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
A Lenten Invitation from the President
by Rev Charissa Suli, President Uniting Church in Australia Beloved Church, The Lenten season is not about giving up chocolate. It is not about surviving forty days without coffee. If that is all we do, we have missed the invitation. We begin this season in a world that feels tense and fragile. There…
Fairness, not just Growth, is the key to Productivity
Fairness, not just growth, is the key to productivity As the Federal Government sharpens its focus on productivity, President Rev Charissa Suli contends that it must be grounded in fairness, justice and human dignity to truly strengthen Australia’s economySubscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia…
A Reflection on the 5th Global Peace Summit
From Bangkok to a New Calling Attending the 5th Global Peace Summit in Bangkok last month, Emelia Haskey discovered that peacebuilding is deeply personal – and that justice begins within our own circle of influence. by Emelia Haskey, Global Peace Ambassador The opportunity to attend the 5th Global Peace Summit at the United Nations…
Uniting and Lutheran Churches hold first Dialogue meeting of 2026
Uniting and Lutheran Churches meet for DialogueSubscribe 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.Statement following LCA-UCA Dialogue meeting on Wednesday 11 February 2026 The Uniting Church, as a part of its commitment to the unity of the…
Repairers of the Breach, Bearers of the Light: President reflection
Repairers of the Breach, Bearers of the Light: President Reflections on her Ormond Uniting Church visit Rev Charissa Suli attended Ormond Uniting in Melbourne’s south-east to celebrate the dedication and reopening of their church bulding after a long and trying journeyby Rev Charissa Suli, President, Uniting Church in Australia I continue to reflect on my…
Calling for nominations: Women of the Uniting Church
Calling for nominations: Celebrating women of the Uniting Church Help us honour the remarkable women of the Uniting Church this International Women’s Day Celebrating Uniting Church Women for International Women’s Day 2026 Every day, in every place across the Uniting Church, women are leading, empowering and inspiring in our church communities and beyond. To mark…
Focusing our Shared Life on Local Communities Responding to God’s Call
Focusing our Shared Life on Local Communities Responding to God’s Call The Assembly’s new CGRA held its first meeting of 2026 last week, where they explored governance and resourcing reforms to better support local communities responding faithfully and sustainably to God’s call in mission. by Dr Paul Minty, Executive Officer of the Commission…
Assembly's new strategy for 2026–31: Third Strategic Goal explained
The 2026-31 Strategy: Third Strategic Goal explained In this third article on the Assembly’s 2026–31 Strategy, Andrew Johnson reflects on Liberating Justice – renewing the Church’s long-held commitment to confronting injustice through faithful witness, collective action and hope-filled engagement in Australia and the world by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary This year, the National…