Join us for a 1-Day Conference celebrating how the living world brings us together in faith, and in care.
The Earth is crying out to us. We read reports of species becoming extinct and ecosystems under attack. It is easy to lose hope when confronted by the Biodiversity crisis before us. And none of us can face the challenges alone.
In October, people from diverse faith groups, cultures and ecological sciences will meet in Melbourne to hear the cry of the Earth. We will listen, learn, reflect and grow in ecological consciousness together.
We come together because Australia's unique biodiversity matters. Together we will discover ways people of faith and the sciences collaborate to protect species and ecosystems before they disappear.
Conference Speakers
Sherry Balcombe-Maloney | Finding Our Place On Country
Many people have not had the opportunity to hear what First Nations people mean when they talk about Country. As a First Nations descendant, Sherry will open us up to a greater sense of what connecting to Country means — what it REALLY means in time, place, spirituality and relationship, especially for those of us who are disconnected from the natural world.
Sherry is an Olkola / Mularidji woman from Far North Queensland. Born in Narrm, she has an extensive experience in Social Justice with a faith-based approach, and has enjoyed numerous roles within the community including Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, visiting First Nations youth in detention, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for 20 years. She is a currently State Representative for NATSICC, board member of Jesuit Social Services, Aboriginal Visitor to Aboriginal community at Thomas Embling Hospital, cross cultural Educator, Story Teller with Djirra (Abororiginal women’s support service), and Aboriginal Heritage Walk tour guide at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Sherry also contributed to the book, "An Urgent Call: Laudato Si' and Indigenous Wisdom in Oceania", recently published by the Vatican.
Prof Sarah Bekessy | Locating Ourselves In The Ecosystem
Humans have the tendency to see Nature as a resource, and not something we are a part of. Australia is one of the most mega-biodiverse places on Earth and yet we have the highest rate of biodiversity loss in the developed world. Sarah will give a brief overview of what is causing this loss of our unique biodiversity and present some ways we can all care for it in the urban environment — together!
Sarah leads the ICON Science research group which uses interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex biodiversity conservation problems. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of human behaviour in conservation, in designing cities to encourage ‘every day nature’ experiences and in defining and measuring ‘nature positive’ development. Sarah is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, which she helped to establish "to be a trusted, expert voice communicating accurate information on all aspects of biodiversity to the Australian people, to ensure biodiversity and Country prosper." She is Honorary Professor at RMIT University, and 2020 Winner of the City of Melbourne Design Challenge.
Dr Michelle Maloney | Growing New Ways Of Being
'Tinkering with the edges' is not enough, because the current systems have led us to this crisis point. We have become disconnected from the natural world. Michelle will speak on what Thomas Berry called the task of this century: "to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner.” How can we understand our ecosystems and bioregions, and grow in our ecological consciousness for the care of our common home?
Michelle manages the strategic direction and governance of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), designs and manages AELA programs and events, and coordinates the work of staff, volunteers and collaborative networks. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (political science and history) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the Australian National University, and an PhD in environmental regulation, from the Griffith Law Futures Centre. Michelle is also the Co-Founder and Director of Future Dreaming Australia; Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and a member of the Advisory Council, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. She lives near Brisbane, Australia with her family and Ziggy the Wonderdog.
Andrew Skeoch | Deep Listening To Nature
In the attention economy, those with the loudest voice wins. How has the Earth been speaking to us? Can we learn to better listen to even the small voices? Andrew Skeoch will open our hearts and minds to deep listening in the natural world using some of the sounds he has recorded here and around the world, and share with us what he has learned about human behaviour from many years of listening and observing the more than human life.
Andrew is an educator, author, naturalist, environmental thinker, and one of Australia's best-known nature sound recordists. Over the last thirty years, he has documented the sounds of wild environments around the planet, and through his label, Listening Earth, published over one hundred recordings featuring habitats from most continents, attracting Spotify streaming figures in the many tens of thousands a week. His recordings are featured in the audio installation at Sydney Wildlife World, feature films, including Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to Phillip Noyce's 'Rabbit Proof Fence', and Disney's 2016 remake of 'The Jungle Book'. Andrew is a TEDx speaker and President of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group.
Early Bird Pricing extended till August 10th, BOOK NOW!
Please register for the conference as soon as possible.
Space is limited.
Families welcome. Please contact us if you have any special needs.
We aim to create a safe and inclusive space for people from all cultural backgrounds, and beliefs.
Post-Conference Dinner Tickets will be available here closer to the conference, please keep an eye out for details
Hosted by The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) and the Faith Ecology Network (FEN)
- Where: The Multicultural Hub, Level l, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Cost:
Early Bird Tickets until Monday 10 August 2026
- Waged: $120
- Concession/Unwaged/Students: $80
- Children under 18 attend free.
Prices From Tuesday 11 August 2026
- Waged: $140
- Concession/Unwaged/Students: $95
- Children under 18 attend free.
- Bookings: online via Trybooking
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Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA)
The Australian Earth Laws Alliance acknowledges that the sovereignty of the First Nations People of the continent now known as Australia was never ceded by treaty nor in any other way. AELA acknowledges and respects First Nations Peoples’ laws and ecologically sustainable custodianship of Australia over tens of thousands of years through land and sea management practices that continue today.