Culture
The “Cross-Cultural Innovations and First Nations” initiative has been established to help SU Australia better understand and intentionally address the challenges and opportunities that culture present for modern-day children, young people and families.
Spanning those with ancient Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stories, right through to the most recently arrived migrant, Australia is a land rich with different cultural stories. We are committed to exploring how we need to adapt, so that every Australian has a chance to discover life in God’s big story.
Culture Team
People and relationships are the key to culture. That is the reason our Culture Team spend time amongst the staff and volunteers of SU, as well as amongst the First Australian and multicultural church and community leaders, so that learning, trust and collaboration can be developed.
Back row:
Grant Paulson – Mentor and supporter of our team and work
Joshua Lane – Part-Time Culture Lead, Townsville
Tim Fawssett – Group Manager
Sarah Do – Part-Time Culture Lead, Melbourne
Front row:
Joseph Kolapudi – Part-Time Culture Lead, Brisbane
Obang Girma – Volunteer, Perth
Deema Percival – Volunteer, Sydney
First Nations
The starting point for SU Australia’s cultural work is our first culture, in those who have stories drawn from country or mob indigenous to this land. We honour their place in our history, and seek to work together with them in shaping the future for our truly multicultural society.
A core value we hold is to work with and alongside First Nations Christian and community leaders, where they take the lead in ways that will have the greatest impact on their children, young people and families.
To celebrate and advance our First Nations work, we are proud to share Ripple, a stunning commissioned artwork by acclaimed artist, Safina Stewart.
CHAT Project
CHAT, or Cultural Hearing Asking Telling, is the training and resourcing brand of the Culture Team. It has been designed to help Australian children, young people and families from all backgrounds make the most of our vibrant diversity, by gaining skills and confidence to listen, engage and live well with people who are different to them.
Support our Cultural Work
To help keep this vital work going make a tax deductible donation to
support SU’s Cross-Cultural Innovations and First Nations initiative.