Christianity and Social Welfare in Australia Social Welfare Education Public Morality © Karen Devine 2008

Christianity and Christianity and Social Welfare in Social Welfare in

AustraliaAustralia

Social WelfareSocial Welfare

EducationEducation

Public MoralityPublic Morality

© Karen Devine 2008

The Christian call to serviceThe Christian call to service Christian denominations Christian denominations

generally have “a call to generally have “a call to service” as part of their service” as part of their life mission.life mission.

Since 1788 Christians Since 1788 Christians have worked in many have worked in many aspects of social welfare aspects of social welfare such as:such as:

a)a) OrphanagesOrphanagesb)b) HospitalsHospitalsc)c) PrisonsPrisonsd)d) Shelters or refugesShelters or refugese)e) Homes for the agedHomes for the agedf)f) HostelsHostels

Christian Social Welfare Christian Social Welfare GroupsGroups

• Many organisations were Many organisations were funded by Colonial funded by Colonial Government subsidies.Government subsidies.

• The groups which have The groups which have played a key role in played a key role in Australia’s history are:Australia’s history are:

a)a) Catholic Sisters of CharityCatholic Sisters of Charityb)b) Sydney City Mission Sydney City Mission

established in 1862.established in 1862.c)c) Salvation Army arriving in Salvation Army arriving in

Australia in 1880. Australia in 1880. d)d) The St Vincent de Paul The St Vincent de Paul

Society began its mission Society began its mission in 1881 caring for the in 1881 caring for the aged, homeless and poor.aged, homeless and poor.

Christian Social Welfare Christian Social Welfare GroupsGroups

f)f) Central Methodist Mission began work in Central Methodist Mission began work in 1884. Its mission was “A living Christ for a 1884. Its mission was “A living Christ for a Dying World”. Lifeline began in 1963.Dying World”. Lifeline began in 1963.

g) g) The Brotherhood of St Laurence began its The Brotherhood of St Laurence began its welfare role in 1930.welfare role in 1930.

h) h) Anglicare was established in 1856 to care Anglicare was established in 1856 to care for homeless children, women, the for homeless children, women, the unemployed and the poor.unemployed and the poor.

i) i) Sydney Rescue Work Society began its work Sydney Rescue Work Society began its work caring for women and children.caring for women and children.

Prominent ChristiansProminent Christians Caroline ChisholmCaroline Chisholm

(Catholic) was a great (Catholic) was a great lobbyist for the rights of lobbyist for the rights of migrants, especially migrants, especially women and children. women and children.

She led changes in She led changes in conditions on board conditions on board immigration ships. immigration ships.

She set up shelters for She set up shelters for those in the gold fields and those in the gold fields and organised sponsored organised sponsored immigration of families to immigration of families to reunite with their convict reunite with their convict loved ones. loved ones.

Prominent ChristiansProminent Christians

John Dunmore LangJohn Dunmore Lang (Protestant) was (Protestant) was concerned with people concerned with people living in overcrowded living in overcrowded industrial slums. industrial slums.

He lobbied for He lobbied for government government assistance and assistance and promoted the promoted the immigration of skilled immigration of skilled workers into the workers into the colony.colony.

Prominent ChristiansProminent Christians Rev. John GribbleRev. John Gribble

(Protestant) spoke out (Protestant) spoke out against the treatment against the treatment of Aboriginal people. of Aboriginal people.

His complaints largely His complaints largely went unheard. went unheard.

His son continued to His son continued to argue the cause. argue the cause.

Yet a Royal Yet a Royal Commission in 1927 Commission in 1927 into the issue of police into the issue of police brutality on Aboriginals brutality on Aboriginals did not see any did not see any prosecutions.prosecutions.


John WestJohn West (Congregational) (Congregational) argued against argued against the transportation the transportation of convicts to of convicts to Australia.Australia.

He said the social He said the social problems it problems it caused were a caused were a detriment to a detriment to a civil society.civil society.


Bishop Bede Bishop Bede PoldingPolding (Catholic) (Catholic) was an was an advocate for advocate for aboriginal aboriginal affairs and affairs and an active an active worker for worker for the sick and the sick and needy. needy.


Bishop WillsonBishop Willson led led reforms to mental reforms to mental institutions to institutions to improve the improve the patient’s conditions patient’s conditions and treatment. and treatment.

He also lobbied so He also lobbied so residents could see residents could see their families more.their families more.


Mary McKillopMary McKillop (Catholic) was a (Catholic) was a key figure in key figure in education, education, orphanages and orphanages and refuges. refuges.

With very few With very few resources she and resources she and her supporters her supporters ran over 20 ran over 20 schools in 1869.schools in 1869.

Prominent ChristiansProminent Christians John FlynnJohn Flynn

(Presbyterian) (Presbyterian) aided the inland aided the inland Australians by Australians by providing providing religious and religious and medical advice. medical advice.

He pioneered He pioneered the Royal Flying the Royal Flying Doctor Service Doctor Service in the 1920’s.in the 1920’s.

Ministry in the BushMinistry in the Bush Bringing Christianity to Bringing Christianity to

rural areas was a challenge rural areas was a challenge due to the size of the due to the size of the outback.outback.

Bush Brotherhoods were Bush Brotherhoods were orders who ministered to orders who ministered to the people of the outback. the people of the outback.

The Bush Church Aid The Bush Church Aid Society assisted with Society assisted with correspondence schools. correspondence schools.

