Tafe ministry push gets green light to reach Western Sydney

An integrated schools, TAFE and university ministry for Sydney has gathered more support.

An additional $5,000 regional grant has been allocated for 2007 to provide seed funding for a church plant at Quakers Hill Anglican Church. It is pastored by Craig Blacket, TAFE ministry advisor with Anglican Youthworks.

The plant is integrating students at the Nirimba Education Precinct – which includes the University of Western Sydney’s Blacktown campus, two high schools and a TAFE – with the local parish.

Mr Blacket said the small numbers of students attending ‘Bible workshops’ at the campus – up to 30 attend each week – meant the regional council had to take a leap of faith in committing the money, which it first began doing in 2004.

“They had a strategic decision to make – is it worth it?” Mr Blacket said. 

“Our resources are stretched wafer thin [but] they gave us the trust and confidence that we’re a reasonable bet.”

TAFE colleges are commuter-based with primarily part-time attendees, requiring the need for a complementary off-campus church ministry to accompany on-campus ministry.

It is one of many grants totalling $400,000 – $500,000 per region for 2007. Regions receive substantially more funding requests than can be provided.

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