According to the 2021 Australian Census, more than 60% of Australians are religious or spiritual. Yet, when it comes to faith and philanthropy, the topic is rarely broached. The paradox at the heart of trying to reconcile these two pillars of modern Australia is that many not-for-profit organisations have faith-based origins, testament to the historical role faith has played in providing support for a range of community causes.

We have no data to adequately answer the big questions we have about faith and philanthropy - How does religion inform and inspire people to give? Has faith-based giving declined along with the nation’s religious and spiritual observance? What percentage of overall giving is faith-based? How much of it goes unnoticed? How is this shifting to reflect changing social patterns in Australia?

In this webinar we start the conversation, to seek answers to some of those compelling questions, to attempt to break down some of the barriers, by exploring philanthropic traditions and practises of three major faiths – Judaism, Islam and Christianity. We will draw comparisons, and similarities, discover what drives philanthropy in faith practices, and deliberate how we can grow better giving for a more inclusive Australia.

To explore this complex and unchartered territory, we will be joined by three experts of faith, Rabbanit Judith Levitan, Manager, Client Services Legal Aid NSW and Religious Program Coordinator, Maroubra, Dr Derya Innes, Senior Lecturer, CISAC and Research Coordinator, CSU, and Paul Oslington, Professor of Economics and Theology, Alphacrucis College.

Moderator

Jack Heath - CEO, Philanthropy Australia
Jack has been a leader of for-purpose organisations for more than 25 years. He believes there has never been a more important time for philanthropy as we grapple with huge societal challenges and diminished trust in our public institutions. Jack holds a deep-seated belief in the ability of philanthropy to inspire long-lasting, positive change in individual lives and communities. He advocates for an aligned philanthropy which is big-hearted, clear-headed and joyful.  

A graduate of the University of Melbourne in Honours Arts and Law, Jack has also undertaken executive courses at Harvard and Stanford universities. He served in Government as a diplomat, speechwriter and senior adviser to Federal Ministers, including Prime Minister Keating and Foreign Minister Rudd. Following the suicide of his young cousin, Jack led the establishment of the ReachOut youth mental health organisations in Australia, Ireland and the United States before serving as CEO at the national mental health organization SANE Australia for eight years. 

Jack sits on a number of advisory boards and committees and has received awards for his contributions in mental health and community service.   He lives in Sydney with his publisher wife Catherine Milne and their dog Fred, and they are parents to Lucy and Jamie.

Speakers

Rabbanit Judith Levitan, Client Service Manager, Legal Aid NSW and Religious Program Coordinator, Maroubra
Rabbanit Judith is a community educator and lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the social justice sector. She uses Human Centred Design at Legal Aid NSW to innovate and improve legal services for disadvantaged people. She is also the Religious Program Coordinator at Maroubra Synagogue in Sydney.

She holds degrees in Law and Social Work, studied at Jewish seminaries for women’s higher learning and most recently received rabbinic ordination from an Orthodox institution in New York.She runs women’s prayer services, gives lectures and prepares girls for their bat mitzvah and brides for their weddings.

She was a founding member of the Jewish Alliance Against Family Violence an organisation seeking to raise awareness about domestic violence and respectful relationships. She has represented the Jewish community at interfaith events through the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, is on the Board of Directors of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia and is in the process of becoming a chaplain in the Australian Defence Force.

Dr Derya Iner, Senior Lecturer, Research Coordinator, CISAC, CSU
Derya Iner is Senior Lecturer and Research Coordinator at the Centre for Islamic Studies (CISAC), Charles Sturt University, teaching and researching subjects on contemporary issues related to Islam, Islamic cultures and Muslims. Iner has particular interest in Muslim women’s philanthropic initiatives and contributions since the medieval age until World War I years.

Iner completed her PhD in Cultural Studies and Gender Studies in Wisconsin-Madison (USA). Her research focuses particularly on Islamophobia in Australia, Islamophobia and hate crime and especially women and children’s experience with Islamophobia. Iner is the chief investigator and editor of the Islamophobia in Australia Report I, II and III which drew worldwide attention by reaching out to potential 950 million international audiences (according to CSU’s media metrics report for report II and III).

Paul Oslington, Professor of Economics and Theology, Alphacrucis College
Paul Oslington joined Alphacrucis College in January 2013 and was the inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Business and PhD Program Director. Previously he held a Chair jointly in the School of Business and School of Theology at Australian Catholic University from 2008-2013, and Associate Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales.

Paul held visiting positions at the University of Oxford in 1999, the University of British Columbia and Regent College Vancouver in 2003, Princeton Theological Seminary and University in 2006/7, and the Center of Theological Inquiry Princeton in 2020.

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Contact the host of Webinar: Have Faith in Philanthropy – the first steps to understanding faith-based giving