Uniting VicTas – “We Are Uniting”
Uniting Vic.Tas. is the community services organisation of the Uniting Church (Vic Tas Synod), delivering services and programs across Victoria and Tasmania. We were formed in 2016/17 as the merger of the former UnitingCare agencies, Wesley Mission Victoria and 2 Synod units. Our foundation statement is “Christ invites us to serve humanity by creating an inclusive, connected and just world”. We have a long and deep history starting in 1881 (140+ years) mainly inherited from the earlier work of congregations and parish missions to their communities.
Uniting work alongside and partner with many congregations across the Synod to deliver safe and inclusive community services – together we join God in serving our communities in mission. Uniting strategically works with every Presbytery and has regular time with Presbytery leadership groups in what we call “Link” meetings.
We also have Local Engagement Groups (LEGs) with multiple congregations who choose to work together across a local region. Looking for ways to collaborate and opportunities to serve or advocate together.
Mission & Ethos Partner – Rev (Deacon) Gavin Blakemore has responsibilities to assist operational staff with all church engagement across the eastern ½ of the Synod. Gavin also has oversight of a small number of Pastoral Care Practitioners across a number of our residential services in PPE. Gavin also has oversight of a small number of Pastoral Care Practitioners across a number of our residential services in PPE. From time to time we hope to introduce you to them via stories on this web site.
He can be contacted at gavin.blakemore@vt.uniting.org
For more details on our services and how to access them – please go to our website for more details.
Uniting VicTas in our Presbytery includes these former agencies within the Presbytery bounds
UnitingCare Southport
John Macrae Centre
UnitingCare Prahran Mission
Creative Ministries Network
UnitingCare Connections
UnitingCare Harrison
UnitingCare LifeAssist
Wesley Mission Victoria
This includes:
Early Learning Kindergartens (Church Based – Southport, St Lukes, Stonnington/Serrell St)
Aged Care – Package Planners, Social Support and day centres (Church Based – St Marks, Toorak, Southport)
Disability – Residential Group Homes, NDIS planning and day programs (Cranbourne)
Neurological Support Services (former Arthur Preston Centre – Glen Waverley/East Burwood), Employment Services
Mental health – Prahran (now includes Lifeline at Chapel St), 101 Hub at St Kilda UCA
Youth Services – Out of home care (Residential, Foster and Kinship)
Family Services (Southport, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Narre Warren)
Retirement Villages (Kirkside – Ormond, Gardiner Lodge – Glen Iris, Chapel Crt – Morrabin, Cornwall Village – Prahran )
Affordable Housing (Crawford Court – Southport)
Homelessness services (Mt Waverley)
Emergency Relief (various but includes Southport, Mt Waverley, Prahran)
Op Shops (Prahran, Albert Park)
Other ongoing Church Partnerships include Cranbourne Foodtruck, Hampton Park, Glen Waverley & Springvale.
Uniting AgeWell
As an organisation of the Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting AgeWell has a long history of providing residential and community services for older Australians in Victoria and Tasmania. Many of these communities were established by individual congregations responding to the needs of local older people more than 60 years ago. In 2004, these services were brought together as one organisation, Uniting Aged Care, which became Uniting AgeWell in 2013. Uniting AgeWell is a practical expression of the Church at work. Our name proudly shows the strong connection to the Church and its beliefs, as well as representing a positive view of ageing in the 21st century. Our mission is to provide specialised services enabling older people to maximise their wellbeing and access care when required. Our values of respect, partnership, wisdom, fairness and stewardship shape and inform all that we do.
Uniting AgeWell facilities in Port Phillip East Presbytery
Noble Park
Valkstone
Brighton
Mornington
Oakleigh
Alisha Fung at Uniting Agewell Noble Park
Rev Anneke Oppewal, Presbytery Minister - Pastoral, visited Alisha Fung, the new chaplain for Uniting AgeWell in Noble Park recently. Alisha, pictured above, started in Covid times and with the easing of restrictions enjoys being able to meet ‘her people’ face to face...
Australia’s Aged Care System
Australia’s Aged Care System: Challenges and Opportunities is the title of a forum run by the Mount Waverley Cluster Adult Growth and Development Group and Social Justice and Mission in Society Committee. It was our first forum held live at St Luke’s since the...