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