They allowed a greater role They allowed a greater role for women in nursing, for women in nursing, working as hostel sisters working as hostel sisters and other areas of service.and other areas of service.

Missionaries in the OutbackMissionaries in the Outback The Sisters of Mercy “Motor The Sisters of Mercy “Motor

Mission” took education to Mission” took education to outback places. outback places.

John Flynn’s work included John Flynn’s work included founding the Australian Inland founding the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) to bring Mission (AIM) to bring community services to the community services to the outback.outback.

Missionaries tried to assist Missionaries tried to assist Aboriginals, yet this only led to Aboriginals, yet this only led to miscommunication and miscommunication and disruption of their life.disruption of their life.

The Catholic Church dominated The Catholic Church dominated outback communities as the outback communities as the priests, nuns and brothers were priests, nuns and brothers were willing to travel to places that willing to travel to places that their married counterparts their married counterparts would not.would not.

Christian EducationChristian Education Christian denominations made Christian denominations made

the largest contribution to the largest contribution to education since 1788.education since 1788.

1/7 of Colonial Land Grants 1/7 of Colonial Land Grants would be for the maintenance would be for the maintenance of the Anglican Church and of the Anglican Church and Schools. Schools.

Yet, Catholics refused to send Yet, Catholics refused to send their children to these schools.their children to these schools.

In the 1830’s Governor Burke In the 1830’s Governor Burke attempted to establish an attempted to establish an inclusive educational system inclusive educational system without denominations. without denominations.

His attempt failed.His attempt failed.

Christian EducationChristian Education A dual educational system of A dual educational system of

religious schools and public religious schools and public education developed in the colony.education developed in the colony.

The Church Act (1836) provided aid The Church Act (1836) provided aid to religious efforts in the colony. to religious efforts in the colony.

Yet, rural/outback areas lacked Yet, rural/outback areas lacked support. support.

Initially all schools were funded by Initially all schools were funded by the state, but state aid ended in the state, but state aid ended in 1862. 1862.

Denominational schools were then Denominational schools were then required to finance themselves. required to finance themselves.

Henry Parkes Public Instruction Act Henry Parkes Public Instruction Act (1880) meant that all education was (1880) meant that all education was to be compulsory, free and secular.to be compulsory, free and secular.

Catholic SchoolsCatholic Schools Catholic Schools were staffed Catholic Schools were staffed

by teaching orders and funded by teaching orders and funded by the parents and Catholic by the parents and Catholic Community.Community.

Public Schools were Public Schools were condemned by the Catholics condemned by the Catholics as teaching immorality and as teaching immorality and lawlessness.lawlessness.

By the turn of the 20th By the turn of the 20th Century Catholic schools were Century Catholic schools were well established. well established.

Yet, due to the predominance Yet, due to the predominance of Anglicanism and the refusal of Anglicanism and the refusal of Catholics to send their of Catholics to send their children to Protestant schools, children to Protestant schools, Catholic illiteracy was higher Catholic illiteracy was higher than the rest of the population. than the rest of the population.

Public MoralityPublic Morality Some clergy saw Some clergy saw

themselves as the themselves as the enforcers of public enforcers of public morality.morality.

Christianity has had Christianity has had the largest influence the largest influence on public morality in on public morality in the areas of:the areas of:

a)a) familyfamilyb)b) sexualitysexualityc)c) social servicesocial serviced)d) medicinemedicinee)e) business ethics.business ethics.

Hotel HoursHotel Hours

• The clergy played key The clergy played key roles in attempting to roles in attempting to elevate moral standards elevate moral standards in colonial times.in colonial times.

• In colonial times In colonial times alcohol alcohol and gamblingand gambling were were major issues which major issues which evangelical Christians evangelical Christians attempted to reform. attempted to reform.

• During WWI Protestant During WWI Protestant reformers managed to reformers managed to get hotels closed by 6 get hotels closed by 6 pm.pm.

Alcohol and GamblingAlcohol and Gambling• The reasoning behind the The reasoning behind the

stance on alcohol was that stance on alcohol was that alcoholism was a destroyer alcoholism was a destroyer of relationships and families. of relationships and families.

• Whereas, gambling was Whereas, gambling was obtaining obtaining gaingain by methods by methods other than hard labour.other than hard labour.

• Initially in the colony, many Initially in the colony, many Protestants fought hard to Protestants fought hard to keep Sunday (the Sabbath) keep Sunday (the Sabbath) as a day of rest. as a day of rest.

• They lobbied against Sunday They lobbied against Sunday activities such as sports, activities such as sports, newspapers and other newspapers and other amusements.amusements.

Morality in every sphere of Morality in every sphere of life.life.

• Retail trading on Sunday Retail trading on Sunday was banned until the was banned until the 1980’s.1980’s.

• The Churches influenced The Churches influenced the divorce laws in 1892 the divorce laws in 1892 seeing the reasons for seeing the reasons for divorce being extended divorce being extended to drunkenness, violence to drunkenness, violence and desertion.and desertion.

• Christians lobbied for Christians lobbied for dress codes on public dress codes on public beaches.beaches.

• The churches influenced The churches influenced the censorship laws the censorship laws seeing books, films and seeing books, films and plays banned if they plays banned if they were explicit or violent.were explicit or violent.

Question TimeQuestion Time

Discuss what the Discuss what the Australian society Australian society might have been might have been like without the like without the influence of the influence of the Christian Christian Churches.Churches.

Documents

Christianity and Social Welfare in Australia Social Welfare Education Public Morality © Karen Devine 2008