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
UnitingCare Australia advocacy makes an impact
UnitingCare Australia advocacy makes an impactSubscribe 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.UnitingCare Australia, a key agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement today of an additional $11.7 million investment in emergency relief and financial…
Faithful keeper of memory
Faithful keeper of memory Christine Gordon celebrates 25 years preserving the Uniting Church’s story, faithfully safeguarding its history and memory for future generationsThis Friday marks a remarkable milestone for Christine Gordon, who celebrates 25 years as Archivist for the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, a role she has embraced with passion and unwavering commitment. “I…
Encountering the Living God as we journey toward Easter
Encountering the Living God as we journey toward Easter Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson reflects on encountering the Living God – and invites the Church to seek and trust that presence anew this Easter by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary On Monday evening in Holy Week, I sat in a Eucharistic service followed by the…
President’s Easter Message 2026
Peace BeWith You Easter messages from the President and Moderators of the Uniting Church in Australia In a world that can feel loud, anxious, and divided, Easter arrives with a quiet but powerful word: peace. This Easter, Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, offers a message drawn from the heart…
This is my Uniting Church: South Perth UC
This is my Uniting Church South Perth Uniting Church ‘This is my Uniting Church’ is a series that delves into the stories and faces of our local congregations and communities of faith: the beating heart of the Uniting Church! In this edition, we shine the spotlight on a Uniting Church located in Western Australia. It’s…
ABC interview: Speaking out on Gendered Violence
Speaking out on Gendered Violence Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli recently spoke with ABC Radio on churches’ role in confronting gendered violence and promoting safety, dignity and compassion Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter…
President reflects on Gendered Violence Conference
Gendered Violence Conference: Restoring what has been bent The President offers this pastoral reflection following The Wesley Centre Theology and Culture Conference on the topic of Gendered Violence By Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Last month, I attended the Gendered Violence Conference hosted by Rev Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker,…
UCA Leaders gather for key week of discernment
Key week of discernment in shaping the Church’s future Last week, Leaders across the Uniting Church gathered for a pivotal time of meetings, shaping shared vision, national priorities and future direction Leaders from across the Uniting Church in Australia gathered in Sydney last week for a significant series of meetings, marking an important time…