Category: News

AOC receives the Fundraising Excellence Award

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AOC is honoured to receive the Fundraising Excellence Award at the Third Sector Awards 2025 in Doltone House, Sydney. 

The Third Sector Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact across Australia’s not-for-profit sector, recognising organisations and initiatives that create meaningful change in communities.

At Australia Oikos Care, we believe that progress in the community sector is never the work of one organisation alone. It is the collective effort of many—partners, supporters, and fellow charities—each contributing in their own way to build a more compassionate and equitable society.

The evening was also a powerful reminder that we are part of a much larger movement—one made up of passionate organisations, volunteers, and leaders eager to making lives better. Each finalist represented a story of dedication and compassion. From organisations addressing poverty and education to those championing health, social inclusion, and community resilience, every initiative demonstrated the heart of Australia’s not-for-profit sector. We extend our sincere congratulations to all the finalists and winners at the Third Sector Awards 2025. 

A special thank you to Third Sector AU for organising the night to honour the unsung heroes of the not-for-profit sector. See their reflections on the evening and the incredible community gathered via their LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thirdsectorau_last-night-200-people-across-69-non-profit-activity-7374608182393913345-_Oqh

As AOC continues our mission of alleviating poverty and expanding access to education through initiatives like the current Efata School Expansion Project, we remain encouraged by the shared vision we see across the community sector: a commitment to uplift those who need it most.

2025 Finalist – Fundraising Excellence Award

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We’re delighted to announce that Australia Oikos Care (AOC) has been nominated as a Finalist for the Fundraising Excellence Award at the Third Sector Awards 2025! This award celebrates campaigns that have achieved outstanding fundraising outcomes through innovation, strategy, and community engagement—we’re honoured to be recognised among Australia’s most impactful organisations.

This nomination reflects the incredible generosity of our supporters and our partners to achieve a common goal and deepen relationships.

Efata School Expansion Project

A key focus of our fundraising efforts this year has been for Efata School Expansion Project—a transformative initiative to provide more children with access to quality education in a new purpose-built facility for financially disadvantaged children and young families in rural communities. We’re grateful to our sponsors and partners in this journey, especially  KIKA Design Studio – currently leading the design and drawings of the new purpose-built school facility. Their thoughtful, community-centered approach is helping us create a space where learning and hope can flourish. Learn more about their work at KIKA Designology.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this nomination, we remain focused on the work ahead. The journey of alleviating poverty through the AOC way continues. We invite you to walk with us—whether through partnership, prayer, or participation.

2025 Finalist – Small Charity of the Year

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We are thrilled to announce that Australia Oikos Care (AOC) has been nominated as a Finalist for Small Charity of the Year at the prestigious Third Sector Awards 2025! This recognition is a testament to the heart, dedication, and impact of our small team of volunteers and supporters who continue to serve communities with compassion and purpose.

Being shortlisted as a Finalist among Australia’s most inspiring small charities is not just an honour—it’s a celebration of the lives transformed through our mission. AOC remains committed to empowering vulnerable communities through quality education and sustainable development.

Efata School Expansion Project

Located in a region where access to quality education is limited, Efata Bali School has become a beacon of hope for children and families. The expansion will allow us to accommodate more students, introduce secondary schooling, and provide a nurturing environment for holistic development. This project would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to KIKA Design Studio – for their visionary architectural and design expertise, and heart for the local communities in need. Their commitment to give back to the community is what made this project possible to start a partnership with AOC and Efata Bali School. KIKA Design Studio is currently engaged with early draughts and detailed drawings of the new purpose-built facility for the school. Learn more about their work at KIKA Designology.

Thank you to our generous donors and volunteers – whose contributions, time, and prayers continue to fuel our mission.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this nomination, we remain focused on the work ahead. The journey of alleviating poverty through the AOC way continues. We invite you to walk with us—whether through partnership, prayer, or participation.

