The meeting, the first of six due to be held outside the United Kingdom over the next three years, will provide opportunities for 95 Mothers' Union leaders -- from countries as diverse as Australia, Britain/Ireland, Canada, India, Korea, Melanesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, United States and West Indies -- to meet together to share experiences, celebrate diversity of cultures, strengthen relationships, identify common goals and plan a cohesive future for the international charity work.

The meeting, to be attended by Mothers' Union Worldwide President Rosemary Kempsell and Australian Provincial President Deane Bray, will include special highlights of the work in Australia.

In Australia, Mothers' Union, known as MU Australia, is involved in service and outreach in local communities and funds charity work worldwide. Australian initiatives include funds for education of Indigenous families in N.W. Australia, Northern Territory and Cape York Peninsular/Torres Strait Islands, and relief for cyclone victims in PNG and the Solomon Islands. Aid and support is given in local communities where there is seen to be a need and in times of natural disasters.

Through its worldwide network, Mothers' Union is a representative voice at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and provides millions of volunteers and dollars to assist families in developing countries and in local communities.

Alongside many grassroots community projects run by 3.6 million members in 78 countries, the charity funds major programs on providing education and/or help for HIV/AIDS prevention; literacy and development programs; providing worldwide parenting programs; and providing emergency relief at times of natural disaster or conflict. In developing countries, local Mothers' Union workers are trained to implement these programs and to assist, support and encourage local people to achieve a better standard of living.

Mothers' Union works to provide Christian care for families, believing that stable family life is beneficial to all society.