History and Achievements

National Achievements:

In Australia, since 2000, Religions for Peace Australia has:

organised with the Victorian Council of Churches the interfaith ceremony celebrating 100 years of the Federation of Australia as a federated, sovereign nation;
organised with the Victorian Council of Churches the commemorative service for 9/11 at the Melbourne Tennis Centre attended by 10,000 people;
sponsored in association with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs the research study, Religion, Cultural Diversity and Safeguarding Australia, and two companion volumes in Islam in Australia; and Constructing a Local Multifaith Network.
Held twice-yearly meetings of Heads of Faith Communities at the NSW Parliament House in Sydney
Sponsored interfaith discussions at Shalom College at the University of New South Wales
Supported the creation of a Women’s Interfaith Network in Sydney and across Australia

2024:

Progressive works on the Multifaith Council of Australia as a national inter-religious council
World Interfaith Harmony Day event in Parliament House Canberra: Steps Leading towards Harmony
Attendance at ‘Raising Our Tribal Voice’ Conference run by First Nation Christians.
Youth Delegate to Asia and Pacific Youth Interfaith Network (APYIN) Youth Peace Camp held in Seoul, Korea
Issued Urgent Call for Peace and a Letter of Thanks to Foreign Minister
Hosting Scanlon Foundation Talk at AGM: Social Cohesion and Faith Communities
Presented at World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy to establish a Trans-National Working Group on Values, faith-based perspectives and global governance
Collaborated with Australian Religious Response to Climate Change delivering seminars on divesting from investment in climate-damaging industries and Green Superannuation, Green Banking.
Collaboration on Climate Change Programs, Asia Pacific Women of Faith Climate Flagship Project
Joined by new observer – Western Australia
Meditation and Peacebuilding Forum II: Inner Peace, Outer Peace
End the Silence: Interfaith Prayers for Violence Prevention within the home and the community – Australia and New Zealand event
UN World Day of Peace – Raising Peace with Faith Communities Event hosted by Religions for Peace, United Religions Initiative, Faith Communities Council of Victoria

2023:

In 2023, Religions for Peace Australia adopted a focus on Australia’s First Peoples and Aboriginal spirituality as well as their quest for reconciliation built around the Uluru statement
Creation of resource materials, National Referendum on Voice to Parliament
Work toward establishment of an Australian Inter-Religious Council (Muiltifaith Council of Australia). Australian Multicultural Foundation and Bishop Huggins provide support.
Joining Celebrations of Swami Narayanan organisation (BAPS) in the Sydney Opera House
Youth Delegate attends Asia and the Pacific Youth Interfaith Network (APYIN) Youth Peace Camp
South Australia joins Emergency Services or Disaster and Recovery Chaplaincy
Conduct of Prayers and Meditations on Hiroshima Day
Collaboration with Australian Sangha Association (ASA) and Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC) on Visas for Monastics
Girmit Celebration of the Fijian Indian community (Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist) hosted by Canberra Interfaith Forum
Tasmania Branch delivers online event, The importance of allyship in responding to targeted violence and discrimination.
Participation in Raising Peace 2023 festival, provision of A Multifaith Meditation on Peace
Delivery of Forum on Religion, Peace and the Moral Issues of Fully Autonomous Weapons
Launch of the Northern Territory Branch of Religions for Peace Australia, Parliament House, Darwin
Queensland Faith Communities Council holds Multifaith Prayer Service, Parliament House, Brisbane
South Australia conducts Interfaith Service of Healing Prayers for a Wounded World
Tasmania Branch collaborates and conducts sessions Family Violence in collaboration with Tasmania Police and the Dept of Home Affairs
Faith Communities Council of Victoria joins as Victorian affiliate

2022:

World Interfaith Harmony Address, Online, Professor Douglas Ezzy, University of Tasmania, Religious freedom, discrimination, and living well together.
Members deliver sessions, Ninth Asian Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace
Youth Delegate participates in Youth Forum, Ninth Asian Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace
Election of President, Religions for Peace Australia as Moderator, Asian Conference of Religions for Peace
National Prayer Service, UN Day of Tolerance
Queensland Faith Communities’ Council joins national meetings, holds multifaith prayer service at the Queensland Parliament House
Observer from Western Australia continues to participation in National Meetings.
NSW Branch meets at Parliament House, Sydney, on a quarterly basis
Interfaith Symposium: Faith, Social Cohesion and Community Resilience with Affinity Intercultural Foundation and Macquarie University
South Australia Affiliate addressing climate change, promotes the statement on Sacred People, Sacred Earth
South Australia Affiliate participates in a roundtable discussion on the National Religious Discrimination Bill
Tasmania Branch holds Protecting Our Places of Worship at the Hobart synagogue
Tasmania Branch collaborates with Police on development of training package addressing Hate Speech and Racism
Religions for Peace Australia – in collaboration with Safe Ground, Australian Quakers, United Religions Initiative, Pax Christi, the Multifaith Association of South Australia and the Canberra Interfaith Forum join online seminar on Killer Robots
Victoria Branch joins Anglican Bishops event, Set Them Free Initiative, release of detainees from detention centres
Participation of Faith Communities Council of Victoria in meetings
Hosting National Multifaith discussion: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

