We are grateful for the incredible three days our movement shared together at our 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference.
Over 15 - 17 August more than 140 people from across the Common Grace movement had the incredible opportunity to gather on Ngunnawal & Ngambri Country, Canberra, for Common Grace's 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference.
“There were so many moments over these few days where I caught glimpses of the ‘new world breaking through’: in relationships formed and deepened, in stories shared, in prayers offered, and in people choosing to act. I’m giving thanks to God for all that has begun, and praying that what was stirred in us in Canberra continues to grow as together we seek to let justice flow across these lands.”. Gershon Nimbalker, Common Grace National Director
Common Grace’s conference program was shaped by the wisdom and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders, and emphasised relationship-based advocacy - providing a unique space for deep listening, storytelling, and collaboration.
For three days, we learnt, prayed and acted together to see justice flow across Australia and beyond.
Reflecting on our first day together, Naomi Fraser shared - “Today was about connections. Connecting to Country, to Spirit, to one another. There was so much comfort in those connections, which was important because what we had learned today hit us all hard. When every single person on the panel is in tears, you know you've hit the truth of the matter-- the difficult but necessary truth. And in that moment, I was so thankful to be surrounded by people I felt deeply connected to.”
We are deeply thankful to all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders and their generosity in leading, shaping and informing our time together at Common Grace's 2026 conference. We were so blessed to listen deeply to their stories and voices, and learn from your experience and wisdom. We are grateful to join our voices with theirs in calling for new systems that will help protect and support our First Nation's children to be loved and flourish.
First Nation's leaders attending our 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference - Aunty Sue Hodges, Aunty Mary Waites, Aunty Di Emery, Aunty Noelene Murphy, Aunty Donna Meehan, Aunty Edwina Lingwoodock, Uncle Darryl Lingwoodock, Uncle Darren Garlett, Uncle Laurie Besant, Nathan Tyson, Safina Stewart, Adam Gowen, Joshua Lane, Natasha Lane, Mikenzie Ling, Steph Evans, and Arieta Fergie.
We were also blessed by the generous and beautiful contribution of musicians throughout our time together - Joshua Lane, Adam Gowen, Helen Norton, Glen Spencer and Mikali Anagnostis.
The contribution of our wonderful workshop presenters and panel speakers also helped us go deeper in learning about how our advocacy and actions together can make a difference - Ross Homel AO, Blaise Itabelo, Jo Knight and Lynda Dunstan.
Calling together for a more compassionate approach to youth justice.
Our time together at the Let Justice Flow conference together was an opportunity to deeply listen to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners and join together in calling on our Federal Representatives to to show national leadership on youth justice reform by investing in proven prevention and early-intervention programs, and establishing minimum national standards so that no state or territory can leave a child's human rights in the justice system unprotected.
We are grateful to the 50 Members and Senators who met with us on Monday 17th August to talk about Australia’s youth justice system and the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Thank you for listening to our calls for pursuing a more compassionate, evidence-based approach to youth justice #SafeFreeFlourishing #HelpWayEarlier
“We took some big policy asks into those rooms: to Help Way Earlier by investing in children, families and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and to End the Patchwork by establishing nationally consistent standards for youth justice.
“These are heavy conversations, but I left Parliament feeling really hopeful. There was a genuine openness to what we were asking, and a sense that many of our nation's leaders are ready to consider a different way forward - one where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are loved, not locked up.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to flourish. Our hope and our prayer is that the stories shared yesterday stay with the leaders who heard them, shape the decisions they make, and help us move towards a youth justice system that reflects the dignity and worth of every child." Eliza Johnson, Common Grace Policy Coordinator
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Feedback for Common Grace's 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference
"The LJF Conference encourages me to persevere in justice advocacy by meeting with and hearing from like-minded people." - Eric
_________________"Listening to the deep sharing by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sisters and Brothers was such a privilege- and I am deeply grateful that they were willing to engage in such costly openness. Thank you all. To be led by them in worship was so beautiful and then to walk together into Parliament House seeking justice - again what a humbling privilege!" - Lynda
_________________"It is special moments of connecting with people one on one that made it special for me. This mob is my tribe. And my heart was gladdened by being one of three generations of my family taking part this year." - Peter
_________________"The theme of early prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders young people and the patch work of disparity of care and Service delivery (between State & Territory Governments) as a focus was so encouraging as a NSW practitioner for 40 years in youth justice, homelessness and carer in Out of Home Care system. The balance between evidence based practice, lived experience/truth telling and faith based justice breath life into my heart to continue to seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with first nations people on this land we now call Australia." - Grant
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"It was an absolute delight to meet with such an astute bunch of Christians ready to tackle the injustices imposed upon our young Australians and to hear of the personal stories from people on the frontline. Their truths will impact my doings for the foreseeable future. Common Grace has offered superb leadership throughout the conference. Thank you." - Rod
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As we wrap up our 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference, we continue to pray for our delegates and the movement of Common Grace, in a closing blessing shared by Common Grace National Director Gershon Nimbalker.
. . .
Go now, graced with eyes to see
a new world breaking through.
As you walk together,
go knowing that you do not go alone.
May the God of justice go before you,
May the Spirit grant you peace that transcends,
And may you be led by Jesus, who ever draws near
to all in need.
Where there is fear, may you bring love.
Where there is division, may you bring grace.
Where there is despair, may you speak hope.
Where there is injustice, may you seek what is right.
As you grieve with our young people,
too often met with fear instead of understanding,
punishment instead of compassion.
May you take heart from the one who is light in the darkness.
Who embodies love and calls us to it.
Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
May your advocacy be love made public.
May it carry with it the voice of those unheard and overlooked.
And may your presence remind those in power
that another way is possible.
And when what you bring feels small -
your words, your stories, your courage or your prayer -
trust that God can take our small offerings
and do more with them than we can see.
So go as people of grace, courage and hope.
Shaped by the love of Jesus.
Go with eyes open to the new world breaking through.
Go together.
And let justice flow.
Thank you to everyone who was with us for our 2026 Common Grace conference!
We can't wait to gather again as a movement of Common Grace for our conference in 2027
Common Grace Staff Team and Board (L - R): Ellaina Welsman, Ana-Maria Fajardo, Meredith Walker-Harding, James Harris, Safina Stewart, Gershon Nimbalker, Adam Gowen, Kristyn Crossfield and Sam McDonell. (Front) Jane Kelly, Jasmin Mawson and Monique Hughes. Absent: Eliza Johnson, Jessica Carroll Smith, Bianca Dowling, Moses Kakaire and Harry Turner.
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We long to see justice flow across these lands (Amos 5.24) - life-giving, thirst quenching, refreshing justice that brings hope, healing, nourishment, and flourishing for all.
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Photo Credits top to bottom: 2026 Let Justice Flow delegates. Aboriginal led church service on Sunday morning, 16th August. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders attending our 2026 conference. Conference musicians performing during church service and sessions. Conference panel discussions. Conference workshops on Creation and Climate justice, Domestic and Family Violence justice, and Peace and Refugee justice. Gathering on front lawns of Parliament House, Monday 27th August. Meetings with Federal Representatives (Alicia Payne MP, Zali Steggall MP, Milton Dick MP, Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP, Matt Thistlethwaite MP, and David Smith MP). 2026 Let Justice Flow Conference delegates. Common Grace staff team and board.