Religious Groups at UNSW

Religious Groups at UNSW

The Religious Centre is provided for all UNSW students and staff and is located on the Kensington campus on the third floor of the Squarehouse.

The Centre is attended by Anglican, Buddhist, Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Islamic, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Uniting Church.

Full-time and part-time Chaplains conduct worship services, lead Bible Studies, hold prayer meetings and offer spiritual counselling.

The Islamic Society has an Imam in attendance with meeting and prayer rooms available for Muslim students. The Buddhist student group "Unibuds" also has facilities in the Centre. There is also a Jewish Chaplain involved with the centre.

Anglican

Campus Bible Study Logo

The Anglican Chaplaincy runs Campus Bible Study, a student group focused on studying the Bible and learning more about Jesus during our time at Uni. Whether you're a life-long Christian or a sceptical atheist, you're welcome to join us!

For Christians, CBS provides an opportunity to grow in your understanding of the Bible and your relationship with God. For those who are not Christians, CBS is an easy way to investigate the claims of Jesus and the Bible.

Every week of the semester CBS runs large public Bible Talks in a lecture format. These talks focus on explaining the Bible and usually work progressively through a particular book of the Old or New Testament.

The Bible Talks are also a chance to meet other students. Every week we have a light afternoon tea afterwards. Got questions about Jesus or Christianity? We’d love to answer them!

Buddhist

The Buddhist Chaplaincy aims to provide support to students and staff on campus. The Buddhist Chaplain provides assistance and advice/counselling to students on personal development, and work together with Student Life and Learning whenever required. The Buddhist Chaplain also gives talks on Buddhism at various faculties/departments upon request.

In addition, the Buddhist Chaplain also guides and assists the University of NSW Buddhist Society (UNIBUDS) in running the Society and sharing the teachings and peacefulness of the Buddha with everyone at the university.

UNIBUDS organises regular Dharma talks (Buddhist talks) every Thursday and Friday evening during the university semesters. They also hold regular lunch time meditation sessions at the Religious Centre and meditation workshops bi-monthly. In addition to the above activities, UNIBUDS also organise weekly social gatherings or sports activities for members.

Activities of UNIBUDS can be found on www.unibuds.unsw.edu.au

The Buddhists look upon the Buddha as a teacher. The essence of the Buddha’s teachings is to do good, avoid evil and purify the mind. It is by putting effort into practising the teachings ourselves that we can gradually develop perfection of wisdom, compassion, purity and peace like the Buddha. As the saying goes:

By ourselves is evil done;
By ourselves we pain endure.
By ourselves we cease from ill;
By ourselves become we pure.
No one can save us but ourselves;
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path,
Buddhas only point the way.
(Dhammapada 165)

Catholic

Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world.

Prayer Vigil with the youth of the world - Cuatro Vientos, WYD Madrid
Pope Benedict XVI

Jesus Christ calls us to live our Christian lives to the full, including on campus!

The UNSW Catholic Chaplaincy supports the spiritual life of students, provides opportunities for intellectual formation, fosters a sense of community on campus and engages students in community service and other apostolate.

We host a variety of events, including:

Daily

  • Mass on campus - come and encounter the Lord every day in the Eucharist.
  • Bible Studies - Study the Scriptures in a group setting.

Weekly / Fortnightly

  • Sacrament of Reconciliation - receive the grace of Reconciliation.
  • Rosary - Pray together with fellow students and contemplate the face of Christ through the eyes of his Mother.

Monthly

  • Forums - Hear guest speakers talk about topical issues such as bioethics, leadership, politics, controversial issues and topics about the Catholic faith.
  • Barbeques - Have a bite with other Catholics on campus.
  • Community service - Bring hope to those who suffer and need our help. Living a life of solidarity affects the world!
  • Girls' Tea Party - Escape the hustle and bustle of uni, have a chat and a cup of tea with like-minded young ladies.
  • Spiritual direction - one of the team can accompany you in your Christian life.

Annual events

  • Harbour Cruise - Get on board the annual Catholic Harbour Cruise and meet young Catholic students from around Sydney and interstate.
  • Retreats - take time out to pray and reflect on life and your relationship with the Lord.
  • Mission trips to Peru - Explore community service through a series of volunteer placements and community development projects in developing countries.
  • World Youth Day pilgrimage - Deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ together with thousands of other young people.

Coptic Orthodox

  • Location 3rd Floor, Squarehouse
  • Contact Reverend Father Matthew Attia 
  • Phone 0418 283 114
  • Email fr.matthew2@bigpond.com

Greek Orthodox

  • Location St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church, Mascot
  • Contact Fr Athanasios Giatsios
  • Phone 0406 033 074
  • Email fr.athanasios@bigpond.com

Pentecostal

As a Christian club we are passionate about Jesus and helping people.

On campus we support all students with areas of faith, growing in leadership and helping people get into community on campus.

We are run by students for students.

Areas you can get involve in on-or-off campus

  • Weekly bible study groups: these run most days and times throughout the week. Groups have between 2/20 people in them
  • Events on campus: these are nights where we worship, have a speaker and connect with other students around dinner. These are great nights to connect with God as well as meet great people.
  • Church services: on the weekends we run buses to our local church service in Waterloo. Hillsong church city campus is located 10 minutes from the uni.
  • Red Frogs Chaplaincy: we help at events throughout the year on residential housing - doing pancakes, party support, walk homes, coffee crawls and much more on a weekly basis.

These are some of the areas you can get more involved! We would love to hear from you and help you in any way we can to make this university season an incredible one for you.

Please feel free to email or call us any time april.miller@hillsong.com or 9775 3655.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Presbyterian

Jewish

Liraz Pooran (Social/Cultural Chaplain)

Our activities include:

  • Special Consideration Letters – Hillel will help you with issues such as exams or classes on Shabbat or festivals and we are always around if you would like a chat about anything.
  • Leadership training seminars and events.
  • Hillel trains, mentors and develops engagement interns to build relationships with their peers and connect them with opportunities to participate in Jewish life.
  • Hillel provides professional support to the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS).
  • Hillel helps to connect you to what’s happening in the community via social media, an e-newsletter and the Hillel website.

On campus activities for Jewish students are run by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS). AUJS at UNSW regularly hosts on campus events and functions ranging from the social and educational to cultural and political. Please feel free get in touch to find out how you can get involved.

Rabbi Eli Feldman (Religious Chaplain)

Rabbi Eli Feldman is the Jewish Religious Chaplain at UNSW. He heads JUNI, a vibrant organisation that provides educational and spiritual events and activities across Sydney universities. Join JUNI on facebook to get all the updates and events at UNSW: facebook.com/jewishuni

Muslim

  • Location 3rd Floor, Squarehouse
  • Contact Mahmoud Jaame (Imam)
  • Phone 9385 5957
  • Email m.jaame@unsw.edu.au

See also

Muslim Student Guide

This guide provides information for local and international students on support services available on campus, general information about living in Sydney as well as information relating to the Muslim community in Sydney and UNSW.

Uniting Church

Administration Enquiries (for Chaplins only)