AOC supports children’s rights

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On 1 May 2025, Australia Oikos Care (AOC) were invited to participate in DIAMANTE: An Exhibition Event, a special charity initative hosted by the Filipino-Australian Society (FilAus) at the University of Western Australia. The event was held in support of Bahay Tuluyan, a children’s rights organisation based in the Phillipines, dedicated to protecting and empowering vulenrable youth.

AOC was one of 21 organisations invited to support the event by setting up interactive stalls offering a variety of services from food and beverage, to clothing, art and handcrafted items. In collaboration with Oikos Church, AOC presented the “Oikos Stall” – which featured over 200 freshly homemade Risoles (a classic Indonesian fried pastry filled with meat, egg, vegetables and mayonnaise). The Risoles were a hit, selling out in just under 1.5 hours.

AOC raised over $900 AUD during the event, with all proceeds directed toward its Efata Site Expansion Project J1063N (registered with GDG Australia) to expand the Efata Bali School. This is a school AOC currently sponsors in its mission to alleviate poverty by providing quality education to disadvantaged children and young families in Indonesia.

A heartfelt thank you to FilAus for the opportunity to take part of this special meaningful collaboration, and to Oikos Church for their continued partnership in making a difference for a better future.

ME Bank’s Partnership

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At Australia Oikos Care (AOC), we believe true impact happens when generous hearts unite with a shared purpose. That belief came to life at the AOC Gala 2025 — a night of community, celebration, and compassion.

As we reflect on the success of the evening, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to one of our major sponsors, ME Bank. Their generous contribution didn’t just make AOC GALA 2025 possible — it made it impactful and meaningful. From the venue setup to program production, their support was instrumental in bringing our vision to life.

With over 200 attendees, the night raised both awareness and funds for AOC’s mission:
To be an agent of change for poverty alleviation through education and the empowerment of young people.

One of the highlights of the evening was sharing about the Efata School and the Site Expansion Project in Bali, a key project by AOC (Project number J1063N). Thanks to ME Bank’s partnership, a real and tangible support for children and communities in need is being executed — creating opportunities for then, improving basic living standards, and driving long-term transformation.

We are deeply grateful for ME Bank’s belief in our mission and in the power of generosity to change lives. Their partnership is more than financial — it’s a powerful statement that purpose matters, and that businesses can truly be a force for good.

From all of us at AOC:
Thank you, ME Bank, for investing in people, community, and a brighter future.

We look forward to continuing this journey together.

AOC GALA 2025

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On 21 March 2025, Oikos Church hosted its first-ever fundraising charity event, AOC GALA 2025 — a night dedicated to raising awareness and support for Australia Oikos Care (AOC) and its ongoing mission projects. The vision for this event was initiated by Jay Chin, with a strong focus on mobilizing individuals to live more missionally, both locally and globally.

A key highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Efata Bali School Site Expansion (Project J1063N), lead by project officers David Sadikin and Wira Panjaitan. Efata Site Expansion Project – Australia Oikos Care

With 200 guests in attendance, the night was filled with meaningful experiences. From the graceful Balinese dance opening to powerful performances by The New Testimony (Oikos Church’s Youth Ministry), attendees were immersed in an atmosphere of culture, worship, and generosity.

A panel discussion featuring AOC’s Co-Founders, Senior Pastor Daniel Ong and Ferdinand Azis, and testimony of the most recent Oikos Missionary trip to Bali in November 2024 by Roydon Elliott further inspired guests to engage in the mission and vision of AOC.

AOC GALA 2025 was made possible through the generosity of sponsors, with special thanks to major sponsors UNLIMITED PRODUCTION and ME BANK for their invaluable contributions and partnership. Volunteers—ranging from teens to young professionals—demonstrated selfless hospitality, ensuring the event ran smoothly and left a lasting impact on all who attended.

Through the collective generosity of attendees and sponsors, just under $22,000 was raised, with expenses kept to only 15% of the proceeds. This means that approximately $17,500 will directly fund the first key stage of Project J1063N, including the deposit for the land during the second key stage.

