Shocking stories from the Royal Commission

Many Australians have been horrified by the stories coming out from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.

The current public hearing into child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Ballarat has revealed widespread and appalling abuse of minors.

The Commission heard evidence that all male teachers and chaplains at St Alipius Primary School molested children ...

Intercultural Service of Celebration


This year marks 30 years since the Uniting Church declared itself a multicultural church. The synod will celebrate this anniversary on Saturday 23rd May with a multicultural afternoon tea at 2:30pm at Glen Waverley Uniting Church. This will be followed by a service of celebration at 4pm.

Rev Devanandan Anandarajan, from the Uniting Church’s Intercultural unit, believes ...

Book sale for Nepal

Nearly a month after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, millions are still in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated eight million people – nearly 30 per cent of the population – have been affected.

A second 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred last week, triggering new landslides and reducing centuries-old buildings into rubble.

The two earthquakes are the most deadly ...

Winners and losers

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has withdrawn a multi-million dollar court case against Crown Casino over embezzled funds.

The bank pursued legal action over three million dollars stolen by former bank employee Kate Jamieson. It claimed that Ms Jamieson used 95 per cent of the stolen funds to gamble at Crown’s poker machines.

Court documents lodged by the bank alleged ...

Humanitarian crisis

Pressure is mounting on South East Asian authorities to address the growing humanitarian crisis of refugees and asylum seekers stranded in the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca.

The United Nations believes thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees remain adrift at sea in dangerously overcrowded vessels with little to no food supplies.

Rohingya people are an ethnic minority from ...

National Volunteer Week

In National Volunteer Week, the Uniting Church celebrates the contributions of all our volunteers who give up their time in service of their community. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the church. Every week, congregation members engage in a diverse range of volunteering activities, from working bees to children’s groups to op-shops.

More than six million Australians volunteer ...

Cruellest budget blow

After the shock of budget cuts to the most vulnerable in last year’s Federal Budget, it would appear commentators have reacted favourably to the Abbott Government’s second attempt to balance the nation’s books.

While yet again it is those on the margins of society who will be hit hardest by belt-tightening measures, the blow has been softened somewhat ...

Inter-school Social Justice Day


Uniting Church school students gathered at the synod office in Melbourne on Tuesday for an Inter-school Social Justice Day.

The 39 students represented four different schools – Billanook College, Wesley College, Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS).

The Inter-school Social Justice Day takes place three times a year and strengthens the relationship ...

One World WonTok


Students from Uniting Church and Anglican schools recently took part in the One World WonTok Youth Conference.

The joint initiative run by UnitingWorld and the Anglican Board of Mission (ABM) actively engages students on issues around global poverty and work being undertaken to address disadvantage in developing countries.

Now in its fourth year, the conference uses hands-on ...

Grim discovery shines a light on Rohingya

The recent discovery of at least 32 bodies in Thailand’s Songkhla province has highlighted the horrific plight of the Rohingya – an oppressed ethnic minority from Myanmar.

Justice and International Mission unit director, Dr Mark Zirnsak said the plight of the Rohingya serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of displaced peoples.

“We have campaigned for years against ...

UnitingCare jobs program announced

UnitingCare Australia will partner with the Federal Government in a pilot jobs program enabling mothers with young children to access employment opportunities in the community and aged care sectors.

Participants will be provided with training and paid positions within the UnitingCare Australia network.

The program will be funded through the Federal Government’s jobactive program which will ...

Dan: a man with a plan? Have your say…

With the Federal Budget looming there is increased concern over potential funding cuts relating to a broad range of social justice related sectors.

Many concerned with the allocation of funding towards overseas aid, education, social support services and the disability sector will watch with baited breath as the Federal Government hands down the 2015‑16 budget on Tuesday ...