The 2024 Australian Association for Pacific Studies (AAPS) Epeli Hau’ofa Annual Memorial lecture “The Ocean Is Us” which The Edmund Rice Centre co-hosted at the Australian Museum was delivered by Rev. James Shri Bhagwan and you can now watch Rev. Bhagwan's inspiring address.

In conversation with His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati (2003-2016) and current Chair of the Pacific Elders' Voice, discussing on Climate Change and Pacific Island States: the Geo-Political Landscape in the Region.  H.E. Anote Tong joined us as part of his tour in Australia to engage directly with Edmund Rice Centre supporters.

In this webinar, Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, explored the role of faith and church in the climate crisis.  Reverend Bhagwan joined us as part of his stay in Australia for the Epeli Hau'ofa Annual Public Lecture co-hosted this year by the Edmund Rice Centre, the Australian Association for Pacific Studies (AAPS) and the Australian Museum.

A discussion about empowering women and girls through education, with particular reference to women's experiences in Afghanistan and Iran. Speakers included Azam Sadeghpour, spokesperson for the Iranian Women's Association Australia, Najeebah Wasefadost, Founder Global Refugee Network, Rita Anwari, Founder and President of Women Empowerment and Leadership and Andree Brown, Executive Director of Edmund Rice Community Services.

Dame Meg Taylor DBE, former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum and current member of the Pacific Elders' Voice, is a Papua New Guinean lawyer and diplomat. She was the PNG Ambassador to the US, Mexico and Canada from 1989 to 1994. In 2014, Dame Meg was appointed Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, a position which she held until 2021. There are few Pacific Islander leaders better placed than Dame Meg to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing the region. We are honoured that Dame Meg spent some time at the Centre with us and had a conversation on emerging priorities in the Pacific.

This webinar was jointly organized by Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education and Caritas Australia. Guest speakers Mr Maina Talia (Tuvalu Climate Action Network Secretary) and Mr Joseph Sikulu (Pacific Managing Director for 350.org) discussed candidly about the recent community-driven efforts on Kioa island, Fiji, as well as the challenges faced by the community organizations to advance the climate justice agenda.

The webinar was facilitated by Pacific Calling Partnership Coordinator Corinne Fagueret and Edmund Rice Centre intern from Tuvalu Mrs Teresa Lifuka Drecala-Peyster. 

Following a powerful campaign by the Vanuatu government together with grassroots Pacific Islander climate activists, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution seeking an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate change, human rights and intergenerational equity. 

On Thursday 6 April 2023, Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education held a webinar with Hon. Ralph Regenvanu (Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change) and Vishal Prasad (Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change) to learn more about this fascinating campaign, when and how it started and its long-term implications for climate justice.

On Thursday 24 November, 6pm AEDT, Edmund Rice Centre hosted an webinar to hear direct from a number of Pacific Islander COP27 delegates who have returned from Egypt. The 2022 United Nations Climate Conference (COP27), held this year in Egypt, ended on 18 November and once again, Pacific Islander nations worked day and night, punching above their weight to achieve climate justice.

On Monday November 7, 2022 The Edmund Rice Centre launched its new research report Settlement Cities Report: A place-based study of Australia’s major refugee settlement destinations. The report is about the settlement experiences of refugees in Australia. It takes a place-based approach to refugee settlement, focusing on the LGAs where refugees most frequently settle in Australia.

The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education (Pacific Calling Partnership initiative) supported a tour to Sydney and Canberra of two prominent Pacific Elders- His Excellencies Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati, and Tommy Remengesau Jr., former President of Palau. A public webinar was jointly hosted by The Australia Institute and Edmund Rice Centre.