Melton Interfaith Network

Interfaith generally refers to relations among different religious traditions.

Interfaith also refers to a meeting of people of various faiths in an environment of respect, honesty, and freedom which involves actively listening to each other and trying to understand their views, and having an opportunity to express your own. It is about a positive interaction that promotes understanding and builds relationships.

Interfaith is not about blending or diluting different faiths, but instead, it is about finding positive ways for people of different faiths to live together in harmony and respect.

At its most basic level, interfaith dialogue involves people of different religious faiths coming together to have a conversation. “Conversation” in this sense has an expansive definition and is not limited to verbal exchange alone.

The notion of interfaith dialogue encompasses many different types of conversations, settings, goals, and formats. But it is not an all-encompassing concept: interfaith dialogue is not intended to be a debate. It is aimed at mutual understanding, not competing; at mutual problem solving, not proselytising.

Religious pluralism is a condition of society in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups coexist within one nation.

The City of Melton is one of Australia’s fastest-growing municipalities offering enviable and unique urban and rural lifestyles.

The City’s residential population has grown from 52,029 in 2001 to 178,960 as per the 2021 census.  The City of Melton increased by 6,709 people at 3.9 percent from 2020-2021, and is the second fastest growing municipality in Victoria.

The City of Melton population forecast for 2022 is 216,389 and is forecast to grow to 450,823 by 2051.

For more information visit profile.id.com.au/melton/religion

Religion

The City of Melton presents a higher level of religious adherence than Greater Melbourne, with 68.4% of the City of Melton population professing a religious affiliation, as opposed to 60.2% in Greater Melbourne.

Religion ranked by size

In City of Melton in 2021, the largest religious group was Western (Roman) Catholic (27.3% of all people), while 24.2% of people had no religion and 7.4% did not answer the question on religion.  

Council aims to enhance its capacity to meet the needs and aspirations of people from diverse faith backgrounds and stimulate social cohesion and interfaith interaction, exchange, and dialogue through inclusive and equitable approaches. With a view to achieving real equality by preventing discrimination, promoting diversity as a collective advantage, and supporting meaningful interactions between diverse faith groups, Council has been supporting Melton Interfaith Network since its establishment in 2013.

Melton City Council actively supports the Melton Interfaith Network (the Network).  Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Network.  The MOU stipulates the role of the Council in supporting the initiatives of the Network which includes the Council’s representation at Network’s meetings, provision of Council’s facilities for their monthly meetings and events, supporting and promoting their events and initiatives,  in Council’s networks, financial assistance through Community Grants and Community Partnership Program and provision of stalls in major Council events to interact with communities and promote their services.

Council has been actively supporting Network’s initiatives such as Connecting Melton Community - Iftar Dinners. These events have been a great opportunity for the communities to connect. Speakers from different faith groups reflected on the concept of fasting in their respective faiths. The Network has also organised bus tours of places of worship covering a number of faith groups such as Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Zoroastrian and Buddhist

The Network actively participated in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by partnering with the Western Health and Women’s Health West delivering a forum on Prevention of Family Violence. As part of this event, Women’s Health West also delivered two workshops on Violence Against Women to members of the Network.

The Network collaborates with Council to celebrate Refugee Week and Harmony Day. The Network partners with various community groups to promote religious festivals. MIN co-hosted the 2022 Victorian Interfaith Networks Festival along with the City of Melton and the City of Wyndham, the Wyndham Interfaith Network, the Wyndham Community and Education Centre, and the Faith Communities Council of Victoria. in organising a number of events.