Early Beginnings, Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong

Content contributions made by Agnes Kean, Founding and current IFN Member, (March 2024) and Liv Carusi, IFN Executive Officer (January 2025) 

We need to go back to August 1988 when the then City of Springvale embarked on a 2-year Access and Equity Project. 

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ian Tatterson asked the Project Officer Joyce Rebeiro to come up with a proposal for a community relations strategy aimed at promoting harmonious relations among Springvale’s diverse communities. 

Being both a multicultural and multi-faith area, Joyce thought that perhaps the leaders of the Faith communities could provide the credible leadership that would be required for the Project. 

Through contacts pursued by Joyce, she and two of the clergy from the local Ministers Fraternal Father Anthony Fox OFM and Reverand Malcolm Homes did house, venue visits to several Faith Leaders, communities in the area, resulting in positive response and the 1st Meeting of Faith Communities of Springvale took place on May 10, 1989, with 19 faith representatives attending. 

Rev Malcolm Homes later took on the role of Chairperson and served continuously in that capacity for several years.

  • Common Statement, this was drawn up by “a sub- committee” of volunteers and it was approved at the Meeting.
  • 1st Annual Gathering took place on August 21, 1989 at the Supper Room, Springvale. There was a large number in attendance from the various communities, and from that the Faith Leaders/Representatives took the signed Common Statement to the Council Meeting and presented it to the then Mayor, Cr Noelle Trembath.

This annual presentation to the Mayor and Councillors continues today, and further information about the Common Statement and the Annual Signing of the Common Statement can be found on our website.

  • Following Council amalgamations, of the City’s of Springvale and Dandenong, the First Annual Gathering of the Faith Communities of Greater Dandenong (later to become known as the Interfaith Network) took place in 1995, in Springvale Town Hall, and in 1996 it was held in Dandenong Town Hall.

In 2015, the Interfaith Network Office in our City was established and Helen Heath OAM was appointed as the first Interfaith Development Officer.

Today’s Service, Guided by our Vision of ‘Many Faiths, One People’

The Interfaith Network is the longest serving Network in Australia and continues to serve and support the service and work of our Faith leaders in the most culturally diverse place in Australia, the City of Greater Dandenong. 

The IFN continues to receive strong support from the City of Greater Dandenong, our Faith Leaders, our supporters, and partners, as well as the broader community. 

Supported by a small, dedicated staffing and volunteer team, the IFN is governed by an elected Executive Committee. The Committee is elected at the Annual General meeting. 

The IFN Executive Committee is guided by our vision and values, which is expressed through our strategic directions. 

The IFN remains committed to fulfilling the aspiration of our founding members of peace and harmonious relations within our community.