Tasmania: July 2023 – Religions for Peace Australia

Tasmania Logo

Greetings of peace!
This week, in Australia, we have been celebrating NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginals and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The National Executive of Religions for Peace Australia has decided on the advice of Senator Pat Dodson to support the Yes vote in the Referendum on the First Nations’ Voice to Parliament.

Greetings of peace!

This week, in Australia, we have been celebrating NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginals and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

The National Executive of Religions for Peace Australia has decided on the advice of Senator Pat Dodson to support the Yes vote in the Referendum on the First Nations’ Voice to Parliament.

There are two particularly important matters in this post. The first is the introduction to the work of NAYBA, an organisation which conducts social impact audits, and can put into dollar terms, the work faith communities do which contributes to social cohesion in Australia, and which is now conducting a social impact audit in Tasmania. The audit completed in Gold Coast last year is attached and shows the enormous contribution faith-based groups make to our mainstream society.

The second is forward notice of an important workshop to be conducted on 6 August 2023 2:00-5:00pm at the Multicultural Hub entitled Reporting Prejudice Motivated Violence. A flier is attached, and you are invited to share it widely among your friends and connections, because reporting prejudice-motivated incidents is the key to change. However, we need to know what prejudice-motivated incidents are, the importance of reporting them and how to report them accurately so that we can promote safety in our communities.

As ever, we wish you, your families and your communities peace, well-being and safety as we move into the time of the year when the days are lengthening again, and spring is round the corner.

Holy Days in May 2023

Date	Observance	Faith/religion
10 July	Martyrdom of the Bab	Bahá’í
19 July	Hijra	Islam
27 July	Tisha B’av	Judaism
28 July	Ashura	Islam

NAIDOC Week 2-9 July 2023

To celebrate NAIDOC Week, Religions for Peace Australia webmaster, Rev Chris Parnell, has forwarded the link to a webpage about Dreamtime and Indigenous story-telling: https://www.multifaitheducation.com.au/2023/07/01/dust-echoes-indigenous-storytelling/

All round Australia, religious, ethnic and multicultural groups are supporting the First Nations in their call for a Voice to Parliament in the coming referendum:

https://www.amust.com.au/2023/06/multicultural-and-faith-groups-rally-in-support-of-the-voice-referendum/

From Sandy (Faith Communities Council of Victoria, the Uniting Church in Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry):
https://www.jwire.com.au/national-interfaith-group-discusses-challenges-facing-indigenous-australians/

From Rosalind and UCA: Listening to the insights of our First Peoples

From Anne: https://togetheryes.com.au/

In addition, from Common Grace, an Indigenous Christian organisation, we received this message:

This year we face a significant moment as a country as we vote in the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Common Grace is inviting everyone to deeply listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and walk together for justice, healing and flourishing for all. In 2023, through the ‘Listen to the Heart’ campaign, we are calling for a YES vote on a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a sustained YES for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.

We are excited to share the release of new ‘Listen to the Heart’ resources available to help equip and support you in sparking gracious conversations with your community around the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

‘Listen to the Heart’ Training Event Recording

Over the last few months the Common Grace team have had the opportunity to hold in-person ‘Listen to the Heart’ training events, equipping many passionate people to be ready to host events in their own communities. These training events were an important opportunity to listen to the voices of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders, understand the context around the calls for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and learn about the important next steps we can take together for Voice and justice in 2023. If you missed out on attending one of these inspiring events, you can watch the Sydney recording when you sign up to our Voice & Justice pledge here.

**NAYBA (a wonderful opportunity for Faith communities to show how much they contribute to social cohesion in Tasmania)**

NAYBA (pronounced “neighbour”) exists to help churches love their neighbour and transform their neighbourhoods.

One of the ways we do this is through the NAYBA Impact Audit, which measures the collective social impact of the faith community in a geographic region and puts a monetary value on the time given to serve those in need.

In doing so, the audit helps to build unity across churches and faith groups, open doors to government and other sectors, and demonstrate that faith is a force for good.

