Country: Australia

Who We Are

EdgeWork is a network of people inspired by the gospel values shown in the life and work of Edmund Rice and working in ministries operating at the edge.

Our Vision Statement;

EdgeWork, an Edmund Rice group, supports and empowers those who advocate for and journey with the most vulnerable in their communities, by providing opportunities to gather, reflect and share their work.

 We aim to;

• Respond to the challenge to continually seek those at the edge, to advocate for and promote justice and change
• Build on our contemporary expression of the vitality, creativity and compassion of the Edmund Rice ethos in our work
• Create spaces where we are comfortable to share our stories in real, honest and genuine ways
• Share and promote our values, experiences, ideas and expertise within and outside the Edmund Rice Network, thus providing professional development opportunities
• Actively connect with formation providers to promote opportunities for us to enhance further our understanding of the Edmund Rice spirit and charism.

 (Approved by the ILC October 2005)

What We Do

EdgeWork is comprised of members from across Australia who are involved with programs/ministries that work with vulnerable young people and their families in the community. A variety of programs are offered and offer services such as;

• Flexible (alternative) learning centres providing education programs for school-age children.
• Flexible learning approaches to vocational education including trade specific programs
• Agricultural education programs/schools
• Indigenous specific education programs
• Outdoor education programs
• In-school support programs
• Mentoring programs
• Residential care facilities and accommodation programs
• Drug and alcohol court support programsRefugee support programs
• Social justice centres for dissemination of information and advocacy
• Camps for young people and their families

As at 2005 there are some 300 staff involved in these ministries and 900+ volunteers.

One of the activity highlights of the EdgeWork network is the biennial conferences.  These are held in various states and members from across Australia attend for three days for what has been described as an “inspiring, reenergizing” experience.  Meeting such a large group of “like-minded” people provides the opportunity to ‘get to the heart of the matter’ in our quest to support and sustain each other in our work. On a practical side the conferences provide the opportunity to share resources and ideas with others who have an understanding of the nature of the work we do. A newsletter is developed bi-monthly and contains stories from members and their ministries.

Our History

EdgeWork began operation in 1998, initially as a network between the various 'alternative education' sites around Australia. At the time it was recognised that these ministries were isolated in terms of appropriate professional development and the need to connect and 'share stories' was important. Over the years many other ministries identified with this sense of isolation and found the EdgeWork network a valuable resource. Consequently the network began to identify itself as one of 'ministries' who 'work with' people on the 'edge'.

The founder of EdgeWork, Andrea Brown once wrote;

Sometimes we can get so tied up in our daily activity and the more logistical and practical sides of our journey and work that we can lose touch with the philosophical and spiritual influences that strengthen us. EdgeWork has the opportunity to remind us of the ‘bigger picture’ and give us a chance to stop and smell the flowers or see a new perspective from another person’s storytelling. EdgeWork is every member of the network, their thoughts and their contributions to the knowledge and skills gathered whilst working ‘on the edge’. (A. Brown, 1998)

 Today, EdgeWork is a vibrant and energised network of like-minded people who reach out to each other to share their stories, learn from each other, grow with each other and, most importantly, be a collective voice for those they work with, people often without a voice......

Notable Achievements

Previous Conferences;

1998 "Chewing the Fat"- Adelaide

2000 "Sustaining the Spirit"- Laidley, Qld.

2002 "Getting to the Heart of the Matter"- Melbourne

2004 "Inspired to Act"- Mulgoa, NSW

2006 "Facing the Challenges"- Brisbane

2008 "Getting Connected"- Brisbane

and the upcoming 2010  to be held in Melbourne (keep a watch for details!)

Ministry Profile booklets are developed biennially with the latest edition being 2009.

Facebook presence 2009

Contact Us

Linda Houston (Coordinator)

Director/s

Part of the Life and Mission Teams- Networking

Director- Br. Steve McLaughlin

EdgeWork Coordinator- Linda Houston