Uniya
Encyclopedia
Uniya Jesuit Social Justice Centre was a small, Sydney-based centre for social justice and human rights research, advocacy, education and networking. The centre operated from 1989 until May 2007.
It was established by Father Frank Brennan SJ AO, who was the Director of the Centre until 1993 and again from 1996 to 2000. The centre was funded primarily by the Australian Jesuits.
According to its website "Uniya seeks to focus attention and influence Government policy and public opinion on key justice and human rights issues in Australia
and the Asia-Pacific
region. It draws guidance from the Gospel
vision and the riches of Catholic Social Teaching
. Uniya seeks to stand in solidarity with those on the margins of society."
During its heyday, Uniya focused much of its attention on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous reconciliation and Australia’s role in the.
(NT) and operated from October 1886 to September 1889. It is known as "Uniya" because of its proximity to the Aboriginal site Wuniya. The name is said to be a local Aboriginal word meaning either "bend in the river" or "meeting place".
The mission was unique in its approach to Aboriginal
people in the late 19th Century in that, unlike other Christian
missions at the time, the Jesuits wanted to preserve the language and culture of the local people. Conversion to Christianity was only secondary to the protection of Aborigines from Western influence.
The original Uniya site is now a declared heritage place under the NT's Heritage Conservation Act 1991.
It was established by Father Frank Brennan SJ AO, who was the Director of the Centre until 1993 and again from 1996 to 2000. The centre was funded primarily by the Australian Jesuits.
According to its website "Uniya seeks to focus attention and influence Government policy and public opinion on key justice and human rights issues in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region. It draws guidance from the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
vision and the riches of Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
. Uniya seeks to stand in solidarity with those on the margins of society."
During its heyday, Uniya focused much of its attention on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous reconciliation and Australia’s role in the.
Uniya mission at Daly River, NT
Uniya is named after the first Jesuit mission in Australia. The mission, also known as "Queen of the Holy Rosary" station, was established at Daly River, Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
(NT) and operated from October 1886 to September 1889. It is known as "Uniya" because of its proximity to the Aboriginal site Wuniya. The name is said to be a local Aboriginal word meaning either "bend in the river" or "meeting place".
The mission was unique in its approach to Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people in the late 19th Century in that, unlike other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missions at the time, the Jesuits wanted to preserve the language and culture of the local people. Conversion to Christianity was only secondary to the protection of Aborigines from Western influence.
The original Uniya site is now a declared heritage place under the NT's Heritage Conservation Act 1991.