Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy

The Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy is an independent, ecumenical organisation established to conduct research into the implications of Christian social thinking for formulating public policy in Australia, and to teach Christian social thinking and its implications for public policy in Australia. In pursuit of its mission the YIRSP explores how the social values embedded in the Scriptures can shed light on how to tackle current challenges to human wellbeing, including; -issues of global poverty and hunger, -indigenous issues, -violence and peacemaking, -sustaining the environment, and -refugees and asylum seeker. The Yarra Institute works collaboratively with other organisations to shed light on problems facing us, and particularly through its research and publications to suggest better ways of doing things. As well as commissioning research, we develop and teach courses on the Christian social traditions and how they bear on contemporary social and economic issues. We also foster more vigorous conversation among the various Christian traditions about their engagements with social issues. And we endeavour to broaden this conversation with people from other philosophical and religious traditions about enhancing human wellbeing for everyone on our planet.