MELBOURNE, Australia - s4story -- At a time when social division and inter-ethnic tensions continue to shape community life, HWPL held the latest Australia Religious Peace Academy (ARPA) forum under the theme Reconciliation with a New Beginning, bringing together faith leaders and community voices from across Victoria to reflect on forgiveness, understanding, and shared pathways forward in a multicultural society.

The forum addressed a question often left unspoken in public life: how do communities begin to heal when trust has been strained and forgiveness feels difficult? Rather than focusing on difference or debate, the event created space to explore reconciliation as a lived process—one that begins with listening, honesty, and the willingness to move beyond judgement.

Participants reflected on how assumptions and unresolved hurt can deepen division within and between communities. Drawing on faith-based perspectives, discussions explored how reconciliation involves both internal reflection and collective responsibility, particularly in contexts shaped by cultural misunderstanding and historical tension.

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Leaders from Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity shared insights from their traditions, highlighting shared teachings around compassion, accountability, and care for others. While beliefs and practices differ, a common understanding emerged: reconciliation is not about erasing the past, but about choosing how communities move forward together.

The forum formed part of the International Religious Peace Academy under HWPL's World Alliance of Religions' Peace Offices, which have facilitated dialogue across hundreds of locations worldwide. In a climate where communities are often spoken about rather than spoken with, the ARPA forum reaffirmed that reconciliation begins when people choose to sit together, listen deeply, and believe that a new beginning is possible.

Looking ahead, HWPL plans to continue hosting Australia Religious Peace Academy forums throughout Victoria, expanding opportunities for dialogue, education, and collaboration among diverse communities. These future initiatives will focus on deepening conversations around reconciliation, supporting community-led peacebuilding efforts, and creating ongoing spaces where understanding and trust can continue to grow.

https://www.hwplvic.com.au