2021:

World Interfaith Harmony Address, Parliament House Canberra, Senator Patrick Dodson, Interface of Aboriginal spiritualities with Christian spiritualities
First National Interfaith Prayer Day held online
Sudden closure of Griffith University’s Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Culture – the Queensland Affilate
Participation in Asian Religious Communities in Action: Moving towards an Inclusive, Healthy, Prosperous, Peaceful Asia.
Sacred People, Sacred Earth celebration in collaboration with Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Continued delivery of Living the Change series on sustainable living
Video: Religion, Spirituality and Mental Health in a time of Covid-19
Video: Racism in times of Covid-19
Particpation in Faith for Nature, jointly sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program
Participation in Multi-Religious Response to COVID-19 and Shared Well-Being, China Committee of Religions for Peace on Solidarity and Co-operation
Participation and contributions to Women, Faith and Diplomacy, Asian Conference of Religions for Peace
Annual General Meeting Talk: Indigenous Reconciliation and Faith: Walk Alongside to Build Religious Inclusivity and Acceptance
Collaboration with Pax Christi forum, Truth Telling in Australia
National Forum: Prayers for a time of Community Challenges
Presentation: Multifaith and Interfaith History of Australia
Observer from Western Australia joins meetings.
Activity proceeds to form Northern Territory Branch
NSW Event, Parliament House, Aboriginal deaths in custody
Continued Particpation in Victoria Police Multifaith Council after restructuring
Tasmania Branch assists Australian Compassion Council to declare Hobart as a Compassionate City
Tasmania Branch collaborates sessions, Leading Faith Communities in Difficult Times.
Victoria Branch contributes to social cohesion consultation held by the Australian Minister for Migrant and Multicultural Services
Canberra Interfaith Forum celebrates tenth anniversary of the establishment of its Environmental Garden on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin
Canberra Interfaith Forum conducts seminar, The common basis of all faiths and their relevance to current global challenges
UN World Day of Tolerance 2021 – online national prayer event

2020:

Annual UN Harmony Week Address in collaboration with the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, on the interfaith attitudes and initiatives of Pope John Paul II
Australia-wide commemoration of Christchurch shootings overrun by Covid Pandemic and cancelled
Relations with Prime Minister and National Cabinet for alleviating the plight of international students and temporary visaed workers such as seasonal workers from Pacific Island countries
Bring Faith Leaders together with Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship and the Victorian Multicultural Commission re pandemic welfare for non-Christian faiths
Queensland Affiliate conducts consciousness and coordination processes to address the pandemic crisis
Submission to Senate Select Committee Inquiry into COVID-19
Queensland Affiliate leads G20 Interfaith Summit Forum, Tokyo
Multifaith Chaplaincy Project establishes website Multifaith Chaplaincy Australia
Multifaith Prayers – International Nurses Day 2020
Delivery of Living the Change seminars in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
Participation in World Assembly of Religions for Peace held in Lindau, Germany
Participation of Youth Delegate in Strategic Vision for Religions for Peace, Building and Equipping Interreligious Councils for Action, New York.
Endorsement of the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Particpation and contribution to International Seminar by China Committee on Religions and Peace and entitled Interfaith Exchanges and Shared Future for Humanity
Liasion with UNESCO Chair in Bioethics; weekly seminar on health aspects of the Covid Pandemic
Queensland Affiliate participates in Baku International Youth Forum, in Jakarta (Towards United Human Values) , in London (KAICIID Youth Programme), Vienna (Religious Responses to COVID-19)
Sponsorship of session on Interfaith and the Multicultural Agenda at the Hobart FECCA conference
Delivery of multifaith sessions at Advancing Community Cohesion Conference, University of Western Sydney

2019:

