate action in a non-partisan manner, with a focus on evidence and ethical practice. The focus of the evening was on Western Australia’s contribution to global climate change, and the unique role our state can play in reducing greenhouse emissions.

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Social Impact

Australia needs a solution to homelessness

UnitingCare Australia is calling on our Federal and State Governments to urgently develop and commit to a National Housing Strategy to address the growing crisis of homelessness in Australia.

This week is National Homelessness Week. There are more than 116 000 people without a home and almost 195 000 families on social housing waiting lists across Australia.

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Social Impact

Advocates celebrate the Asylum Seeker Hub Public Transport Concession

Refugee advocates celebrated today, as they publicly launched the Asylum Seeker Hub (ASH) Public Transport Concession.

Kim Ellwood, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Interests opened proceedings, and said that 38 people have already been issued with the concession, which provides refugees and asylum seekers with a concession fare SmartRider, for use on Transperth services.

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Social Impact

UnitingCare Australia echoes calls for immediate action on income support

As the week of action to Raise the Rate of Newstart gets underway today, UnitingCare Australia echoes calls for an immediate increase to Newstart and Youth Allowance payment levels to ensure their adequacy in meeting basic living costs.

UnitingCare Australia is also renewing its call for the establishment of an independent mechanism to assess the adequacy of all income support payments and adjust rates to acceptable levels.

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Social Impact

UnitingCare warns of ‘perfect storm’ in aged care looming

UnitingCare Australia has warned the possibility of a ‘perfect storm’ emerging in aged care, as older Australians face the prospect of being unable to access the supports they need. This is due to a deepening crisis of providers lacking the financial resources to meet the demands of quality service provision.

Informed by numerous recent reports that reveal the unsustainable financial performance of aged care providers across both ‘in-home’ and residential aged care settings, National Director of UnitingCare Australia, Claerwen Little, said the perfect storm forming is a direct result of increasing pressure on providers to deliver services in an unsustainable funding environment.

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Social Impact

Open and Affirming resources launched

hand holds a heart painted like a LGBT flag, silhouetted against sun

A suite of 15 new resources from Uniting Network have been launched with the aim of supporting Uniting Church congregations which seek to fully affirm LGBTIQ people, same-sex couples and families.

“Uniting Network is proud to have produced a comprehensive series of resources on LGBTIQ related topics to assist congregations and faith communities who are looking to explore what it means to be inclusive and affirming,” said Hannah Reeve, Uniting Network National Co-Convener.

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Social Impact

No faith in coal

More than 150 religious leaders from across Australia have issued an open letter calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to recognise Australia’s moral responsibility to avoid climate catastrophe and halt all new coal and gas projects.

The religious leaders span the spectrum of faiths and include the heads of the National Council of Churches, Muslims Australia, the Uniting Church in Australia, the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, as well as the Grand Mufti of Australia, Bishops, senior Rabbis and leading theologians.

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Social Impact

Hymn singing festival raising funds for Perth homelessness project

The latest copy of The Big Issue states that “more than 116 000 Australians don’t have a place to call home each night – and more than 8 000 of these people are sleeping rough”.

Indeed, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of rough sleepers in the doorways, parks, alleyways and on pavements in Perth’s CBD over the past year or so. Many of them depend on the charity of passers-by and/or charitable organisations for the wherewithal to continue living.

How can we be so hard-hearted to see these unfortunate human beings struggling to keep alive, whilst doing so little to help them, in what is claimed to be a nation built on Christian values?

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Social Impact

Let them settle here

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The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce is urging the newly elected Federal Government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to resolve the plight of the 1000+ refugees in Manus and Nauru, some of whom are now in Australia.

In a letter signed by numerous religious leaders across Australia, they write: “Let them settle here.”

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News & Announcements

Vision for a just Australia

The Uniting Church in Australia has articulated its vision for a just, compassionate and inclusive nation in a new statement and resource.

In launching the statement, Dr Deidre Palmer, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, said the Uniting Church’s vision for Australia was a nation where all people and all creation could flourish.

“We believe that our participation in God’s mission calls us toward the transformation that God desires for us all, marked by reconciliation, love, justice, peace, abundance and flourishing for all people and the whole earth,” said Deidre.

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