QSA Notes

Jasmine Payget, Community Outreach

QSA at Australia Yearly Meeting

Aletia Dundas (Chair of the Board), Cressida Hall (Executive Manager) and Jasmine Payget, newly appointed Community Outreach Lead, had many productive conversations at Yearly Meeting.

On the Thursday evening over 120 Friends (80 in person, 40 online) joined the QSA session, hearing from speakers across the three QSA program areas:

• First Nations (funded by QSA donors)
• International Development (funded by the Australian Government (ANCP) and QSA donors)
• Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support (funded by the Aubrey Bequest.)

First Nations Australia – Boonwurrung Seasonal Calendar and Soundscape Project

Presented by N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs and Alison Soutar

N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs shared how this project strengthens connection to land, language, and cultural identity. As a Boonwurrung knowledge holder, she emphasised the responsibility of passing on wisdom through story, sound, and seasonal knowledge. The project, based in the Yalukit William Nature Reserve in Melbourne, combines language reclamation, cultural strengthening, and sensory experiences of wetlands through soundscapes and visual storytelling. The First Nations Peoples Concern Committee through Friend Sharee Harper recommended this initiative to QSA.

Cambodia – Sustainable Agriculture

Presented by An Kimsror (Khmer Community Development)

In Kandal and Kampong Chhnang provinces, farmers are learning natural alternatives to costly and harmful chemical fertilisers (instructions often arrive only in Vietnamese). The project supports 980 farmers (of whom 550 are women) to make natural compost and fertiliser, share knowledge among peers, reduce debt and health issues caused by chemical inputs.  About 30% of participants are active peer educators, spreading new techniques to over 300 other farmers.

Afghan Refugee Resettlement – Afghan Peace Workers

Presented by Dale Hess and Alan Clayton (World Beyond War Australia)

This program assisted young Afghan Peace Worker refugees in Pakistan to resettle safely in Portugal, with support from Barakat Leirida, a permaculture organisation. The initiative combines shelter, training, and community-building, offering a model for holistic refugee resettlement that prioritises collective wellbeing.

For more details on our programs visit: www.qsa.org.au

QSA News

• Jamie Reilly joined the QSA Board in June 2025. Jamie worked for many years for American Friends Service Committee and was based in China. He now is an academic at the University of Sydney.
• Jasmine Payget was appointed as Community Outreach in June 2025 to strengthen awareness of QSA’s work, assist with bequests, support fundraising, and seek grants. She can be contacted at jasmine@qsa.org.au
• A new Fundraising and Community Outreach Subcommittee, chaired by Jamie Reilly, was established in August to provide advice and support.
• Wagga Wagga Friends invited QSA to join them at the August weekend exhibition of the Quaker Tapestries. QSA thanks all those donating to the raffle.