Join us in Melbourne for this 1-day conference
celebrating how the living world brings us to together in Faith, and in care
Many Faiths, One Planet
Together, Caring for Our Common Home
Hosted by The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) and the Faith Ecology Network (FEN)
Saturday 3 October 2026
Multicultural Hub, Melbourne
Conference Speakers
Sherry Balcombe-Maloney
Sherry is an Olkola / Mularidji woman from Far North Queensland. Born in Narrm, she has an extensive experience in Social Justice with a faith-based approach, and has enjoyed numerous roles within the community including Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, visiting First Nations youth in detention, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for 20 years. She is a currently State Representative for NATSICC, board member of Jesuit Social Services, Aboriginal Visitor to Aboriginal community at Thomas Embling Hospital, cross cultural Educator, Story Teller with Djirra (Abororiginal women’s support service), and Aboriginal Heritage Walk tour guide at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Sherry also contributed to the book, "An Urgent Call: Laudato Si' and Indigenous Wisdom in Oceania", recently published by the Vatican.
Prof Sarah Bekessy
Sarah leads the ICON Science research group which uses interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex biodiversity conservation problems. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of human behaviour in conservation, in designing cities to encourage ‘every day nature’ experiences and in defining and measuring ‘nature positive’ development. Sarah is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, which she helped to establish "to be a trusted, expert voice communicating accurate information on all aspects of biodiversity to the Australian people, to ensure biodiversity and Country prosper." She is Honorary Professor at RMIT University, and 2020 Winner of the City of Melbourne Design Challenge.
Dr Michelle Maloney
Michelle manages the strategic direction and governance of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), designs and manages AELA programs and events, and coordinates the work of staff, volunteers and collaborative networks. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (political science and history) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the Australian National University, and an PhD in environmental regulation, from the Griffith Law Futures Centre. Michelle is also the Co-Founder and Director of Future Dreaming Australia; Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and a member of the Advisory Council, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. She lives near Brisbane, Australia with her family and Ziggy the Wonderdog.
Andrew Skeoch
Andrew is an educator, author, naturalist, environmental thinker, and one of Australia's best-known nature sound recordists. Over the last thirty years, he has documented the sounds of wild environments around the planet, and through his label, Listening Earth, published over one hundred recordings featuring habitats from most continents, attracting Spotify streaming figures in the many tens of thousands a week. His recordings are featured in the audio installation at Sydney Wildlife World, feature films, including Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to Phillip Noyce's 'Rabbit Proof Fence', and Disney's 2016 remake of 'The Jungle Book'. Andrew is a TEDx speaker and President of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group.
Space is limited.
Please register for the conference as soon as possible.
Ticket Pricing
Early Bird Tickets:
Now until Monday 13 July 2026
Waged: $120
Concession/Unwaged/Students: $80
From Tuesday 14 July 2026 these prices will apply:
Waged: $140
Concession/Unwaged/Students: $95
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Other Details
Children under 18 attend free. Families welcome. Please contact us if you have any special needs.
We aim to create a safe and inclusive space for people from all cultural backgrounds, and beliefs.
The Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, is an accessible venue: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/multicultural-hub
Post-Conference Dinner Tickets will be available here closer to the conference, please keep an eye out for details
About FEN
The Faith Ecology Network (FEN) is an Australian hub for strengthening an interfaith dialogue between science and religion in the interests of advancing ecological consciousness and care for the Earth. We encourage action between different faith communities regarding ecological insights through holding events, producing publications and sharing information through our networks and on social media. Recordings of most of our past events are available here, including our Deep Listening series.
Our network of people currently includes people embracing Aboriginal Spirituality, and Anglican, Bahá’í, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, Orthodox Christian, Quaker, Salvation Army, Sikh, and Uniting Church faith traditions (see more about each faith and what they say about Earth).
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TEN WAYS TO CARE FOR BIODIVERSITY
Check out our TEN WAYS TO CARE for Biodiversity Resources from Workshops HERE.
CAN YOU HELP?
One of our current projects is to tell the GOOD STORIES of what you are doing to care for Earth our Common Home.
We need YOU to get involved! Please email us NOW with your story, pics and video clips.
FEN's NEWSLETTER
Every few months FEN shares news, inspirations and tips on caring for Biodiversity with our members:
Click HERE to read and subscribe to our eNewsletter
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"Coming from diverse faith perspectives and the ecological sciences,
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FEN's Ten Ways to Care for Biodiversity
A Framework for Communities to Listen and Learn, Reflect and Contemplate, and Act together.
Posters of creative images designed by Brenna Quinlan 
Order posters of The Ten Ways or individual posters of the Ten Ways. Please state on your payment that it is for FEN 10Ways.
See Price List
Watch the FEN webinar Ten Ways Faith Groups Care for Biodiversity at the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, Earth Laws Month
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More Information on FEN
Our Aims
- To share mutual appreciation of religious traditions regarding ecological insights
- To discern and foster religious reasons for environmental advocacy
- To strengthen the dialogue of science and religion between different faith groups, professionals and the community
What We Do
Through the network we share the experience of religious and cultural diversity which enhances the depths of one’s own religious tradition. We learn from the sciences and grow in understanding of the connections between faith and ecology. We build up networks within and between faith traditions and environmentalists.
We share mutual appreciation regarding faith and ecology through...
- Producing publications about faith and ecology, resources and news
- Holding public forums based on common faith and ecology themes
- Dialogue with environmental professionals
- Development of common statements on issues
- FEN members passing on information and resources to their faith communities
- Support of members with an annual enrichment day
We foster religious reasons for advocacy through...
- Encouragement of action at local faith community level
- FEN presence at rallies and public events
- Promotion of FEN statements
- Communication about opportunities for submissions on issues
The Faith Ecology Network (FEN) is currently co-ordinated by a core group of volunteers and a planning team of representatives from the faith groups who are part of the network. For inquiries or if you would like to assist FEN in any way, please contact us at: [email protected]
History
FEN began in 2003. The Columban Centre for Peace Ecology and Justice, part of the Columban Mission Institute, initiated a meeting to promote the ability of people “to wonder” at earth’s complexities and their “will to care” about it. People from the Aboriginal, Anglican, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic and Uniting Church traditions planned a seminar. From that FEN was formed.
The word ‘ecology’ was integral to the FEN name since members wanted to respect and learn from the world of science and environmental movements. We affirmed that ‘interconnection’ is fundamental to ecological thinking. As people of faith we equally wanted to affirm the presence of a higher power or deity hidden-revealing within the earth itself. In 2004 we established an e-group.
FEN began to host regular public forums on a common area of interest. They invited ecological scientists to introduce each topic to set a level of professionalism. The forums have provided different faith insights and responses, sharing of rituals, opportunities for discussion, learning about resources, as well as socializing.
FEN believes in the importance of people of faith speaking publicly to influence public environmental opinion, so we produced statements on a particular forum topic.
FEN also decided to contribute within larger events such as the Pre-Parliament event for the 2009 World Parliament of Religions.
FEN began to hold Enrichment Days for its members. The first was held in 2010 at the North Head Sanctuary, Manly. In 2011, the Year of Forests, a day on forest ecology was held at Santi Forest Monastery, Bundanoon.
FEN has contributed to broader public awareness through its participation in Environmental Education seminars, radio interviews and contributions to publications.
FEN was administered for 13 years by the Centre for Peace Ecology and Justice.Since late 2017, FEN is run by volunteers and auspiced by the Sisters of Good Samaritan.
Volunteers from the different faith groups join together to plan events. FEN continues to grow as a network, operating mostly with the generous in-kind support of members, and donations from events held.
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