Current Letter Writing Actions
New Resources
Friends of Standing Together
Standing Together is a progressive grassroots movement organising Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and for peace, equality, and social justice. They know that the majority of people have far more in common than what sets them apart and only a tiny minority benefits from the status quo. The future they seek — peace and independence for Palestinians and Israelis, full equality for everyone, and true social, economic, and environmental justice — is possible. As the largest Palestinian-Jewish grassroots movement in Israel, they are committed to creating an alternative to the existing reality by building the political power to make it happen.
More about them can be found here
Watch this video to see members of Standing Together in Action.
Friends of Standing Together Sydney chapter. The Synod has decided to be part of forming Friends of Standing Together Melbourne (Naarm).
Friends of Standing Together Melbourne (Naarm) will:
- Raise local awareness of the philosophy, goals and work Standing Together does on the ground in Israel /Palestine;
- Fundraise for Standing Together (tax-deductible donations can be made through https://www.nif.org.au/standing_together; and,
- Facilitate interfaith dialogue towards the outcomes Standing Together is seeking.
International Day of People with Disability
Wednesday 3 December is International Day of People with Disability. Jointly, the Synods Vic.Tas and Queensland have developed a ‘Faith Community Resource’ to assist those wanting to include material about this significant day in worship or other services on Sunday 30 November or Sunday 7th December. The marking of this event provides a day dedicated to inclusivity, raising awareness and honouring the contributions of people with disabilities.
Covenanting Pathways Toolkit and Other Resources
Launched 2025, consider using these resources to learn how you and your community of faith might learn more about Covenanting in the Uniting Church. The Covenanting Pathways Toolkit and its supporting resources were designed for a Victoria and Tasmania to explore contemporary pathways to connect, or re-connect with Covenanting.
Click for the toolkit and other resources
Synod's Submission to Yoorrook Justice Commission
The Yoorrook Justice Commission was an independent formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria. Its final report to the Victorian Government was tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 1 July 2025.
In February-March 2024, the Commission invited the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania to provide a written response to questions on the topic of “land injustice”. A written submission was provided to the Commission in the lead up to a public hearing involving the Uniting, Anglican and Catholic Churches on 1 May 2024. The full submission can be found on the Commission’s website at: https://www.yoorrook.org.au/hearings/public-hearings-29-april-3-may-2024
New Postcard Action
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Medicare for Seasonal Workers
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees identified that 2.5 million refugees will need resettlement in the next year, but only 120,000 resettlement places are being offered globally. The Labor Government has committed to increasing the number of refugee places to 27,000 per year with an additional 10,000 if sponsored by community groups. Send this card to ask the government to commit to reaching these numbers as soon as possible.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Committing to Refugee Intake
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees identified that 2.5 million refugees will need resettlement in the next year, but only 120,000 resettlement places are being offered globally. The Labor Government has committed to increasing the number of refugee places to 27,000 per year with an additional 10,000 if sponsored by community groups. Send this card to ask the government to commit to reaching these numbers as soon as possible.
Ongoing Postcard Actions
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Victorian Housing Reform
At the end of 2024 over 55,000 families in Victoria we on the State Government’s housing waiting list. Help advocate for the Victorian Government to commit to maintaining existing housing stock, and building at least 60,000 social housing dwellings over the next decade for low-income people.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Legislative Council reform
The Victorian electoral system allows preference manipulation to get people elected to the Legislative Council who would not get elected if the voters could direct their preferences. Send this postcard to the Premier to advocate for Victorians being able to direct their preferences when voting for parties above the line, rather than having their vote directed through secret backroom preference deals.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Whistleblower Protections
Whistleblowers play an important role in protecting government functions from corruption. Without them, what goes unseen rots from the inside of our public administration. Transparency and accountability are fundamental for any democracy, so please send a postcard to make sure ours is working the way it should.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Kids and Sports Gambling
Three Quarters of children aged between 8 to 16 think betting on sport is normal and can name one or more sports betting companies. At the same time, 6% of kids between 12-17 have gambled online. We can be better than this. Send a card to remind those with power to make change to remind them of this.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Alcohol Home Delivery Reform
Alcohol companies are exacerbating family and domestic violence in Victoria, and their business models for home delivery increase the risk of harm. Help by making your contribution to common sense reforms.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Processed Foods
Food companies do not have our best interests at heart, yet they operate and market with less regulation than you might realise. These postcards will help raise the need for change.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Stop Fuel Credits
Stop the funding of harmful tax credits impacting our climate. Send an advocacy postcard to Treasurer Jim Chalmers to the End handouts to mining corporations for using fossil fuels.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Curtail the Myanmar Junta
Help us urge the Australian Government to apply additional sanctions in line with other allied countries to cut the flow of revenue to the Myanmar junta, and curb their attempts to suppress democracy and human rights.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Myanmar Imports Funding Violence
The Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) is responsible for timber exports from Myanmar on behalf of the military junta, which provides the regime with a critical economic resource. Show your concern by asking MTE to be added to Australia’s sanctions list to condemn ongoing violent and lethal attacks against the people of Myanmar by the Military government.
