Awards Magazine 2017

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The Community Leader Awards 16
Finalist - Professional Leader of the Year 2017
peter arndt
Peter Arndt: I’m
trying to faithfully
reflect Jesus in the
world, to be in some
way his presence, the
presence of the love
and mercy and justice
that he is.
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What do you do in your community?
I’m the executive officer of the
and that gives me the privi-
lege of working with many people in different walks
of life facing all sorts of struggles, from Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to asylum seekers
and refugees, to people in the Pacific facing the chal-
lenges of climate change, and people in West Papua
facing violence and oppression.
How did you get started?
I used to be a com-
mission from the late ’90s. I started a parish social
justice group in my home parish of Ipswich in 1996
and did a lot of work in that group and attracted a lot
of attention from people from other churches includ-
ing an Anglican priest who recommended that I be a
member of our commission to my predecessor. After
a couple of years on the commission my predecessor
Sr Annette Arnold resigned and I applied for the job
and I’ve been there ever since.
What do you love about your job?
I love being able to enter into the stories of people
who are struggling with injustice and indignities
and even oppression. To me it’s a great privilege to
accompany them, listen to these stories and be part
of their struggle to get justice, to get a better life,
because I think I definitely do benefit myself from
walking with them. I learn as much and gain as much
as they do from their struggle. It’s an immense privi-
lege and greatly rewarding.
Why is your Catholic faith important
to you?
It’s at the very heart of what I do in my work for
justice and for peace. I think that I have responded
to my baptismal call to work for a world in which
justice and peace, mercy, compassion, love, are the
things that guide life from the small to the great here
locally and around the world. I’ve learned that over
time it’s in seeking to live out those values that I’ve
deepened my relationship with Jesus Christ and he
has been my constant companion in some way. I’m
not like people in the secular world who do really
great things around social justice and the environ-
ment. I’m trying to faithfully reflect Jesus in the
world, to be in some way his presence, the presence
of the love and mercy and justice that he is. I’m a
pretty ordinary person and pretty weak and limited
in many ways but I know some good comes out of
my efforts to be faithful to the calling I’ve received
from him.
What was your reaction when you
heard you were a finalist for The
Leaders?
Surprised. As I said, I think I’m a pretty ordinary per-
son and I know my weaknesses and limitations pretty
well. So for anybody to be suggesting I be awarded
some sort of prize for my work, is a bit embarrassing
almost. Surprise, but at the same time deeply grateful
that people with whom I’ve worked appreciate my
efforts to do some good in the world.