Australia

Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Its geography and climate are diverse – a narrow, heavily populated eastern coastal strip; mountain ranges; grasslands; and a large desert region covering much of the centre and the west. There are still areas of significant poverty across the country, particularly amongst indigenous people, and although unemployment is low by world standards, it adversely affects young people. 

Mothers’ Union in Australia was formed in 1892, among the first nations to adopt Mothers’ Union outside of the UK. Today, by supporting marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity, more than 6,000 members of Mothers’ Union in Australia are tackling the most urgent and pressing needs that are challenging relationships and communities. 

Projects and activities across the country include:

• Parenting Programme
• Support for refugees
• Court hospitality - Coffee & Care to the Children’s Courts
• Hospital visiting
• Northern Outreach Fund supports clergy families in isolated communities
• Practical support for new mums
• Baptism ministry
• School breakfast clubs
• Holidays for disadvantaged families
• “Granny for a day” befriending project
• Practical support for the homeless
• Marriage enrichment workshops
• 16 days of activism against gender based violence

Mothers’ Union members are looking forward to joining in the global Mothers’ Union Listening, Observing, Acting (MULOA) process when it is launched in the Pacific Region in August 2018 with members from Papua New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand, and Tonga coming together.