The National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’i and the Anglican Parish of Narrabeen will benefit from new funding under the NSW Government’s Safe Places for Faith Communities Grants program, part of a $5 million statewide investment to strengthen safety and security for faith communities across NSW.
Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, welcomed the funding and said:
“Places of worship should always be places of peace, connection and safety, where people can feel safe gathering to practice their faith” Ms Scruby said.
“Pittwater is home to a rich diversity of faith communities and I welcome this funding to help local organisations strengthen security and support the wellbeing of their congregations.”
“In a time when many communities are feeling heightened concern about safety and social cohesion, practical investments like this help ensure people can gather freely and without fear.”
The latest round forms part of the NSW Government’s broader $15 million commitment over four years to support the safety and resilience of places of worship and other locations where religious communities gather regularly. Since 2023, a total of 355 organisations across NSW have received support through the program.
The grants support practical safety initiatives including security upgrades, incident management, first-aid training and wellbeing support services to help faith communities prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from incidents.
Ms Scruby noted that she fully supports grants for the Jewish community but notes that there are no synagogues in the Pittwater electorate.
For more information on the program, please visit: Safe Places for Faith Communities Program – Multicultural NSW.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:
“All faith communities in NSW have the right to gather and practise their religion in safety and without fear.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting our diverse communities, and our $15 million investment in strengthening security at places of worship reflects that commitment.
This funding will help grant recipients deliver practical upgrades that make their communities safer and more secure.”