The NSW/ACT Synod Uniting Social Justice Forum is working on three campaigns:
GIVE HOPE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DRUG LAW REFORM
More on these campaigns can be found here
St Ninian’s Uniting Church Social Action group supports these campaigns as well as taking an interest in other issues as they arise.
Affordable Housing
What is the issue?
The provision of secure and affordable
housing is a basic human right. It is essential to our wellbeing and
quality of life as human beings. In NSW and the ACT we are facing a
housing crisis and the effects of this are felt across the social spectrum
but the most severe consequences fall on low income and disadvantaged
households. Without stable housing, it is difficult to care for your
family, gain employment or remain engaged with education or training. Some
quick facts about housing in NSW and the ACT:
- More than one million people on low
incomes are in housing stress, defined as having to spend more than
30% of income on housing costs. - There are 55,000 eligible households
on a waiting list for public housing, with a 10-year waiting list in
some areas of NSW. - From 2000 – 2010 house prices
increased by 147% while incomes increased by only 57%.
What is the Uniting Church doing about it?
The Uniting Church Synod of NSW ACT Social Justice Forum identifies
affordable housing as a critical social justice issue. It has joined with
Sydney Alliance in a campaign calling on the NSW Government to take action
on affordable housing.
In the initial stages of the Uniting Affordable Housing campaign, representatives of the Forum conducted
Table Talks across the Synod to discuss how we as a church respond
to this issue. The talks were designed to gather a broad range of stories and
experiences of housing stress, and to generate ideas for local action,
service development and advocacy.
In March 2014 UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families contributed a submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry
into Social Housing, Affordable Housing and has developed a policy paper to
provide background to the housing affordability crisis in NSW. You can view
these in the links section below.
Up to date information can be found here https://nswact.uca.org.au/social-justice/the-social-justice-forum/affordable-housing-campaign/
Break the Silence on Refugees
Christian Churches join
with the Canberra Refugee Action Committee campaign to bring about a
just and humane policy towards asylum seekers and refugees. A
public forum – Refugees: What would Jesus do? What should we
do? was held on 25 February and brought together speakers from the
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, The Uniting Church, The
Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, the Canberra Baptist
Church and the Refugee Action Committee. The ACCC was overflowing with
concerned people. We are all asked to add our voice calling for
justice and compassion for refugees and asylum seekers
Link to Refugee Action Committee
GIVE
HOPE CAMPAIGN
END CHILD DETENTION
Contribution of a patch for the quilt which was made up and presented to Federal Parliament as part of the GIVE HOPE campaign of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW, ACT UnitingCare NSW, ACT and Uniting Justice. This patch was designed by members of St Ninian’s Social Action Group and drawn and painted by Beth Roberts.
November, 2013
Page under construction – sorry some links not yet available
PAST ST. NINIAN’S SOCIAL JUSTICE SEMINARS/FORUMS
Living Options for Ageing Canberrans – Thursday 14th April, 2016, 10am – 2.30pm Program here
Speakers: Tricia Hoad audio here Donna Hollingsworth audio here Graeme Barnes audio here
Blindness and how it affects the vision impaired and those around them
Speaker Katie Brown from the ACT Blind Society – Tues 15th October,2013 5pm Invitation here
Forced Adoptions – Do Public Apologies Help? -held on Monday 10th September, 2012, 7.30pm Invitation here
The Church, The State, The Media – Who sets the Nation’s Social Justice Agenda? – held on Saturday 30 August 2008
Speakers: Rev’d Elenie Poulos, Jack Waterford, Prof John Langmore, Prof John Warhurst
Caring or Carking it: Why we can and must build a more caring economy.
Fresh is Best – Community Gardens and Farmers’ Markets, Wednesday 25 August 2010.
More information & audio of the evening >>
Senior Years: Be Prepared, Wednesdays 8th and 15th June, 2011