Swami Shankarananda (Hinduism): Swami Shankarananda is one of Australia's leading meditation teachers who has taught, practised and written on meditation and Self- inquiry for nearly 40 years.  As an articulate spokesperson for Hinduism in Australia, he actively promotes and participates in Interfaith Dialogue. He is currently the Hindu representative on the advisory board of the Asia Pacific Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (APCID). Swamiji emphasises practical methods, such as Meditation and Self-inquiry, for effective living, culminating in Self-realisation. He is the spiritual director of the Shiva Ashram in Mount Eliza and regularly teaches around Australia and internationally. In recognition of his spiritual work he was invested as a Mahant (spiritual leader) in a formal ceremony that took place in Haridwar, India. For further information see www.shivayoga.org

Lama Choedak Rinpoche (Buddhism): Lama Choedak Rinpoche is one of the few Tibetan Buddhist meditation masters living in Australia. He had twelve years of rigorous monastic training, including a three and a half year solitary retreat, sponsored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rinpoche has been teaching in the West for over 15 years. He is a gifted linguist with an excellent command of several languages including English. His deep understanding of the Western mind gives him a rare ability to translate ancient Buddhism wisdom and practice into a modern and western context. Lama Choedak Rinpoche is the Spiritual Director of Sakya Losal Choe Dzong (The Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra), and offers regular teachings at sister centres in Melbourne and East Gippsland as well as other parts of Australia and New Zealand. For further information see www.jamchen.org.au

Rev. Hans Christiansen (Christian): Rev Hans Christiansen is the Assistant Priest in the Parish of Sorrento and Rye on the Mornington Peninsula. Originally from Denmark, Hans has extensively travelled and lived both in Italy and India before settling in Australia with his Australian wife and two children.  In India he spend a considerable amount of time learning various forms of prayer, meditation and yoga from a teacher of the Hindu Tradition. Hans has completed a Bachelor Degree in Christian Theology in Copenhagen and a Post Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction from the Melbourne College of Divinity in 2005. He was ordained as Priest in the Anglican Church of Australia in 2006 and is an oblate in the Camaldolese Benedictine Order, a monastic order that is deeply contemplative and committed to interfaith dialogue and sharing.  Hans has a keen interest in spirituality, world religions and interfaith.

Rabbi Fred Morgan (Judaism): Rabbi Morgan is the principal minister at Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne and has twice served as Chairman of the Council of Progressive Rabbis for Australian, Asia and New Zealand.  He is a keen supporter and Honorary President of the Victorian Council of Christians and Jews, and he is also actively involved in interfaith work with the Muslim community.  He has a strong passion for social justice and regularly speaks and writes on social issues facing the Jewish and broader Australian community. Rabbi Morgan holds the title Honorary Fellow from the Leo Baeck College, London and is an Honorary Associate Rabbi of the Sim Shalom Progressive Jewish community in Budapest, Hungary. Previously he served as a lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Bristol in England, specialising in the religions of India.

Esma Yucel (Islam): Esma Yucel was born in Sydney, moved to New York, and then Boston, where she completed her Bachelors of Arts with Magna Cum Laude (honors) in English at Northeastern University, where she worked at the Spiritual Life Office as student advisor and in interfaith relations for the Muslim Student Association. She served as public relations officer for the Boston Dialogue Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, that promotes interfaith and intercultural dialogue through many programs. She also served on the Foundation's Interfaith Youth Committee. She currently teaches Religion and Values at Isik College's Keysborough campus and guides students through interfaith programs with Catholic schools.

Mikael Smith (Indigenous): Mr Mikael Simpson Smith, a Kamilaroi man, is the Indigenous Community Organiser with the Melbourne Parliament of the World’s Religions, Co-Chairperson of Reconciliation Victoria and the Managing Director of Australian Aboriginal Management Solutions. Mikael provides specialized Aboriginal services aiming to modernize Aboriginal culture retaining old structures, change perceptions of Aboriginal culture in the mind of mainstream citizens and raise the profile of traditional people to take their rightful position in society.