e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.
Online Abuse
Online sexual abuse is a global issue. In the Philippines alone, 20% of internet-using children aged 12-17 years of age we victims of sexual exploitation in 2022. Abusers are located in places like Australia, and more can be done here to protect children everywhere. Help protect children by calling for reforms that make it easier to report and eliminate abuse material.
Resource Highlights
Week of Prayers for Peace and Justice in Israel
The theme for the World Council of Churches World Week for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel is “Whatever you did… you did it for me” (Mt 25:40). Church organisations and people of faith are encouraged to participate with material prepared to be included in church services.
Language Around the War in Gaza
Picking sides in the Gaza war polarizes narratives around how the conflict is discussed. The issues are more complex than they are being described. This resource explores some key language being used.
Addressing Weight Stigma Related to Obesity
Weight and physical size have become a contemporary barrier to inclusion in our society, be it self or socially imposed. This resource acknowledges judgment as a legitimate barrier for people, and opens the issue of stigma up for discussion.
Slavery Resource
This resource explores Friday 23rd August 2024 as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
Democratic Reform Resource
Despite our institutions existing to protect equality, dissatisfaction with government and democracy is on the rise. This resource explores what we can do.
JIM Convention 2024 ‘Food and Social Justice’ Flyer
The 2024 JIM convention explores issues from the role of food in our Christian communities, to the social justice implications of food in the economy, including modern slavery and climate change.
Qukes Boycott
Boycott Perfection Fresh by not buying Qukes, and take a stand again abuse in the workplace.
Refugee Week resource
Refugee Week is 16 - 22 June in 2024. A resource been developed by Council of Churches and the Uniting Church helps explore this year’s theme Finding Freedom: Family.
World Fair Trade Day Resource
World Fair Trade Day is Saturday 11th May in 2024. The day shines a spotlight on the transformative power of the Fair Trade business and its positive impact on people’s lives and communities.
World Environment Day Resource
World Environment Day is Wednesday 5th June in 2024. The date was chosen by the United Nations to highlight the protection and health of our environment as a major issue.
Reconciliation Week Resource 2024
Reconciliation is 27 May - 3 June in 2024. A national resource has been developed for the Uniting Church and helps explore this year’s theme Now More Than Ever.
Cookbook Committee
The PWMU cookbook is the oldest continuous cookbook in Australia, and has been in print since 1904. Royalties go to the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the Uniting Church in Victoria.
JIM Social Justice Calendar 2024
The annual social justice Calendar.
True Freedom – Modern Slavery Resource
True Freedom is a six-week course for Lent. It draws on themes from the book of Galatians and encourages individuals and churches to respond to modern slavery in their communities.
Feedback on social justice issues survey 2024
Each year we invite our supporters to tell us which issues they most want us to campaign with them on towards just outcomes. This is the findings of that invitation.
Theological Response to Family Violence
Through theological reflection, this resource helps explore how the Christian faith can and should challenge cultural assumptions around domestic violence, while at the same time being humble enough to admit its contribution to oppression.
