The following major national events were held prior to the formation of the SICV:

• The New Millennium Dawn Prayer at the Treasury Gardens on January 1, 2000
• A Sense of Place - Victoria’s Multi-faith Religious Celebration for Australia’s Centennial in May 2001.
• Multi-faith Prayer Ceremony held at Rod Laver Arena for Sept 11 victims of the World Trade Centre in New York.  

The successful participation in the above events and the desire to promote interfaith and multicultural harmony within the State of Victoria motivated some of us to form the SICV in September 2002. Since then its activities have multiplied and the visibility of the Sikh Community through membership of other networks has increased. 

Interfaith Networks

The SICV represents the Sikh Community on the following multi-faith organisations:

• World Conference of Religions for Peace – Australia
• Premier’s Multi-faith Leaders Forum
• Victoria Police Multi-faith Council
• Leaders of Faith Communities Forum
• Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong
• Darebin Interfaith Council
• City of Hume Interfaith Network
• City of Kingston Faith Network
• City of Knox Interfaith Network
• Manningham Interfaith Network
• Moreland Interfaith Gathering
• Melbourne Interfaith Network
• Whitehorse Interfaith Network

Our presence in the networks enables us to make representations about the Sikh faith to the members and be involved in interfaith activities.

Participation in Major Community Events

SICV proudly participated in the following major event:

• Inauguration of the Spiritual Centre RMIT University October 2004.
• Exhibition of Religious Artifacts at Moreland Council October 2004.
• Dedication of Sacred Space Casey Hospital Berwick November 2004
• Multi-faith prayer held at Federation Square for Tsunami victims January 2005.
• Palm Sunday Peace March and Gathering. April 2005
• Prayers at the Commemorating event held at St Mary’s College University of Melbourne for 60th Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima.  August 2005
• Interfaith Service of Commitment to the work of United Nations, to mark the opening of 60^th session of General Assembly. September 2005
• Premier’s Multi-faith Forum September 2005
• Signing of the Community Accord. October 2005.

Public Forums and Submissions

SICV represented the Sikh Community at major public forums such as:

• ‘Religion, Cultural Diversity, and Social Cohesion in Contemporary Australia,’ Australian Multicultural Foundation 2002

•  ‘Oaths and Affirmations’ Victorian Parliament Law Review Committee, 2002.
• ‘Safer Streets and Homes.’ Victorian Multicultural Commission:
• A submission on the State Government’s Discussion Paper on Victorian Multicultural Act. 
• A submission to the Department of Justice on behalf of the Gurdwaras to protect the legitimate rights of the Sikhs for use of the kirpan as a matter of religious observance.
• Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2005. SICV made a submission to the Department of Human Services and the Crematoria in ensuring that Sikh rites would be observed during cremations.
• Service Delivery Model-Focus Group Discussion, Victoria Police Operations Coordination Department, July 2005.

Publications

SICV has contributed to publications on matters affecting the Sikh faith, such as:

• Religious Events and Celebrations: ‘Sikhism in Australia’ 2002
• Moreland Interfaith Gathering Newsletter: ‘Sikhism and Vaisakhi’ 2002
• Submission on ‘Dying Death and Grieving – A Cultural Perspective Conference’ organized by Australian Multicultural Foundation, March 2002.
• Sikh Patients in Hospitals – A Guide for Health Care Professionals; 2003, 2004 (2000) copies distributed to all hospitals in Australia.
• Australia’s Religious Communities – A Multimedia Exploration, Second Edition (section on Sikhism) 2005.
• A brochure, ‘Who are the Sikhs’
• A brochure, ‘Your Guide to the Gurdwara’.
• Video ‘Many Faiths One People’, City of Greater Dandenong 

Representations on issues of Sikh identity.

Occasionally there is an issue of Sikh identity. The wearing of a ‘Kara’ by a Sikh child has been questioned in some schools. The ‘Kara’ is mistakenly regarded as a piece of jewelery. Sikh boys get teased because they have a ‘joora’. SICV resolves these issues through education about Sikhs and the five K’s. SICV makes representations on behalf of the parents and if necessary makes a school visit for a presentation on Sikhism

The Kirpan has often been questioned by security agencies. SICV has assisted in providing information and helping the Sikhs to reclaim their kirpan.

Gurdwara Tours

Gurdwara tours are an excellent way of establishing dialogue and sharing information with the Australian community about our religious practices. As a member of various interfaith networks SICV is able to invite people to visit the Gurdwaras. 

SICV conducts a number of tours each year at the Blackburn and Keysborough Gurdwaras for school and university students, multi-faith groups, security agencies, or any other individual or group interested in obtaining basic knowledge of Sikh religion and culture. Visitors are usually informed of our practices of sangat (congregation prayer) and pangat (sharing in langar). We often receive positive comments from visitors from their experience in the Gurdwara as noted below:

• Tour participants are pleasantly surprised to note that the Sikh Faith is inclusive.
• Sikh faith and hospitality are one.
• Able to love this people meet with them. They are so similar in their philosophical basis/unison. (A Christian visitor) yet still able to recognise differences. Generous giving of themselves in peace, compassion and love.
• Women equal in the Sikh faith.

Another visitor wrote the following:

“We were completely taken aback by our welcome and the generous hospitality you all offered.  How wonderful to have such an experience with a different faith community. Our visit was a unique example of what humans can be for one another. We can live and worship in our own cultures and live and operate in a wider community without compromising our beliefs.

Our group had a profound experience being with you all. Your worship gave a sense of peace and tranquility and the gift of food gave us the chance to meet all of you who were assisting in the work of your temple.”

Presentations

It is usual to make a short presentation to visiting groups at the commencement of the tour. SICV responds to the specific projects of student groups at the same time ensuring some basic beliefs and practices of Sikh Faith are covered. Presentations are also made at interfaith groups, forums, schools and Church groups.

Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Services

SICV is well represented at hospitals in the South –Eastern Health Care Network. We visit patients on needs basis. SICV was involved in the consultation process in transforming Chapels at Dandenong, Kingston, and Frankston Hospitals into Sacred Spaces for use by all communities.

SICV also made presentations to hospital staff concerning the needs of Sikh patients at hospitals and provided written information when requested. SICV publication Sikh Patients in Hospitals is a good guide to hospital staff.