Thanks to the support of a local family foundation, we’re preparing to bring the NAYBA Impact Audit to Tassie. Specifically, we’re looking to do three local audits – of Hobart, Launceston and the North-West – as well as what will be our first ever state-wide audit (of Tasmania as a whole).

But to make this audit a success, we need your help. We are currently compiling a list of all faith groups within the mentioned regions to ensure everyone’s voice can be heard and everyone’s contribution shared. If you are willing, please register your interest by contacting tamaraespinet@nayba.org.

Attached audit by NABYA for the Gold Coast

Reporting Prejudice Motivated Violence 6 August 2-5.00pm Supported by Tasmanian Peace Trust

(Workshop will be held in person and online)

Prof Nicole Asquith UTAS (Convenor of the Australian Hate Crime Network and the Director of Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies at UTAS and Scott Davis (Formerly of Victoria Police, City of Hobart Council and Equal Opportunity Tasmania), will run a workshop entitled: Reporting Prejudice Related Violence: reporting is the key to change.

When: 2-5.00pm Sunday 6 August 2023
Where: Multicultural Hub 65 Hopkins St., Moonah and online
Interpreters: Farsi and Bhutanese interpreters will be available.
Registration is essential for attending in person or online: https://www.trybooking.com/CJDQS
Zoom joining link will be available in the Registration confirmation email.
Cost: Free of charge
Refreshments: provided
Enquiries: 0438 069 728
Email: faithcommunitiestas@gmail.com

Supported by the Tasmanian Peace Trust, Multicultural Council of Tasmania, Religions for Peace Tasmania, Australian Hate Crime Network, Sadman Studios.

At the RfPA AGM in June, Prof Asquith was our Guest speaker and gave a presentation entitled:

‘Then they came for me and there was no-one left.’ The importance of allyship in responding to faith-based targeted violence and discrimination.

The recording is now online at the following links:

https://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/?p=16960

And on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VY8wbChrYHc

Soul Food

The next Soul Food program will be held at the Baha’i Centre of Learning, 1 Tasman Highway Hobart

Sunday 6 August at 3pm. The theme is: ‘Sweetness of Compassion‘ is the theme of this event.

Refreshments will be provided. Visit www.soulfood.com.au or 6234 7654. Ample free car parking. This is a Free Community Event and all are welcome.

Hiroshima Prayers

Representatives from the nations of Religions for Peace Asia will be coming together to pray for peace online on Hiroshima Day 6 August, 6-7pm)
If you are interested in being part of the Asia-Pacific prayer gathering on this significant day, save the date and let me know. The Zoom link will be available in the August Update of TFCN.

Family Violence

(Increased financial support for victims on temporary visas)

Department of Home Affairs advises there will be an increase in the rate of financial support for visa holders experiencing violence:

This funding is in addition to the $38.2 million committed to extend the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot and Escaping Violence Payment trial to 31 January 2025.

The boost aligns the financial assistance available for temporary visa holders to that received by Australian Citizens under the Escaping Violence Payment trial (from the current $3000 to $5000).

The Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot commenced in April 2021 and provides eligible temporary visa holders experiencing family and domestic violence with financial assistance packages for goods and services and access to legal advice for migration and family law.

In Tasmania migration law advice for visa holders experiencing family violence is delivered by the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service. You can find details on their website at this link and you can contact Taya and the team on info@trls.org.au.

Securing Faith-based Places Fund: a new grant from the Federal Government

Many faiths know too well the financial cost of maintaining security for community buildings. At the moment, targeted hate and violence need to be prevented from causing harm to people and property.

The Australian Government recognises this and has announced the establishment of a new, $40 million, Securing Faith-based Places Fund. This fund is expected to cover both fences and other security infrastructure, but also recurrent security spending, such as the cost of a guard.

The Albanese Government will help protect faith-based places with a new $40 million grants program to improve security and safety.

Grants will be available for places of worship, religious schools and associated organisations to support safety upgrades, such as fencing, lighting, security cameras, traffic barriers, alarm systems, access controls and security guards.

The Securing Faith-Based Places grants program will open for applications in July 2023.

Details will be published on the Australian Government’s GrantConnect website at https://help.grants.gov.au