Dya Singh (Sikhism):  Dya Singh is an internationally acclaimed Sikh spiritual minstrel and commentator on Sikh faith. Dya Singh strongly believes in the philosophy of 'universal truths' and advocates constant dialogue amongst representatives of all faiths. He supports moving towards a harmonious mainstream community and love amongst all human beings notwithstanding the diversity of religious, spiritual, ethnic, racial and colour backgrounds. Dya Singh teaches Sikh meditation and way of life to Sikh youth and conducts workshops at folk & arts festivals worldwide for non-Sikhs. He was instrumental in helping set up the Multifaith Association Of South Australia and is currently a member of the Sikh Council of Australia. Dya travels the globe singing with his group of instrumentalists composed of diverse backgrounds and faith traditions.

Bill Kean (Bahai): Bill Kean has been a Bahai for over 33 years holding various posititions in the 'elected and appointed' arms of the faith. He is currently serving on the Baha'i National Review Board of Australia and the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Greater Dandenong. The Bahai's of Greater Dandenong have been heavily involved with the Interfaith Network of that municipality since it's inception in 1989. In 1985 Bill published his book of poems ' Stirrings of the Heart' which highlight his spiritual journey. Bill says, "I firmly believe that World Peace is not only possible but inevitable and will continue working to achieve that end".

Story Telling with Donna Jacobs Sife (Jewish): Donna Jacobs Sife is a writer, award-winning storyteller and peace-worker. For nearly two decades she has travelled widely throughout the world teaching and telling stories. From the United Nations to Woodford Folk Festival, her considerable international reputation is built on her capacity to bridge difference - be it within our societies, our communities or ourselves, and on her capacity to interpret sacred text in contemporary, imaginal and restorative ways.  She is the founder of SULHA-Oz, a grass roots interfaith organisation, and works as Education Consultant for Together for Humanity, an Interfaith school performance foundation. She has been interviewed a several times on ABC Radio on the Spirit of Things and Encounter and was a regular columnist for the Australian Jewish News for seven years. For more information see www.donnajacobsife.com/

Forgiveness with Aine (Christian): Áine grew up in Dublin, Ireland and was influenced by progressive Jesuits who introduced her to the world of self-development through workshops on Psychosynthesis, Encounter groups, Dream therapy and the Enneagram. In 1995 she developed Multiple Schlerosis.  This led to a keen pursuit of Psychoneuroimmunology - Mind/Body/Spirit medicine and her working at the Gawler Foundation.  Married to a Chinese Medicine practitioner she inevitably took up Medical Qigong, as well as becoming a Buddhist practitioner.  In 1991, she spent a year at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. She found that the work she did around forgiveness was some of the most profound work on her healing journey. In this workshop she will present some of the key factors in a system of forgiveness developed by the Essenes, a group of mystics who lived at the time of Christ who are believed to have been a significant influence on his thinking.  She will also touch on how the Taoist and Buddhist faiths approach this topic.

Remembrance of the Divine with Sheikh Hazem Omran (Islam- Sufism): Hazem Omran is an Australian born Sufi Sheikh from Egyptian parents. Brought up in a spiritual and religious home, Hazem became involved in Sufism at the age of 16 drawn to the path by its simple principles of self-purification through the remembrance of the Divine. At the age of 22 Hazem joined the Naqshbandi Sufi Order under the guidance of Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani of Cyprus. Hazem is a keen supporter of interfaith and has given talks at the Australia Catholic University, the Sancta Sophia Meditation Centre and other venues. He is currently the head of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in Australia. For more information see www.naqshbandi.asn.au/sufiway.htm

Lifting the Spirit with Jacqueline Russell (Brahma Kumaris): Jacqueline Russell says it takes just-a-minute to transform your world. By introducing regular one-minute periods of silence into your life you can create personal peace in a global climate of ever-increasing chaos and change. Jacqueline is the Coordinator of  the Brahma Kumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning a residential retreat centre in Frankston South. The Centre provides an opportunity to experience and practice methods of self development, and positive thinking using Raja Yoga meditation, for peace of mind.  Raja Yoga is a spiritual practice that is available to all regardless of faith tradition. For further information see: www.brahmakumaris.com.au

Have you had your Muslim Today? with Khaled Khalafalla & Inaz Janif (Islam): In this workshop participants will have the unique opportunity to explore many undiscussed aspects of Islam, such as: Does Islam promote violence & terrorism? Are Muslim women oppressed?  Why do Muslim women cover up? Do Muslims try to convert everyone to their faith?  Khaled Khalafalla and Inaz Janif will be your hosts to explore these and other questions in a fun, safe and engaging way. Inaz is a young and slightly zany Maths & Science High School teacher who's dream is to help build peace and harmony between Muslims and the Australian community. Inaz has conducted various workshops and presentations on Islam and Youth and was recently the co-MC for the Interfaith Youth Pilgrimage. Khaled is a journalist student at Monash University who's flaming passion for talking has seen him get into stand up comedy and MC gigs.  He is also an all round pretty good looking guy.

