A melting pot of learning, inspiration and consultation: Key themes from the 2025 National Convention

Several key themes emerged as almost 90 delegates gathered at the Sydney Baha’i Centre of Learning for the 2025 National Baha’i Convention. 

According to a first-time delegate, attending the Convention was “one of the most incredible experiences”. 

“I felt like more members of the community needed to experience it,” she said.  

From efforts focusing on social transformation, through to the strengthening of institutions in communities across Australia, delegates consulted in a spirit of utmost respect and devotion, all the while maintaining a humble posture of learning as they gleaned insights about the process of growth unfolding in regional areas, cities and neighbourhoods everywhere. 

Here are some of the key themes explored during the three days: 

Teaching efforts 

Much was shared about the efforts being made across Australia to teach friends from all walks of life about Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith, and people’s various journeys towards formally enrolling as Baha’is. Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Vahid Saberi, said the current Nine Year Plan demanded a “shift in our thinking” when it came to teaching our friends, and asked that we adopt a more “expansive view” as we learn how to attract groups of families into the community-building process.

The Nine Year Plan is one of the first in a series of ambitious plans for the worldwide Baha’i community, spanning the next quarter-century, which focuses on “a single aim: the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures.” Each Plan provides a framework for action, empowering the Baha’i community to strengthen its community-building efforts in towns, villages and cities across the globe in a bid to advance the material, spiritual and economic life of society.

The movement of clusters and learning from the most advanced clusters 

The Convention heard from delegates in advanced centres of intense activity, particularly in the country’s more urban localities, where the process of growth was having a wide impact. Delegates shared how their communities were utilising camps and family festivals, working systematically as groups of families, creatively engaging youth through special service programs, and empowering the junior youth and younger ones in their communities to raise their capacities to serve in various roles in the institute process. Delegates in advanced clusters in Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth shared examples of groups of families going through the institute and witnessing a strengthening in the capacity-building process. Regional areas including Ballarat, Albany and Launceston shared snippets highlighting the impact the Faith was having on hearts and souls, with Townsville sharing heartwarming examples of working with Indigenous communities. 

Engagement in social transformation and discourse 

Reflections about involvement with civil society and local organisations, showcasing how communities are elevating the narrative across the country, were a highlight of the Convention. Delegates spoke about initiatives emerging in their areas creating spaces for conversations, connection and collaboration. Vignettes from social action efforts with the Brazilian community in the Gold Coast through to mental health endeavours in Perth inspired the delegates. Examples of communities engaging in the discourses of society were also a key area of focus. It was noted that engaging in discourse must go hand-in-hand with the community’s social action endeavours. 

Pioneering 

One of the themes continuously explored during the consultations was the need for pioneers, both on the homefront and internationally. It was expressed that for the country to reach its goal of achieving 23 more third milestone clusters and seven more second milestone clusters by the end of the first phase of the Nine Year Plan, there needs to be more emphasis placed on individuals and families moving to regional and remote communities across the country – not just for the clusters’ movement but also to support the friends in those areas. Some communities have established special taskforces focusing on how to mobilise more pioneers and visiting teams also assist with the community-building process in areas that need it most. 

Recommendations made 

Two recommendations were passed at this year’s National Spiritual Assembly – one was for the National Spiritual Assembly to consider creating regional youth gatherings to bring youth aged between 15 and 30 together in Australia’s four different regions, and the other was for the National Spiritual Assembly to create a space at the national level that focuses on the gathering and distribution of learning about the engagement of Aboriginal people, Councils and tribal leaders, led by Aboriginal Baha’is.