Nextgen leaders head to the bush to engage in new pilot program
A group of our young church leaders recently journeyed into the NSW Riverina, offering hands-on support to a farming family while discovering the power of service, community, and faith in action
December 3, 2025
written by Justin Ackland, Communications Manager at Frontier Services
In late November, twelve young adults from Uniting Churches in Sydney, Melbourne and Griffith strapped on their boots, rolled up their sleeves and stepped into a story far bigger than they expected.
They had travelled to Coleambally, a small town in the NSW Riverina, alongside Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli and Frontier Services National Director Rob Floyd. Their mission was simple but deeply human: to offer practical and much-needed support to a local family carrying the weight of farm life alone.
Dianne and her daughters have held their farm together since the passing of their husband and father. What they lacked wasn’t determination, but time and hands. Fencing that needed repair. Irrigation lines waiting to be laid for a small orchard. Native trees ready for planting. A vegetable garden requiring some tender care.
For the young adults, the work was physical and at times demanding. For Dianne, it was transformative and deeply appreciated.
As she shared her story – her grief, her resilience, and her passion for sustainable farming and regenerating native bushland – the young team listened intently. Her words left a lasting imprint.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
A Shared Vision for Young Adult Engagement
This trip formed part of a new pilot program developed by Frontier Services and the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli, with the support of the Assembly. It emerged from a shared hope to encourage young people to experience the ministry of the Church in ways that are practical, relationship-centred, and grounded in faith. One meaningful avenue is the Frontier Services Outback Links program, which connects volunteers with rural and remote communities facing practical challenges.
Traditionally, Outback Links volunteers have been older Australians with the time and flexibility to travel. Frontier Services National Director, Rob Floyd, sees the inclusion of young adults as a significant and faith-shaping step.
“Many of our young adults in the city have never or rarely travelled into our vast outback. To assist a family who really needs a helping hand offers a unique opportunity for young people to develop their own ideas of ministry and service within our Church,” he said.
Rev Suli also hopes young adults will see that faith and service can be expressed not only through ordained roles or committees, but through practical acts of care and friendship. This kind of service, she believes, allows young adults to live out their faith in a tangible way and discover anew what ministry looks like in the everyday.
Warm Hospitality and Intercultural Worship
The group was welcomed in Griffith with remarkable hospitality. Volunteers stayed at Griffith Uniting Church, where members provided generous meals each day. The Tongan, Fijian and Cook Island communities each hosted a night and shared food, culture, singing and dancing, creating moments of fellowship that reflected the breadth and beauty of the Church.
On Sunday, more than 200 people gathered for an intercultural worship service led by Rev Suli and the young adults, supported by Griffith Uniting’s Rev Kepuali Vaka. The service included reflections from the week and an Advent message encouraging the congregation to “stay awake” to God’s hope as they look towards Christ’s coming.
The week concluded with a relaxed afternoon on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It was a quiet moment to reflect not only on the work completed, but on the spirit of shared faith and community that had shaped the whole experience.
Looking Ahead
Both Rob Floyd and Rev Suli described the pilot as a great success. Meaningful work was completed, new relationships formed, and young adults were given a powerful encounter with life in the country and the ministry of presence at the heart of Frontier Services.
With the enthusiasm generated by this first trip, Frontier Services hopes to create similar opportunities for young adults in 2026.
To find out more on the mission activities of Frontier Services, contact team@frontierservices.org.
More news from the Assembly
Korean Conference gathers
Korean National Conference 2026 The Korean National Conference recently gathered for a time of worship, fellowship and discernment, celebrating the vibrant contribution of our Korean members.By Rev Dr Kevin Kim, Minister, Trinity UCA Brighton and Chairperson, Korean National ConferenceThe 2026 Korean National Conference took place from 20–22 July in Belgrave, Victoria, and brought together nearly…
Satara’s story: listening for justice
Satara’s story: listening for justice Meet Satara Uthayakumaran, whose lifelong faith journey in the Uniting Church has shaped her commitment to justice, service and amplifying young people’s voices For Satara Uthayakumaran, advocacy has never been about having the loudest voice in the room. It has always begun with listening. At just 24, the lifelong…
Meet Hannah Jackson
The National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is delighted to welcome Hannah Jackson as Director, Advocacy & Justice. Hannah brings to the role almost two decades of experience across advocacy, public policy, communications and government affairs, alongside a lifelong commitment to the Uniting Church. Throughout her career she has sought to build coalitions,…
Vale Rev Dr John Brown AM
Vale Rev Dr John Brown AM: a faithful pioneer of the Uniting ChurchIt is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Rev Dr John Brown AM, one of the Uniting Church in Australia’s most influential leaders, who died last Friday, 17 July, at the age of 92. A faithful servant…
Assembly Standing Committee charts a hopeful path for the Uniting Church
The Assembly Standing Committee met in Sydney from 17–19 July, bringing together members from across the country to guide the national work of the Uniting Church and continue implementing the priorities adopted by the 17th Assembly. Across three days, the Standing Committee focused on its governance responsibilities including hearing the annual report from Frontier Services,…
New leaders inducted and commissioned in Sydney
New leaders inducted and commissioned at Sydney ceremonySubscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.Last Friday, the National Assembly celebrated the Induction and Commissioning of recently appointed Directors in a ceremony presided by the Uniting Church…
Tuvalu’s call: A partnership of faith, hope and action
Tuvalu’s call: A partnership of faith, hope and action The Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) this week, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future. On the low-lying islands of Tuvalu, climate change is not a…
Broome UC: Celebrating 100 years and more in the Kimberley
Broome Uniting: Celebrating 100 years and more in the Kimberley Next month the Broome Uniting Church celebrates a centenary of worship in its current church building. Wendy Hendry from the Synod of WA recently travelled to the neighbouring Northern Synod to learn more about the church and its people This article was first published…