Women & Spirituality with MC Cathy Connelly (Multifaith Panel): Our stories, our journeys.  Five women from five different faith traditions talk about how our faith weaves through the fabric of our daily life.  Di Hirtz (Judaism), Inaz Janif (Islam), Devi Ma Saraswati (Hinduism), Jamel Singh (Sikhism) and Kirsteen MacKenzie (Christian) share with us the woman's perspective on the challenges and strengths of living a life faithful to our chosen tradition.  Facilitator, Cath Connelly, brings her own insights and enthusiasm to this stimulating panel. 

Labyrinth Meditation Walk with Robin & Bronwyn Prior (Christianity): The Labyrinth Meditation Walk offers a contemplative way of approaching and resting in God’s presence. It is a “mini-pilgrimage”, acknowledging the twists and turns of life, but honouring the deep desire to find what poet T.S.Eliot called “the still point in the turning world”.  The invitation is to become quiet within, to slow down, not to “escape” from the world, but to attend to all of life differently, through the lens of the great love of God. The Labyrinth workshop is led by Robin and Bronwyn Pryor, members of the Uniting Church, who have ministered ecumenically for many years in retreat leadership, spiritual formation and companioning.  Robin was a founding member of the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction, and Bronwyn is National Chairperson for Camps Farthest Out Australia, an inter-denominational retreat movement; she works as Pastoral Visitor for a UC parish. Both Robin & Bronwyn lead retreats and workshops in the Christian tradition.

Discover your Inner World, a presentation by Dylan Utpal Frusher (Hinduism): Dylan is an Acharya (teacher) from the Shiva School of Meditation on the Mornington Peninsula. He met his teacher Swami Shankarananda in 1994 and has spent the last twelve years as a residential student and teacher in the Shiva Ashram. In this talk he will discuss the application of meditation as a tool in daily life and give guidance in simple exercises that you can take home with you. “Meditation and Self-Inquiry are essentially an exploration of your own awareness. By turning within regularly with acceptance and honesty, we discover in a very direct way how our consciousness actually works. What was once a chaos of confused emotion and thinking gradually becomes a resource of higher wisdom. Ultimately we develop a relationship with the deepest core of our being. This brings real love and contentment and a new relationship to all of life.”

Calm Abiding Buddhist Meditation with John Julian (Buddhism): John Julian has 30 years experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. His recent training has included Mindfulness Integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, the latter in a program directed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki.  John has a personal meditation practice of long standing and teaches meditation regularly from his home, in his private practice and at Jamchen Buddhist Centre.  In this program he will focus on Calm Abiding meditation.  This meditation will assist people to quieten the body and develop their attention.  These are two core skills, alongside awareness and an empathic kindness towards others, form the basis of developing greater mindfulness and equanimity in life.

 Laughter Yoga Workshop with Carolyn Nicholson (Multifaith): Carolyn Nicholson has always loved to laugh, so when she met Dr Madan Kataria the founder of Laughter Yoga she knew it was ‘meant to be’. Carolyn trained with Madan to become a Laughter leader and teacher, and for the last four years Laughter has been the main focus in her life, beginning each day with a meditation and 10 minutes laughter.  Carolyn’s husband Des has healed himself of cancer with the same daily practise. Over the past 15 to 20 years Carolyn has worked as a Masseuse, Reflexologist, Counsellor, Pranic Healer, Reconnective Healer, Reiki , Vibrational Healing and also travelled to Austin Texas to train as a Trance Dance presenter.  Carolyn says 'I love to laugh, love and heal myself and others'.

