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First Nations

Giving strength to the voice of our First People

NCCA is committed to the churches working together for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and for the healing of our peoples. We believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, nurtured and sustained by God before colonisation, are celebrated at the very heart of what is means to be Australian. 

We support First Peoples through affirmation of the Statement from the Heart and focused indigenous ecumenical advocacy​.

Raising Tribal Voices Conference

February 2024
NCCA President responds - conclusion of Conference

I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me...                                                             I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen. (Job 40: 3-5 The Message)

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Raising Tribal Voices Conference

February 2024
Highlights and photo gallery
This historic gathering united Indigenous theologians and church leaders from Australia, Aotearoa, and the Pacific. 

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  A Prayer for the Journey of Healing

October 2023
NATSIEC 2007
The NCCA support our First Nation peoples through a continued journey of reconciliation. We offer this Prayer of Healing to our ecumenical community.

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Churches on a Voice to Parliament

June 2023
Australian Churches speak out
The NCCA, its member and observer churches, have produced material that gives strength to the voice of our First People through support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Voice to Parliament.

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Faith Leaders' Open Letter

February 2023
Call for Constitutionally guaranteed Voice
Reverend John Gilmore, President of National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) is a joint signatory to the Open Letter from Australia’s leaders of major religious organisations to federal parliamentarians on 22 February 2023. The letter calls for support of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament as requested in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.

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A Voice to Parliament 

January 2023
Resources for the referendum
A Voice to Parliament gives the Australian Government the opportunity to make policies with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rather than for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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  The Uluru Statement from the Heart

August 2022
Resources for reflection and study
Our Churches and Christian communities have produced excellent resources to assist with group study and reflection on this important document.  Visit our resource page to find material that supports our understanding of Sovereignty and the determination of First Nations Peoples for Voice, Treaty and Truth-Telling.

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5th Anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart
27 May 2022
NCCA signs joint resolution
The NCCA, along with several major religious organisations of Australia, released a Joint Resolution in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart at an event at Barangaroo, Sydney.

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RESOURCES for Worship and Celebration
May 2022
Reconciliation Week/NAIDOC Week/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday
Our Churches and Christian communities have produced valuable resources to assist with worship and celebration. Visit our resource library page to discover the range of Prayers, liturgy, hymns, music, art and more.

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MEDIA RELEASE for 26 January 
19 January 2021
Uluru Statement from the Heart
Writing to the Prime Minister, Hon Scott Morrison, … President of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), Bishop Philip Huggins has suggested “that for this January 26, you might announce a reconsideration of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”. 

DOWNLOAD 20210119 Renew January 26

   

ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART
May 2017
First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru 
‍‍The Uluru Statement From The Heart (Uluru Statement) represents a historic consensus of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in seeking constitutional change to enable a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.

READ THE ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART

SUPPORT THE STATEMENT - From the Heart

  

RECONCILATION AS MISSION FOR AUSTRALIAN CHURCHES
29 October 2020
NCCA Assembly
The NCCA meeting was held online via Zoom and took the form of a discussion and sharing on the importance of relationship building and yarning. This was the first Assembly meeting of this kind. 

SEE THE FLYER:  pdf Assembly program 29 10 2020 1 (5.91 MB)

 

   

PILGRIMAGE OF JUSTICE AND PEACE 
June 2019
In Solidarity with First Nations
The Pilgrimage involved the churches walking together, as First and Second Peoples, around the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra to significant sights of the Journey towards justice, peace and reconciliation. Prayer and reflection stations included the High Court of Australia, Reconciliation Place and steps of Old Parliament House. 

READ MORE:  pdf Prayers for Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace 12 June FINAL (620 KB)

 

MARTUNG UPAH APPEAL

Martung Upah is the NCCA's major fundraising appeal. Income received from this appeal allows us to fund our work, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Development Fund.

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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Development Fund (ATSIDF), of the National Council of Churches in Australia, is a tax deductible fund set up to assist Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples by giving small, usually one-off grants for community development projects. The projects are funded through the Martung Upah Appeal.

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TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PAST WORK

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) was the peak ecumenical Indigenous body in Australia. It was a commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA).  With NATSIEC’s guidance, the churches worked together for a fair deal for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and for the healing of our nation.

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CHRIST AND CULTURE

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) has held 3 indigenous theology themed conferences which were an opportunity for participants to explore faith in their own cultural context.

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