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On Sunday, 16 November 2025, approximately 275 people gathered at the Broadmeadows Town Hall for the 2025 Victorian Interfaith Festival. The event was hosted by the City of Hume and the Hume Interfaith Network, in association with the Faith Communities Council of Victoria.

Venue of 2025 Victorian Interfaith Festival: Town Hall Broadmeadows (Main Hall)

The day began with a vibrant display of faith and community stands, a delicious lunch generously provided by Nik’s Kitchen and Sheesh Grill, and plenty of opportunities for attendees to meet, connect, and network. A beautiful multifaith art exhibition by artist Rev Bhakta Dasa added an inspiring visual backdrop to the festivities.

Community & Faith Stands

Flowers of Faith - Multifaith Art Exhibition

Multicultural Food - Nik’s Kitchen and Sheesh Grill

Official proceedings opened with a welcome from Master of Ceremonies Clayton Williams (Hume Interfaith Network). This was followed by speeches from several dignitaries, including Councillor Carly Moore (Mayor of the City of Hume), Commissioner Vivienne Nguyen AM (Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission), and keynote speaker Lauren Matthews (Director of Programs, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission), who spoke on “Racism, Religious Discrimination and Vilification.” Links to the full speeches are available in the videos below.

Opening Ceremony: Dignitaries at 2025 Victorian Interfaith Festival

Attendees were then invited to participate in one of three workshops:
(i) Racism, Religious Discrimination & Vilification
(ii) Youth Workshop: Creating Change Through Belonging
(iii) Art Workshop: What is Sacred Art?

Workshops: Racism, Discrimination and Vilification - Creating Change Through Belonging - Sacred Art

The festival also featured two outstanding musical performances by Perfect Chord and the Hume Samoan Assembly of God Youth Group.

Hume Samoan Assembly of God Youth Group 

Perfect Chord - Baha'i Inspired Choir

During the closing ceremony, Master of Ceremonies Madhuri Sharma (Hume Interfaith Network) welcomed the facilitators from each workshop to the stage to share brief reports. Madhuri then thanked all participants and invited Reverend Sandy Boyce, Chair of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, to offer final reflections.

Reverend Boyce expressed gratitude to the City of Hume and the Hume Interfaith Network for hosting the 2025 Festival and invited the organising committee on stage for a round of applause and a group photo. She then announced the hosts for 2026: the City of Port Phillip and the Port Phillip Multifaith Network. Representatives from Port Phillip were welcomed to the stage to receive the ceremonial message stick from the City of Hume—symbolising the passing of the baton from the 2025 hosts to the 2026 hosts.

Councillor Alex Makin from City of Port Phillip and Abe Schwartz from Port Phillip Multifaith Network concluded the event by inviting everyone to next year’s festival, to be held at St Kilda Town Hall on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

2025 hosts: City of Hume & Hume Interfaith Network (left); 2026 hosts: City of Port Phillip & Port Phillip Multifaith Network (right)

 2025 Victorian Interfaith Festival @ Broadmeadows Town Hall

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Videos: