VIGIL ORGANISERS TOOLKIT

“Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute…
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

- Proverbs 31:8-9

Thank you for being here.

This toolkit exists because of people like you—people who believe the Church must not look away when injustice persists. Together, we are raising a prayerful, public, and persistent witness to say: it’s time to end the waiting.

Over the 100 days from August 1st 2025, your public presence near an electorate office will speak louder than you realise. You are part of a national body—united across denominations, cities, and stories—bearing faithful witness to the truth: every person deserves the dignity of a permanent home.

I hope this resource equips you, encourages you, and reminds you that you’re not alone. You are part of something bigger.

With deep gratitude and hope,

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce Committee

The #EndTheWaiting campaign is urging the Albanese Government to provide:

  1. A pathway to permanency for all asylum seekers failed by Australia's flawed asylum processes, including those subjected to the Fast Track system.

  2. Work rights for all asylum seekers while claims are processed.

  3. One visa that extends until claims are processed—ending the bureaucratic nightmare of applying for a new visa every three to six months.

These are simple, achievable changes that do not require new laws. The Immigration Minister already has the power to act. This is a matter of political will.

  • For over a decade, thousands of refugees in Australia have been trapped in legal limbo. Many sought safety in Australia between 2012 and 2014 and were placed in the now-abolished “Fast-Track” system, which denied them fair hearings and only offered temporary visas. While the Albanese Government finally granted permanency to around 19,000 people on these temporary visas, over 8,000 others were excluded—either because they were wrongly rejected or never granted a visa in the first place. These people have spent up to 12 years on short-term bridging visas, unable to rebuild their lives, access stable work, study, or reunite with family. 

    Another 1,000 refugees transferred from offshore detention in Nauru and PNG live under equally harsh restrictions. Denied settlement in Australia by policy, they face constant visa renewals, no pathway to permanency, and separation from loved ones. Despite widespread recognition that the system failed, these people remain shut out of any solution—unless the Immigration Minister personally intervenes. It’s time to end this cruelty. After more than a decade of waiting, refugees who call Australia home need a clear, fair pathway to stay permanently.

    For more: See this Policy Brief from Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

What is a Vigil?

A vigil is a public act of prayerful presence. It is simple, quiet, and powerful.

Unlike a protest or rally, a vigil creates space for reflection, lament, and hope. It embodies the spiritual truth that showing up matters — that light shines in the darkness, and that faithful witness can soften even hardened hearts.

In the #EndTheWaiting campaign, vigils are our signature action: 100 vigils, in 100 electorates, over 100 days.

These vigils are rooted in three commitments:

  • Prayerful presence — showing up not in anger, but in hope

  • Public visibility — choosing locations where our presence will be see

  • Persistent witness — creating moral pressure that is hard to ignore

#EndTheWaiting’s Theory of Change

If people of faith lead 100 peaceful, public vigils in 100 electorates over 100 days—amplified by visible signs, powerful stories, coordinated statements, and targeted political engagement—

Then MPs will begin to see, hear, and feel the moral urgency—because when vigils, media, and meetings align, they trigger a frequency illusion that is impossible to ignore.

Because when the Church speaks with one voice—across denominations, electorates, and communities—it becomes both harder for leaders to dismiss and easier for them to act.

Not Just Symbolic. Spiritually Significant.

This campaign is led by the Church — and prayer is our power. Vigils are not just political actions; they are acts of faithfulness. They are how we make visible the spiritual truth that God stands with the oppressed — and calls us to do the same.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Step 1. Find your electorate and reserve a date with the Vigil Coordinator Tool.

Start by using the Vigil Assistant to locate your electorate and register your intention to host a vigil. As part of this step, you’ll need to select a proposed date.

The tool will also show if any events are already planned in your area. If so, you can view the event page or, if it’s still in the planning phase, access the organiser’s contact details to connect and coordinate.

Step 2. Create an external event page

Every vigil should have its own event page—this is where people will RSVP, get details, and stay informed. Most organisers will use Facebook Events, Eventbrite, or a similar platform.

Creating an event page helps:

  • Promote your vigil locally

  • Coordinate logistics (like time, location, what to bring)

  • Keep attendees updated

  • Collect RSVPs so you know who’s coming

  • Create a visible presence in your community

  • We are calling on people to host public vigils outside or near to their local electorate MPs office. These might be in a park or sidewalk nearby. it is up to each local organiser to discern the best location and coordinate with local council if and where needed.

  • 📍 Event Title
    #EndTheWaiting Vigil – [Suburb or Electorate Name]

    📅 Date & Time
    e.g. Thursday 12 September, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

    📌 Location
    Include a clear address, and optional note about meeting point (e.g. “Outside MP's office” or “Corner of Main St and Park Ave – look for the signs”)

    🕯️ Description
    This vigil is part of #EndTheWaiting, a national campaign led by the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce. Together, we are calling on the government to act now and grant permanent protection to refugees who have been trapped in limbo for over a decade.

    Thousands of lives hang in the balance. Every day in limbo strips people of hope, dignity, and a future. No new laws are needed—just the political will to act. It’s a choice between justice and delay.

    As churches across Australia, we say: A fair go should be for all. "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35) These words must shape our nation’s policies.

    We are calling for:

    1. A pathway to permanency for all asylum seekers failed by Australia’s broken system, including those processed under Fast Track.

    2. Work rights for all asylum seekers while their claims are processed.

    3. One visa that lasts until a claim is resolved—ending the endless cycle of short-term renewals.

    This is a peaceful, public vigil. People of all faiths (and none) are welcome. Let’s gather together, raise our voices, and call for a permanent future for all.

Resource: Get the Facebook Event Header Canva Template here
or if you don’t have Canva get the generic event header here

Step 3. Invite Your Local MP

Inviting your local MP makes your vigil more impactful. Whether or not they attend, it puts the issue on their radar and shows that members of their electorate care deeply about people seeking protection.

Your MP has the power to influence policy—and every message they receive adds pressure. By reaching out, you’re showing that people of faith are watching, praying, and expecting action.

Reach out by email and follow up by phone with the electorate office if there is no response.

How to Find Your MP’s Details

  1. Go to https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members

  2. At the bottom you can Search Members by your postcode or electorate.

  3. Note their email, office address, and phone number. If there email is not listed on the parliamentary page, try their party’s or personal website.

Resource: Get the Email Invite Template

  • That’s okay. The act of inviting them still matters. Be sure to follow up afterward—send photos and a short summary so they know the event took place.

  • Invite them anyway. This is a public witness that people of faith are watching—and calling for justice. Your respectful engagement makes a difference.

  • Fantastic. Ask them to attend and speak. Encourage them to take their support further: advocate inside their party, raise it in Parliament, and amplify the campaign publicly.

Step 4. Register your vigil with the Vigil Assistant.

Once you have locked in time and location, then created an external event page you can confirm your vigil with the Vigil Assistant. Once you have done this anyone who has signed up for hear about a vigil in this electorate will be emailed, and your event will now show when people search for your electorate.

Step 5. Plan, Prepare and Promote.

Plan

Think ahead about the flow and feel of your vigil. Decide:

  • Who will host or MC the event

  • Who will speak (including people with lived experience, faith leaders, local advocates)

  • Whether there will be time for silent prayer, reading names, or music

Potential Vigil Runsheet (Approximately 30 minutes):

  1. Welcome & Acknowledgment of Country (You can use this helpful resource)

  2. Opening prayer or moment of silence

  3. Campaign message – Share what #EndTheWaiting is about (Further Vigil Message Guidance here)

  4. Reading and/or testimony – e.g. lived experience or scripture
    Stories of Lived Experience: Siva’s and Ali’s stories

  5. Invite MP or community leader to speak (if applicable)

  6. Time of reflection, candle lighting, or responsive prayer

  7. Closing remarks and call to action

You can shape this to reflect your tradition, setting, and local leadership.

Prepare

  • Check logistics: Confirm your location, sound equipment (if needed), candles/LED lights, printed handouts, signs, etc.

  • Bring visuals: Consider signs, banners, or prayer cards that align with the campaign message.

  • Assign roles: Who will set up, lead prayer, take photos, manage RSVPs, follow up with the MP?

  • Back-up plan: What happens if it rains? Do you move indoors, shorten the event, or reschedule?

Resources Coming Soon: Printable Signage

Promote

Let people know it’s happening:

  • Share your event page on social media, in church bulletins, newsletters, and local noticeboards

  • Personally invite friends, faith communities, and local groups

  • Ask local churches to promote it during Sunday services

  • Post photos and reminders in the lead-up

Resources Coming Soon: Social Media Tiles