how did the conference come about?

Service Learning is a rapidly developing field in faith-based school sectors within Australia. There is much research heralding the intellectual and social benefits an experience of service provides to students, especially when this is connected with the curriculum. However, there is also an emerging set of problems and issues accompanying the growth of school engagement with the wider community and the world. These include inappropriate, paternalistic and selfish engagement with other cultures, student volume overwhelming small communities and inadequate frameworks for thinking about service. Some of these problems have been recently highlighted in mainstream media, for example the issues relating to Cambodian orphanages. On the cusp of a significant educational trend serious thought needs to be given to the nature of service, what best practice might look like and how it can be done in a way that is respectful and helpful to cross cultural partners.

The first Transforming Service Conference was established in ecumenical partnership between the Anglican Board of Mission Australia, Caritas Australia, Brisbane Catholic Education, and the Anglican Schools Commission Southern Queensland.

The intention is that this conference will be held on a biennial basis, and that as a national conference it will be held in a different capital city on a rotating basis.

Our hope is that by engaging at this level we will be able to shape the direction and practice of service learning in schools, provide models of best practice and be engaged in teacher formation in this area. All of this will be grounded in a broad understanding of the Gospel imperative for justice and compassion.