Will Christmas Even Reach Them?

In the Australian outback, Christmas can be quiet. In some remote communities, there won’t be Christmas carols in the air. In some faraway properties, children won’t have presents to unwrap come Christmas morning. The sad reality is that children in rural and remote areas often miss out—not just at Christmas, but all year round.

According to the 2024 Child Social Exclusion Index, a report by UnitingCare and the University of Canberra, nearly half of children living in regional communities face high or very high risk of social exclusion. The report states:

“Many children experience disadvantage on multiple fronts, lacking the opportunities and family resources to be socially connected and to be able to participate fully in their local communities.”

This is no surprise to Frontier Services Bush Chaplains, the frontline staff who live and work among these remote communities every day. It confirms what we’ve seen and known for a long time: our kids living in the outback are not given a level playing field.

Bush Chaplains work day and night to be the connection and support that families and children in the bush need. They travel vast distances to be physically and emotionally there for those who feel alone and disconnected from society.

And they will be working hard this Christmas. Bush Chaplain Jennie will be travelling the outback to bring songs, presents, and the Christmas spirit to isolated communities in Queensland. In South Australia, Bush Chaplains Sunny and Julia will be delivering food hampers and presents. In Western Australia, Bush Chaplain Lindsay and a few of his teenage music students will be doing a special Christmas performance for elderly people in Kalgoorlie. In a small community in Far North Queensland, Bush Chaplain Joe will be hosting a humble barbeque and bringing presents to children who often go without.

We are so grateful to our community of supporters for helping Bush Chaplains bring the spirit of Christmas to people in remote areas, showing children in the bush that they are not forgotten and that kind and determined people are there for them – at Christmas and beyond.

Frontier Services Appeal

Your donation of $20 today could buy a book, an art set, or an educational toy for a child in the bush. It could help pay for 10 litres of fuel to help Bush Chaplains travel the distance to families and children on remote properties.

Please donate before Christmas at frontierservices.org/donate

Article by Frontier Services, as published in the December 2024 edition of Revive magazine.