Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Engagement

Kids fellowship at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Numbulwar, East Arnhem Land. © Kate Beer/Diocese of the Northern Territory, 2016. Used with permission.

 

This is part of the
Reconciliation Program:
Learn more about ABM’s Programs

 

This project funds Church initiatives which engage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners account for 27% of the total Australian prison population. Indigenous people are 13 times more likely to go to prison than those who are non
Indigenous. (ABS 2016)

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC) has called for more to be done to care for and support our nation’s children, to prevent them from getting into the prison system in the first place.

In 2017 donations to this project funded the production of culturally appropriate Sunday School material for children to provide support to remote children’s ministry leaders.

Funds also supported the development of the young church on Bickerton Island. The Ministry 
Development Officer for the Diocese of the Northern Territory, the Rev Kate Beer, said “Despite the desire of the many young people gathering regularly for fellowship, the young church on Bickerton Island struggles with literacy in either Anindilyakwa (the locally-spoken language) or English.”

“This severely limits their ability to read the Scriptures or conduct regular church services for themselves. Thanks to the generosity of ABM supporters, the diocese has been able to support a group of mature believers from Groote Eylandt to travel across to Bickerton every few weeks to help to teach these skills.”

It has been wonderful to see the progress of those who have attended Nungalinya College foundations courses and who have been followed up with these regular visits.

“At the most recent visit, we read together the story of Moses. It was remarkable to realise that for some in the group, it was the first time they had ever heard the story of Moses! In addition, we joined in the worldwide movement to pray ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ as we read the part of the gospel of Luke where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s prayer.”

Please continue to pray for young people in remote communities and for those who teach and learn in the community of Milyakburra on Bickerton Island.

AU011YE needs $50,000 in 2018 (non tax-deductible)

 

HOW TO DONATE

You can make an online donation to this project.  

 

Alternatively, for donations by cheque/money order (made out to the Anglican Board of Mission – Australia), telephone or email, view contact details here. Please don’t forget to include the project name and/or code with your payment details.

Gifts to ABM will be applied to the support of project(s) selected. In the unlikely event of the project being oversubscribed or not proceeding to completion, donations will be applied to a similar project to the one(s) selected.

 

PROJECT UPDATE

July 2018 – Thanks to the generous support of ABM donors, the communities on Bickerton Island and Groote Eylandt have received resources for the Youth Engagement program. Read more.

July 2017 – The youth of Bickerton Island are experiencing the joy of literacy learning in both Anindilyakwa (the locally spoken language) and English. Read more.  

January 2017 – The Ministry Development Officer for the Diocese of the Northern Territory, Rev Kate Beer, recently spoke of the work being done through the ‘Diocesan Training Tour’.

August 2016 – Reverend Kate Beer, Ministry Development Officer for the Diocese of the Northern Territory, recently wrote an update on the good work being done. Read more

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