Youth Resources

By Kelly Skilton In his book, Surprise the World. The Five Habits of Highly Missional People, Michael Frost explores five ‘regular rhythms or habits that transform our everyday lifestyles’ (P.17): Bless, Eat, Listen, Learn and Sent. Some of these practices…

We know children today are connecting across the digital landscape, but how are we able to recognise safe and supportive digital spaces? Getting our heads around Safe Church in the digital world can be overwhelming; luckily we have some digital…

By Kelly Skilton When we gather together we create opportunities for people to build connections. The digital world is no different, and there are an abundance of places people meet in. For these digital “rooms” to be safe and welcoming…

Below is a ’boutique’ list of resources to engage young people in conversation around the significant of NAIDOC week. As always, if you think something is missing, please get in touch! The NAIDOC website seems a good place to start…

In Victoria, churches have been gathering online in various ways for six months, and the end of this season remains beyond the horizon. Digital church gatherings may continue to be part of our communities going forward, as many have discovered…

Young people are telling us they are worried about their mental health, and the mental health of their friends. The medical industry confirms a significant rise in the prevalence of mental health disorders in young people. The following is a…

“What helps the seeds of faith in young people root, grow and flourish?” In November 2016 the Church of England released a research report exploring what factors support young people maintain their faith throughout adolescence. The report follows similar international…

The Vic/Tas Synod is running a consultation on how the church should continue to respond to the issue of Climate Change. This page is designed to ensure it is as easy as possible for young voices to be heard as…

The National Youth Adults Leaders Conference (NYALC), scheduled to be held in January 2021, has been cancelled. Dr Deidre Palmer, President of the National Assembly, writes to advise that due to COVID-19, the volatility of our current health situation in…

Attended a baptism? Celebrated a confirmation? Congratulations, you’re a youth pastor. Let’s get to work. Rather than outsource the spiritual formation of young people to certain individuals, whether they be employed or volunteer, the Uniting Church wisely instructs all members…

Renowned theologian & Yale Professor Miroslav Volf recently commissioned the project to determine a Theology of Joy and the Good Life. For more information, you can read Professor Volf’s reflections on the ABC Religion & Ethics website. Notably, this project…

Covid-19 restrictions saw worship leaders & Ministers embark on a steep learning curve to provide online worship experiences. Over time, skills were honed and technologies tweaked. Now, as restrictions begin to ease, the real opportunity is before us, and it…

I’ve always loved anniversary weekend in the Uniting Church. This year, we celebrate 43 years since union. You should check out Dr Deidre Palmer’s President’s Message. As I’m only 35, I didn’t live through the union experience. I have no…

During the great Covid-19 Lockdown of 2020, UCAYouth partnered with Pulse to produce a weekly live chat show, chatting with amazing guests and exploring how people were making sense of their experience and taking care of themselves. The show quickly…

As lockdown restrictions continue, churches will be able to consider how and when youth ministry programs (that include in-person gatherings) will resume. Below is a short video offering advice to leaders, ministry agents and church councils when considering this. Please…

For many years, faithful folk have sought to address the weaknesses of our church, primarily through education, regulation and mission studies. We lament the church doesn’t always reflect God’s vision for a redeemed humanity. Our common ‘church culture’ reveals that…

Trauma-Informed Practice is a strengths-based framework grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasises physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and…

Theology & Youth Ministry guru Andrew Root has released ‘The End of Youth Ministry’ and we think it’s a cracker. To explore this text and how we might respond, we’re opening TWO book club meetings. COFFEE will focus on implications…