Chaplaincy and Inclusive Communities

Contact

For more information and support please contact Daniel Jantos Inclusive Communities Coordinator on 0402771543 or email d.jantos@westernsydney.edu.au

What is Chaplaincy and Inclusive Communities about?

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Inclusive Communities at Western Sydney University embraces the diversity of all of our students which means we believe that each has something vital to contribute to the strength and richness of the student community. We are keenly interested in each student’s academic success and know that academic success often is enhanced by social, emotional and spiritual factors. We work towards education here at Western being as personally fulfilling as possible for each one. We create opportunities for connecting, dialogue and friendship across ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The Chaplaincy service at Western Sydney University attends to the spiritual well-being of students and the university community more broadly. The pursuit of a higher education and the honing of career pathways is a spiritually rich and challenging process that involves deep reflection about one’s purpose, values and relationships. It is also a time in which students have the opportunity to make lasting friendships. Our multifaith chaplaincy operates in acknowledgement of a diverse community of ethnic and religious backgrounds. We see ourselves as a key collaborator in the University’s purpose of embracing diversity.

We pursue a capacity for supporting all students – those interested in particular religious traditions and those who have no affiliation with religious tradition but who are interested in spiritual questions and curious about clarifying their own values and priorities.

You may often find us cooking meals. This is in order to slow things down in this fast-paced lifestyle and create opportunities for connecting, dialogue and friendship. Such activity is the old-school approach to hospitality. We are keenly interested in each student’s success so that the process of education here at Western can be as personally fulfilling as possible for each one.

Our chaplains come from a variety of spiritual traditions, offering:

Multifaith facilities

Multifaith facilities are available for students and staff on all campuses.

Muslim Prayer

Rooms

Multi-faith Facilities
Bankstown City Level 4 (Female)
Level 4 (Male)
Level 4 (1.4.44)
Campbelltown Building 2. Ground Floor Building 2. Ground Floor
Hawkesbury Building P9 Building P9
Liverpool Level 1 Level 1
Parramatta Building EA.LG.13 Building EF.G.07
Parramatta City PSQ1.1.23-24 (women after 12)
PSQ1.1.26-27 (men after 12)
PSQ 1.1.35
(Small groups
and Chaplaincy)
Penrith Building H Building H

Our Multifaith facilities acknowledge the spiritual heritage of the Darug and Dharawal People, the traditional stewards of these lands. They are available for all who come in goodwill and in an attitude of respect – those who hold to a faith tradition as well as those who do not. They offer a safe place to meet, pray, reflect, meditate or simply take some time for yourself. Multifaith facilities are places where your inner life is respected and honoured.

Denominations

The University is served by chaplains from a broad range of denominations/faith traditions:

Anglican
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Contact name Phone number Email
Rev Richard Blight 0402 282 893 r.blight@westernsydney.edu.au
Rev Cameron Howard 0422 427 939 cameron.w.howard@gmail.com
Canon Alistair Seabrook 0433 335 159 alistair@dundasanglican.com.au
Marian Martin 0412 273 829 Marian.Martin@westernsydney.edu.au
Buddhist
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Contact name Phone number Email
Sunim BomHyon 0435 612 667 bomhyon.sunim@gmail.com
Tina Ng (Metta centre Bankstown) 0457 160 553 contact@mettacentre.com
Catholic
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Contact name Phone number Email
Fr Jacek Buda 0493759593 j.buda@westernsydney.edu.au
Fr. Piotr Kruk OP 0407 732 509 kruk2000@gmail.com
Christian
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Contact name Phone number Email
Tim Gleeson (Citywest Church) 0406 734 043 tim.gleeson@citywest.org.au
Jennie Rawlings (Foursquare Church) 0490 024 955 jennierawlings@bigpond.com
Sonya De Martin 0430 008 737 sonya@inchurch.com.au
Hope Point Church
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Contact name Phone number Email
Melissa Semeri N/A melissa.semeri@gmail.com
Ruthie Britton 0406 064 066 r.britton@westernsydney.edu.au
Rock Worship Centre
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Contact name Phone number Email
Tony Yuan 0410568890 t.yuan@westernsydney.edu.au
Hindu
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Contact name Phone number Email
Sai Paravastu (Hindu Council of Australia) 0402 449 524 cht@hinducouncil.com.au
Islamic
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Contact name Phone number Email
Ziad Raad 0449 098 998 z.raad@westernsydney.edu.au
Malak Kadim (Muslim female) 0415 140 844 m.kadim@westernsydney.edu.au
Shayma Abdellatif (Muslim Female) 0469 395 438 S.Abdellatif@westernsydney.edu.au
Jewish
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Contact name Phone number Email
Rabbi Eli Feldman junisydney@gmail.com
Non Denominational Spiritual Care
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Contact name Phone number Email
Dr Milad Milani 02 9685 9428 M.Milani@westernsydney.edu.au
Uniting Church in Australia
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Contact name Phone number Email
Rev Dr Christine Gapes 0422 498 371 c.gapes2@westernsydney.edu.au
Yeji Choucair 0433856923 Y.Choucair@westernsydney.edu.au
Kajal Naicker 0433538300 kajal.naicker@westernsydney.edu.au
Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly 0409 925 607 c.baykel@gmail.com
Rev Dr Helen Richmond 0439257575 helen.richmond@ymail.com

The University is also visited by other denominations/faith traditions. For more information please contact Daniel Jantos 0402 771 543 or alternatively via email at d.jantos@westernsdyney.edu.au or inclusivecommunities@westernsydney.edu.au.

Respect.Now.Always

Free Community Dinners, Lunches & Breakfasts

Community Kitchen Cookbook

Meet the Chaplaincy Team

Diversity Fest