UnitingCare Australia
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UnitingCare Australia is the Uniting Church in Australia's (UCA) umbrella community services body. It is a sister body to UnitingJustice Australia whose mandate is to pursue social justice and ecological justice and peace. Both bodies are agencies of the Uniting Church in Australia, National Assembly. UnitingCare Australia supports service delivery by agencies and advocates for children, young people, families, people with disabilities and older people. It works within the UCA, and with other churches, the Australian community and governments
UnitingCare is also a brand name under which many UCA community services agencies operate although they may be separate legal entities.
There are 34 missions (such as the Wesley Missions) and a range of other agencies, the missions come together in the Uniting Missions Network, the other agencies networking is facilitated through the Synod bodies, such as UnitingCare Commissions.
There are hundreds of community service agencies and programs nationally, providing residential and community care. Services include child care, homelessness prevention and support, family support, domestic violence and disability services.
[edit] Mandate
UnitingCare Australia's mandate is to:
- "To take up community service issues within the theological framework of the Uniting Church, particularly the Church’s social justice perspectives.
- To develop and reflect on the policies and practices of the Uniting Church in community services.
- To pursue appropriate issues within the Uniting Church, with Government and the community sector, with the Australian community and with other parts of the church."
(UnitingCare Australia's role is defined by its Mandate, March 2005)
