Closing the Gap in 2020 Closing the Gap was developed in response to the call of the Social justice report 2005 and the ‘Close the Gap’ social justice campaign. In March 2008, Australian governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people agreed ‘to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between …
“One of the biggest challenges over the years has been dealing with people who are ill informed about the issues facing Aboriginal people,” says Lindsay, who says that a desire to improve social outcomes for First Peoples is what drew him to his ministry and to working with remote Aboriginal communities. For Lindsay, Reconciliation Week …
As part of this year’s National Reconciliation Week we’ve been speaking with members of the Frontier Services family, who work within Indigenous communities across Australia, about what reconciliation means for them. Today, we catch up with Pastor Julia Lennon, who we were extremely proud to induct as our first ever female Aboriginal Bush Chaplain late last year.
Dianne Torrens is a Widjabal woman and Githabul woman of the Bundjalung nation from the Northern Rivers. Aunty Di believes ‘In This Together’ and the pathway for reconciliation requires truth, justice and forgiveness, and simply sitting together to share a conversation over a cuppa. It is being open with each other, saying ‘hello’ and focusing on our similarities, rather than our differences.
It’s National Volunteer Week, and what better time to celebrate our incredible Outback Links volunteers! We recently caught up with two of our longest-serving volunteers, Howard and Mary. In this article we share highlights from our conversation, giving you a glimpse into their amazing, decade-long journey!
The current climate is presenting new and unique challenges for people in the bush, like this West Australian family grieving over the sudden loss of a loved one. Spread across the state, family members faced tough restrictions preventing them from travelling to and attending the funeral. But thankfully, they were not alone. Our incredible Bush Chaplains were there with them. And they found a way for people to come together, to support each other in mourning…
We spoke to some members of the Frontier Services family about what this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme ‘In This Together’ means for them. In this article, the first of a two-part series, we catch up with our Bush Chaplain, Benjamin Quilliam and share his experiences working with First People from the APY Lands ands what he feels In This Together means for his community.
We’re still here. And we’re still connecting people! Hear from our incredible Bush Chaplains as they work to maintain and grow social connections in their remote communities at a time when people couldn’t feel more isolated. We also share our perspective on what the theme ‘In this together’ means for us, as we approach the 20th anniversary of National Reconciliation Week.
We meet some incredible women in the Outback. Their stories never cease to amaze!
Margaret is one remarkable woman. Hers is a story of resilience and hard work. Your support helps to keep Aussie farmers like her stay on the land longer, while still looking after their health.
Read her incredible story to find out more…
It’s been a tough summer for Australia. But it has also brought people together. There are so many amazing stories about people rallying behind those doing it tough, whether it’s because of drought, bushfire or other disaster. And some of these we share with you in this edition of Frontier News. It’s about keeping spirits high and bringing welcome relief to those out bush.