Butter Sculpting with Venerable Thubten Khedup (Buddhism): Venerable Thubten Khedup trained as a Ritual Master in Tenzin Gang in East India, residing in his monastery for more than 30 years. He is skilled in Sand Mandala making, Butter Sculpting, Stupa Making and numerous other practices. Ven. Khedup will hold Butter Sculpting workshops for one hour on each day of the festival, teaching people how to make sculptures and their significance. Butter Sculpting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition, where yak butter and dye are used to create temporary symbols for the Tibetan New Year and other religious celebrations. Butter sculptures symbolize impermanence, a main tenet of Buddhism, usually destroyed anywhere from a day to a few years. They are displayed on altars and shrines in monasteries or family homes. Ven. Khedup is currently at the Thupten Shedrup Ling Monastery in Bendigo, his role is acting as adviser to the construction team of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. 

Jigme Namgyal: Jigme is a highly accomplished artist, well trained in Tibetan Opera, Folk songs and modern Tibetan songs. His music is about the Buddhist faith, the universal desire for freedom and everyday activities such as harvesting and community life. Jigme lives in South Australia and has performed at WOMAD, Adelaide Fringe Festival and many other festivals and celebrations. He frequently performs at schools. Jigme sings with great talent and heart and his many haunting melodies linger long after the performance concludes. Jigme studied at TIPA, The Tibetan Institute of the Performing Arts, which he joined under the auspices of the Dalai Lama. For more information see www.go.to/tibetsingerjigme

Dya Singh World Music Group: Formed in 1992, Dya Singh's World Music Group has emerged as one of the most sought after music groups around the world. The basis of the music is Sikh (spiritual), Punjabi and North Indian (in that order). It then embraces music virtually from any other part of the globe including blues, jazz, folk (all kinds), country & western, country, Australian indigenous, bush, etc. The only criteria is it should enhance the universal spiritual messages of truth, love, peace, harmony, equality and justice that Dya Singh stands for. Influences to date within the music of Dya Singh include Vietnamese zither (dang thranh), Southern European gypsy violinist, European flute, Polish dolcimer, blues and electric guitar, bouzouki, didgeridoo, Nepalese drums and tabla, Irish bohdran and irish fiddle. For more information see www.dyasinghworldmusicgroup.com

Abdul Rasheed & Colour of Unity: This group consists of musicians with various ethnic backgrounds who play traditional instruments and perform Qawali music, which is sacred devotional music inspired by Islam. The songs are performed in Urdu, Arabic and English. The group has performed in numerous functions including the Holy Melbourne Concert and the Muslim Music Festival. The Musical Director of the group is Abdul Rasheed who formed his first music group at age 18. Abdul studied singing from singers in Fiji, who performed the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Brothers. He developed interest in religion and became a teacher in Qur'an. Abdul migrated to Australia in 1999. He currently performs his own compositions as well as famous pieces.

ZOOZ Israeli Dance Group: ZOOZ means ‘move’ in Hebrew and the ZOOZ Israeli Dance Group will certainly make you move. ZOOZ burst onto the Melbourne Israeli Dancing Scene in September 2005 headed by mother and daughter team, Richelle and Belinda Arber. Both have many years of experience teaching all levels of Israeli dancing. For  their own enjoyment and development, they have attended many courses including belly dancing, salsa, ballroom, hip hop, jazz, Argentine Tango, Bollywood, and ballet. Israeli dancing has become a popular way of bringing people together no matter what faith tradition, background or age. So come along and lose yourself in the music and spirit of Israeli Dancing. Join in, make new friends and whilst you’re at it get fit! For more information see www.zoozdancing.com

Manasis Greek Dance Group: The Manasis Dance Group has set unmatched, unrivalled standards in execution, choreography and discipline of Greek Dancing.  With over 250 unique and traditional costumes, and an endless dance repertoire covering all regions of Greece, the Manasis School Of Dance is able to present both traditional and modern Greek dancing.  Manasis Dance also performs a musical repertoire consisting of sounds from all regions of Greece, with a particular passion for Macedonian music.  They use many and varied traditional instruments (many of which are scarce even in Greece today) including the clarinet, zourna, flogera, violin, lyra, daouli, toumbeleki, defi, as well as the famous Macedonian bagpipe, the gaida. For more information see  www.manasisdance.com.au

