Our Programs & Activities

The religious life of our Umbanda community is the central and established activity of the Casa.

We hold Umbanda gatherings and ceremonies, including giras and celebrations connected with the Orixás and spiritual guides, according to the foundations and tradition of the Casa.

These activities may involve prayer, sacred songs and pontos, offerings, teachings, community practices and spiritual guidance. Our gatherings also create space for connection, welcome, reflection and community life, without presenting themselves as therapy or a professional service.

Preserving a tradition also requires responsibility in how its knowledge is transmitted and shared.

The Casa is committed to the responsible preservation and transmission of knowledge related to Umbanda, the Orixás, ancestry, Afro-Brazilian spirituality, nature, culture and spiritual ethics.

Teachings and preleções are already part of our gatherings. We are progressively developing other forms of education, including talks, workshops, written and digital content and learning opportunities for the community, without promising courses or schedules that have not yet been established.

Balaio Solidário puts into practice our understanding that axé is meant to be shared and that community life is sustained through reciprocity.

As part of attending our public giras, we ask each person, within their means, to bring a non-perishable food item or essential good. The Casa is a place where we may receive welcome and support, but also offer something of ourselves - however simple or symbolic. No one is measured by the value of what they bring, and being unable to contribute materially does not prevent someone from being welcomed.

Items collected through Balaio Solidário are gathered for community sharing with people and families who may need them. When possible, the Casa also receives and mobilises larger donations of food and essential goods from community organisations and partners, organising them in batches for responsible distribution.

Collection at our giras is already part of the regular life of the Casa; the broader partnership and distribution model remains in development. The Casa does not currently operate a permanent food bank, emergency service or continuous distribution program.

We aim to contribute to the preservation and visibility of Afro-Brazilian culture in Australia in ways appropriate to the context of the Casa.

Some celebrations and cultural activities are already part of our community life. As our partnerships and resources grow, we are working towards a broader program of gatherings, talks, workshops and community events.

These activities may involve spirituality, history, music, singing, arts, cultural practices and other responsible forms of knowledge sharing. Specific events will only be announced once they are confirmed.

The Casa is built collectively, and each responsible contribution helps sustain its religious and community life.

Members and volunteers may contribute to preparing and caring for the space, organising activities and events, supporting community initiatives and resource distribution, communication and other practical needs of the Casa.

We understand volunteering as conscious community participation, with clear responsibilities and respect for each person’s limits - never as a substitute for necessary professional work.