My Picture Matters
AiLECS researchers are asking persons aged 18 and above to contribute photographs of themselves as children through the My Picture Matters crowdsourcing campaign. These pictures will be used to train AI models to recognise the presence of children in ‘safe’ situations, to help identify ‘unsafe’ situations, and potentially flag child sexual exploitation material.
Getting off gas for households
Eliminating the use of gas at home will play a role in future decarbonising efforts. This resource offers information on how to go about it.
Healthy food flyer
Vegkit.com offers some great tips on how to eat healthier for a better planet by reducing your greenhouse gas emissions associated with what we eat.
Sheet on draft Synod proposals 2023
The JIM Cluster often bring social justice proposals to meeting of Synod for discernment. Currently, two proposals are being seek endorsement: 1. Secure Work, and 2. Ethical Procurement and Investment.
Feedback on issues survey
Each year we invite our supporters to tell us which issues they most want us to campaign with them on towards just outcomes. This is what we were told.
Lent Event
UnitingWorld’s 2023 Lent Event is now available. 40 days of prayer, simplicity and generosity. Visit the website to access the prayer guide, Lent Event Challenge and the ability to donate to help fight poverty and injustice in partner communities.
WWF infographic food waste
WWF have prepared an infographic to help tackle food waste.
Reducing emissions through what you eat
We can help combat greenhouse gas emission through what we eat. This document is the rationale behind this argument.
Reducing emissions through reducing food waste
Tips on reducing Food waste.
Reducing Emissions from our diet
Information on reducing emission from our diet prepared by the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT.
Reduce meat brochure from ARRCC
ARCC pamphlet on eating less meat as a way to alleviating climate change.
The Sin of Social Injustice Resource for Word Day of Social Justice
26 February 2023 world Day of Social Justice reflection by the Synod of WA.
The Uniting Church in Australia is committed to acting justly and compassionately in the world. We believe that our participation in God’s mission calls us toward the transformation that God desires for us all, marked by reconciliation, love, justice, peace, abundance and flourishing for all people and the whole earth. In Our Vision for a Just Australia, the Uniting Church in Australia has articulated its vision for a just, compassionate and inclusive nation in this updated 2021 statement and resource.
Previous Resource Highlights
Australia reMADE Report on Public Good
Connection. Care. Contribution. Three things that are the core of Australia reMADE finding in its report on what we want out of the Public Good in Australia.
Building the Uniting Church Refugee and People Seeking Asylum Network
The JIM Cluster is building a network of people working with refugees and people seeking asylum across Victoria and Tasmania in the Uniting Church.
Uniting Church Methodology in the Public Sphere
This document details how the JIM Cluster operates in the public sphere through its relationships with the media and social justice advocacy. Click to learn more about how the JIM cluster operates in pursuit of its work.
JIM Report to Synod
The Justice and International Mission (JIM) Cluster prepares a report on its activity for each meeting of the Uniting Church in Vic/Tas Synod. This document is that report made available to our supporters.
Federal Election Resources 2022
Based on the Uniting Church Assembly Resource ‘Our Vision for a Just Australia’, a resource for the upcoming federal election has been created to assist as you consider your vote. It also links to further information, and discussion points to being a conversation with your local candidate.
Democracy, Justice, and Allegiance: Some Theological Thoughts
Rev Dr Sean Winter, Pilgrim College, shares his thoughts on the church’s relationship with Democracy, and considers Christian engagement with the political sphere. Prepared in response to the 2021 JIM Convention.
GreenPower for Congregations
A resource for Congregations and individuals looking for more information about GreenPower, while offering a pathway to compare how energy retailers generate renewable energy.
Assessing Disinformation
The Christian faith is fundamentally concerned with questions of truth. In this new age of disinformation and ‘subjective’ truths, this resource offers to help sort through the noise and identify disinformation more easily.
Mentoring Refugees – Can you Assist?
Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) are looking for volunteers to take part in their Group Mentorship Program for refugees in Melbourne. This resource will tell you how.
Justice and International Mission
Call us to schedule a meeting or a presentation. We are happy to help.
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