The Singh Sisters: Parvyn, Jamel and Harsel have been either individually or as the sisters been teaching and performing to audiences around the globe Bhangra / Bollywood dancing. From the National Folk Festival to Winnipeg, Woodford and to schools and clubs, they have had people "Bbrrru'ing" and "Chake de ' ing" in unison. From a school groups to 5000+ people - with their hands in the air - changing the light globe and nodding as only Indians do - people have had fun in learning the moves from the girls. For more information on the Singh Sisters check out their website at www.dyasinghworldmusicgroup.com/thesinghsisters

Nadanalaya Academy of Dance: The Nadanalaya Academy of Dance have staged several ballets in Melbourne, such as Santhasorubi, Kumarasambavam, Krishna Avatharam and Navarasa Shivasakthi along with traditional and contemporary dances that have won the praise of the public.  The students of the Academy have performed in numerous cultural functions, school concerts and religious festivals, with a notable appearance in the Centenary Celebrations of the Australian Federation. For more information on the Academy check out their website at: www.nadanalaya.com

Sudanese Chollo Choir: The Sudanese Chollo Choir, from the St James Anglican Church in Dandenong, will perform heartfealt Christian gospel singing. The Chollo are one of the tribal groups making up the Southern Sudanese community in Melbourne, currently the largest refugee group settled here. Dressed in their traditional colours, holding hands, singing enthusiastic and beautiful choruses while stepping to an enchanting african drumbeat, this choir will
blow your socks away. Led by Reverend Stephen Odok and Oyem.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Choral Group: This small choral group (part of a larger group) is based on the Mornington Peninsula (Frankston and Mornington). The choir sings/performs periodically in Church worship services, at musical events and conferences. It is directed by Bridgette Allen with assistance from Sandra Reeves and Scott Hamilton.

The Good Shepherd Orthodox Choir: The Good Shepherd Orthodox Choir sings for an English-speaking Orthodox Mission which worships each Sunday morning in the Chapel at Monash University, Clayton. The choir has members from many different backgrounds demonstrating how this original form of the Christian faith has always  been for all nations. We have members whose countries of origin are Russia, Greece, Lebanon, England, Italy, Sri Lanka and Australia of course! The Good Shepherd Mission comes under the jurisdiction of the  Antiochian Orthodox Church and aims to make this holy faith available to all who wish to understand it's profound Liturgy in the English language. For more information see www.australianorthodox.org.au

INDIGO Sisters. The INterDenominational Inspirational GOspel  Singers are an ecumenical a’cappella community choir based at St Peters Anglican Church in Mornington. They sing a variety of contemporary and traditional Gospel arrangements, together with songs that deliver a strong message of peace, hope, joy and harmony. They rehearse on Friday evenings from 7.00 to 9.00pm and new members are always welcome, no experience necessary. For more information go to www.twobayschoir.blogspot.com or contact Sue Kirkpatrick on (03) 8707 0031.

Cathy Connelly: Cath has been sharing and teaching the art of the Celtic harp for many years. She has developed an extensive repertoire of harp music from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Very much in tune with the origins of this delightful instrument, Cath’s repertoire includes songs from the beginnings of Celtic musical expression to more modern compositions. She has composed contemporary arrangements for many well-known songs, as well as creating many of her own melodies. When not performing, composing or teaching the Celtic harp, Cath leads workshops and seminars on spirituality.  Cath recently completed a Master of Arts (Spirituality) Degree through the Melbourne College of Divinity. For more information see www.cathy.com.au

Arlene Stapleton: Arlene has been a singer songwriter playing keyboards, for over twenty five years. Recently she fell in love with and purchased a Celtic harp. She loves all styles, but in particular singing ethereal songs with spiritual content of the joy of creation and sound scapes for which the harp is eminently suitable.

Rhubarb: Rhubarb is a whiteface clown. She does not usually speak, but  communicates through mime and gesture. She specialises in exploring spirituality through gentle humour, colour and symbol. Where appropriate, Rhubarb likes to encourage people to play and enjoy the moment, getting in touch with their inner child. She has wondered and wandered through fetes & festivals, school fairs and kinders, picnics & worship services. Rhubarb has also discovered great treasures hidden in the special memories of people in the golden age of life. Her favourite colour is "RAINBOW!" and her favourite food is jelly beans and fairy bread. She LOVES bubbles of all sorts and wishes people everywhere  could discover their inner clown too! :)