Annual General Meeting commences with response to Christchurch Mosque shootings (by an Australian)
World Interfaith Harmony Address, Parliament House Canberra, Rabbi Morris Feldman
Annual Lecture: Right to religious freedom, and its legal complexities in the Australian judicial system by former President, Australian Human Rights Commission
Linking with Greenfaith and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Delivery of Living the Change seminars on sustainable living
Symposium in China, Religion and Ecological Civilization
Leadership of G20 Interfaith in Buenos Aires by Queensland Affiliate
Consultations for the World Assembly of Religions for Peace held in Yangon in Myanmar
Bangladesh Symposium, The Role of Religious Leaders in the Creation of Peace, Social Cohesion and Religious Dialogue in the Context of 21st Century Asia.
Collaboration toward establishment of a state chapter in Western Australia
Queensland Affiliate delivers interfaith fora, Who is My God?
Tasmania Branch conducts a research project on interfaith activity in Tasmania
Canberra Interfaith Forum conducts Multicultural Community Forum to celebrate Family Week

2018:

World Interfaith Harmony Address, Parliament House Canberra, Religion and the outcomes of 2016 Census
Annual Lecture: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, in collaboration with Melbourne University Chaplaincy
Partnership with Australian Religious Response to Climate Change – Sustainable Living Series
Creation of new website, Multifaith Education Australia
Audit of multifaith activity across Australia
Canberra Interfaith Forum seminar on tolerance on the World Day of Peace
Session on religion and multiculturalism at FECCA Conference, Darwin
Multifaith Association of South Australia seminar Dying and the Different Faiths
Tasmania Branch produces booklet, Diverse Faiths of Tasmania

2017:

World Interfaith Harmony Lecture, Parliament House Canberra, Government, Leaders and Faith in Australian Politics
Annual Lecture: Trial induction program for newly arrived clergy and religious personnel, Monash University
Launch of Religion, Spirituality and the Refugee Experience, Australian Human Rights Commission, Melbourne University
Provision of review of Chaplaincy and Specialist Spiritual Care in MultiFaith Victoria: A Preliminary Review
Assistance and Guidance: Transtioning to a Multifaith Chaplaincy, Australian Army and Australian Multicultural Foundation
Annual Address at AGM: Love, Faith and Memory – Indifference and Hatred
Participation, Journey for Recognition, Tasmania
Development of Faith Communities Council of Queensland
Participation, Humanity at the Crossroad event at the Baha’i Centre, South Australia

2016:

Keynote Lecture: The Challenge of Compassion in a Global Age, Bendigo Interfaith Council
Sponsored the Grand Mufti of Australia at Parliament House in Canberra, for World Interfaith Harmony Lecture
Collaborated with Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations conducting a forum at Parliament House in Sydney
Sponsorship of Youth Representative from the Hindu tradition at an international RfP youth forum in Paris
Conduct of Forum, Providing Culturally Sensitive Palliative Care in Sydney
Interactive workshop at the Great Synagogue in Sydney to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Vatican II interfaith declaration, Nostra Aetate
Support/Participation in Dine with You, for the UN Interfaith Week, an outdoor interfaith dinner
Research study of interfaith chaplaincy in schools, universities, hospitals, prisons commenced
Six three-hour briefing sessions for religious instructors from the Baha’I, Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Hindu and Sikh traditions on changes to delivery of Special Religious Instruction; collaboration with Victorian Government
Annual Lecture, Human Existence, Religions and the Digital World, with Melbourne University Chaplaincy
Delivery of Religious and Cultural Diversity Training – with Queensland Government
Multifaith/multicultural strategy in countering violent extremism – Queensland
Seminars on Humanity at the Crossroads: How Spiritual Leadership Can Affect Climate Change, University of South Australia
Forum at Parliament House, Hobart: Reflections on Peacebuilding: Achievements and Challenges

2015:

Staging of the inaugural UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Address in the national Parliament House in Canberra: Associate Professor Nasir Butrous speaks on Ethnicity, Religions and Harmony: Exploring Christian Muslim Relations in Iraq Today.
Support and Collaboration: G20 Interfaith Summit (Surfers Paradise) with Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue at Griffith University
Organisational Support for G20 Interfaith Summits at Istanbul (2015) and China (2016)
Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue at Griffith University invited to affiliate
Delivery of Workshops on Special Religious Education for Baha’i, Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Hindu and Sikh communities
Support for the World Interfaith Harmony Week event at Parliament House, Melbourne
Annual Address: Ethnicity, Religions and Harmony: Exploring Christian Muslim Relations in Iraq Today with Monash University Chaplaincy
Symposium Religious Freedom and Tolerance in the 21st Century in collaboration with Centre for Global Research at RMIT University
Supported Pathways initiative – teaching religion in secondary schools
Delivery of Annual Human Rights Week event at the University of Tasmania
Sponsorship of Dialogue: Uniting Church and the Muslim Women’s Association