AOC GALA 2025 was more than just a fundraising event—it was a night of faith in action, unity, and purpose. Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported this mission. Your generosity is making a real difference!

For more updates on Project J1063N, visit Efata Site Expansion Project – Australia Oikos Care

All contributions and donations above $2 AUD are tax deductible.

Bali Mission Trip 2024

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[Class writing down what dream job they wish to be and why]

In November 2024, a young and passionate team from Oikos Church embarked on a life-changing missions trip to Bali, Indonesia. The purpose for ministry was for Efata Bali School, located in West Denpasar — a beacon of hope and education for underprivileged children in the region.

Over five impactful days, the team worked closely with the students and staff, sharing their gifts and hearts in a variety of ways. They taught English, Bible stories, Christian worship songs, and even worship dance, filling the classrooms with joy, faith, and energy. One class was also treated to science and chemistry activities, giving the children a glimpse into the kinds of engaging and exploratory education experiences common in Australian primary schools.

[Students learning worship song and the harmonies]
[Jay praying for the students that God fulfill their dream jobs to serve others and provide for their families]
[Students listening to Roydon’s testimony and why it is important to respect one another]
[Last day of Missions – students crying, asking for the Team to come back next year]

Efata Bali School has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 100 students in November 2023 to 180 students in November 2024. This increase is partly due to the closure of two neighboring schools, making Efata Bali School a vital lifeline for families seeking affordable and quality education for their children. With enrolment fees set at approximately 20% of standard school costs, Efata Bali School truly stands as the difference between access to basic education or none at all for many Balinese families.

In a significant milestone, on 10 January 2025, Efata School was awarded a Level A accreditation—the highest possible rating—from Indonesia’s National Accreditation Body for its early childhood, elementary, and secondary education programs. This achievement reflects the school’s commitment to excellence and its role as a transformative institution in the community, regardless of wealth and status.

Already operating at maximum capacity, Efata Bali School’s success has prompted the launch of the Efata Site Expansion Project (Project J1063N) by Australia Oikos Care (AOC). The vision is to move and build a larger facility that can serve even more children, with hopes of expanding the school’s offering to include secondary education, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

This mission trip was more than just a visit — it was a testimony of God’s love in action. The Missions team not only taught and played, but also witnessed the power of education, faith, and community coming together to change lives.

To God be the glory for all He is doing through Efata Bali School — and for the privilege of being part of His work in Bali.

Project J1063N is involved in three stages:

1.     Legal Due Diligence; the first stage is to conduct thorough due diligence on land acquisition in Bali, with the help of a local legal advisor.

2.     Land Acquisition; Once the legal due diligence is complete and deemed feasible, the next stage is to either purchase or lease the land – potentially the more cost-effective approach.

3.     Construction Funding; The final stage will involve raising funds to construct the new school building.

All donations to support this Project J1063N and vision is welcome through https://www.australiaoikoscare.org/projects/indonesia/efata-bali-school/efata-site-expansion-project/ 

Amounts over $2AUD are fully tax deductible. 

AOC Christmas Cheer 2023 – Efata Bali School

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We are so grateful to everyone who participated in our annual Christmas Cheer where we share the joy of Christmas with the students and staff members of AOC Schools.

The Christmas Cheer for our Efata Bali School started with the students’ performances and continued with the teachers’ performances, it was a lively and creative display! We are so honoured to be part of their learning journey.

The event concluded with the distribution of Christmas Presents followed by lunch. The day was full of excitement and joy and became a wholesome experience for everyone who came.
On behalf of AOC, students and staff, we thank you so much for your generosity!

Indonesian 77th Independence Day in our school

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On 17th August 2022, Australia Oikos Care (AOC) and our schools celebrated the Indonesian 77th Independence Day. One of our schools particularly Efata school in Bali was celebrating the Indonesian 77th Independence Day at Margarana National Monument Park. Thank you once again to all our Australian sponsors who have continued to give and support us to make this project possible.