Compassion Ballarat (CB) is a network that connects the compassionate work occurring across its city and provides educational resources, organizing tools, and avenues for communication. Members of the CB Steering group work in areas of public policy, education, health, business, and the wider community. Our focus is on developing and nurturing our city’s social infrastructure. Compassionate Ballarat aims to:

• Help Ballarat residents to see, notice and take compassionate action 
• Engage city leaders in applying compassion throughout their organizations 
• Contribute to the global charter outcomes by developing and trialing compassionate city measures
• Provide a framework and resources for residents wanting to participate in Compassionate Ballarat 
• Create opportunities for the City of Ballarat to contribute to the work of the global Charter for Compassion.

For more information
w: compassionateballarat.com.au
f: @CompassionateBallarat

Download: Compassionate Ballarat 2021 Report >>
Healing Collective Trauma >>

Michael Jones

The City of Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth largest, signed the Charter for Compassion and become a Compassionate City on 21 September 2017, in the lead up to the Hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. An Appreciative Inquiry initiative, facilitated by the Multifaith Advisory & Action Group and Griffith University’s Centre of Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue, which drew student leaders from 12 local high schools and explored the “Compassionate City” theme was a catalyst to the engagement of Mayor Tom Tate, the City’s Signing and subsequent appointment of Cr Glenn Tozer, as a Compassion Ambassador. At the same time, the City was recognized as the first World Kindness City. Compassionate Gold Coast was established as a not-for-profit Organisation to serve the City, a Compassion Council was former and Terry Ayling was appointed as Facilitator.

Our Vision

A Gold Coast in which compassion and compassionate action, as articulated in the Charter, will motivate individuals and communities to care for each other and to relieve suffering, wherever it is found.

Hurting Places in our City

In a series of consultations, the following hurting places were identified in Our City:

• • • Domestic & Family Violence
    • Houselessness & Homelessness
    • Addiction
    • Mental Health & Suicide
    • Social Inclusion
    • Social Cohesion

Our Approach

To evoke compassion within Our City and respond to these hurting places by:

• • • Sharing Stories of Compassion
    • Facilitating Multi-Sectorial Gatherings
    • Seeking Creative Partnerships & Innovative Resourcing Solutions

A Multi-Sectorial Approach

Across the 12 Sectors of our City (Arts; Business; Education; Environment; Healthcare; Peace; Religion/Interfaith/Spirituality; Restorative Justice; Science & Research; Social Justice; Social Services; Sport & Recreation), each year our Compassion Council selects 3 Sectors to focus on. These are currently Education; Healthcare & Religion/Interfaith/Spirituality.

Some Key Activities

Compassionate City Appreciative Inquiry Session (High School Leaders, 2017); Compassion in Health Care, Compassion at the End-of-Life and Compassion in Mental Health Symposiums (2018, 2019); Compassion Innovation Challenge (University Student Leaders, 2018); Breaking Faith Open Initiative; Interfaith Harmony Music Festival; Annual World Kindness Day & Compassion Awards. 

For more information
f: @CompassionateGoldCoast
e: Terry Ayling

Global Compassionate Cities

The Australian Compassion Council contributes to the work of the global Charter that is occurring across the world. and here are just some of the other cities the ACC is linked to.

Compassionate Atlanta – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/compassionate-atlanta-and-the-greater-atlanta-community

Asia-Pacific Healthcare Hub Task Force – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/asia-pacific-healthcare-hub-task-force

Compassionate Belfast – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/compassionate-belfast-task-force

Compassionate California – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/compassionate-california-task-force

Canadians4Compassion – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/canadians4compassion-task-force

Compassionate Pakistan – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/charter-for-compassion-pakistan

Compassionate Poorna Pune India Team – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/compassionate-poorna-pune-india-team

Compassionate Netherlands – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/handvest-voor-compassie-netherlands

Call of Compassion Northwest –  https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/call-of-compassion-northwest

United Kingdom Taskforce – https://charterforcompassion.org/charter-teams/united-kingdom-task-force