2014:

Interfaith Harmony Address, Multifaith Australia – Reimagining Our Common Future
Participation in the Interfaith Roundtable sponsored by the Australian Multicultural Council
Participation in the World Assembly of Religions for Peace International in Vienna
Organisation and Participation, Eighth Assembly of Religions for Peace Asia, South Korea
Arrangements for Chaplaincy Services, World AIDS Conference, Melbourne
The Diversity of Jewish Religious Groups and their Settlement in Australia – presentation at Temple Beth Israel
Annual General Meeting held at Australian Centre for Christianity and Spirituality, Canberra
Organisational Response to Public Liability and the Child Sexual Abuse Parliamentary Inquiries in multiple religions and Special Religious Education
Creation of repository of educational materials for use in schools’ religious and multifaith classes
Symposium Religious Freedom and Respect for the Sacred in collaboration with the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne
Delivery of Interfaith Harmony Lecture: Multifaith Australia – Reimagining our Common Future
Proposed establishment of the Interfaith Anzac Centenary Commemoration
Participation with Australian Partnership of Religious Organizations on Racial Discrimination and Religious Diversity issues
Delivery of Weekend Retreat on Multifaith Australia with religious leaders – collaboration with Brahma Kumaris

2013:

Dissemination of Religion results in the 2011 Census – Australia’s Religious Profile;
Affiliation of Canberra Interfaith Forum
Sponsorship of Diversity Education, Pathways of Mind and Spirit
Participation in a forum at Melbourne University on “Religion in Universities”
Participation in the Agitation Hill lectures on Challenges in Multifaith Australia
Participation in Victorian Government Inquiry, Child Sexual Abuse within Religious Groups
Endorsement and support for Australian Human Rights Commission program, “Racism: It Stops with Me”
Josie Lacey, OAM. – chair of Religions for Peace New South Wales, was presented with a Lifetime Community Service Award by the NSW Premier, Honourable Barry O’Farrell.

2012:

Collaboration with REENA: Religious Education in Australian Schools and the RI Secretariat
Responsibility for accrediting the Baha’i, Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh volunteer religious instructors/li>
Sponsorship for a young member to attend the youth forum of the ASEM (Asian-European Summit Meeting)
Tasmanian Branch Sponsorship of an interfaith seminar to commemorate Human Rights Week
Support for Multifaith Association of South Australia: Annual Interfaith Symposium
Establishment of links and collaboration with Canberra Interfaith Forum
Keynote address at the National Social Cohesion Conference – sponsored by the Affinity Foundation – From 9/11 to Breivik: Responding Nationally and Transnationally to the Challenges of Diversity and Social Cohesion.

2011:

Commemoration of 9/11
Commemoration of Bali Bombings
Observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week
Assistance to the Buddhist Community to stage “Meditations Matters” at Melbourne University
Refurbishment and Inception of New Constitution
Establishment of Branches in States and Territories
Establishment of Religions for Peace Australia Website
Proposed Consortium for Regional Interfaith Website
Walking Humbly Journey in Tasmania – Five Stages

2010:

Membership, Victoria Police Multifaith Advisory Council;
Collboration with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Regional Interfaith Website
Formation of Parliamentary Friends of Interfaith
Launch of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Freedom of Religion in 21st Century Australia report
Sponsorship of Conference on Religious Education in Australia and Curriculum Development
Bilateral Agreement with the Chinese Committee of Religions for Peace
Launch of World Interfaith Harmony Week

2009:

Support and collaboration for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne, 2009;
Participation in Board Meetings, Council of a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne, 2009
Participation in the Regional Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace in Manila
Hosting the Chinese Committee of Religions for Peace, Melbourne
Acceptance of commission by the Australian Human Rights Commission to examine the freedom of religion and the freedom of belief in Australia

2008:

Foundation collaboration and support for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne, 2009;
3 hour gatherings of faith leaders at the NSW Parliament House
Support for Sikh Chaplain, Commonwealth Games
Membership of APRO (Australian Partnership of Religious Organizations)

International Achievements:

At the international level, the achievements of Religions for Peace have been:

to have helped broker a peace treaty in Sierra Leone since the late 1990s
to have worked for peace in the Balkans since 1998
to have sponsored an international network of religious women’s organisations
to have established a program to help millions of Africa’s children affected by AIDS in the initiative of the Hope for African Children
to bring together every five years several thousand religious and interfaith leaders to discuss global issues, the last being the World Assembly in Kyoto in August 2006
to have formed interreligious councils
to have built a new climate of reconciliation in Iraq since 2003