Compassion
Loving Care Group
Our Loving Care Group (友愛服務隊) visits the elderly, the sick and members in need, bringing companionship and comfort.
Home / Regional BLIA Programs
What we doRegional BLIA Programs
Celebrating Melbourne's diversity, taking part in environmental action and serving those in need.
Co-organisers · Every April–May
Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival
Together with Fo Guang Shan Melbourne, BLIA Victoria co-organises the Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival — one of Victoria's longest-standing multicultural festivals, recognised by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government as a significant event on Melbourne's calendar.
For many years the free festival lit up Melbourne's CBD — at Federation Square and, in 2025, Golden Square on Lonsdale Street — with the Light It Up Opening Ceremony, an animated Bodhi Tree light show, fireworks, Bathing the Buddha, multicultural performances, meditation, a children's wonderland and vegetarian food.
On 26 April 2026, Fo Guang Shan Melbourne and 國際佛光會墨爾本協會 hosted the 30th Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival, themed “Harmony and Peace”, welcoming more than a thousand devotees, community members, civic leaders and multi-faith representatives — including the Mayor of Maribyrnong — and a Baby Blessing Ceremony for over a hundred families.
For more information on the Buddha's birthday and the spread of Buddhism, visit the Buddha's Birthday Education Project (BBEP) ↗ by Nan Tien Temple, home of the BBEP app.
Watch
2025 Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival highlights
Co-organisers · Spring
VEGRUN — run for the planet
VEGRUN is a global virtual charity run presented by the Pure Green Foundation with BLIA chapters around the world. Participants walk or run at their own pace, log their kilometres in the VEGRUN app and promote vegetarianism as a simple way to care for health, animals and the earth.
BLIA Victoria co-organises VEGRUN in Melbourne, bringing families, friends and colleagues together to move for a good cause. This year’s Melbourne VEGRUN is on Sunday 1 November 2026.
Meet at 2:30pm for a 3:00pm start at Albert Park Lake, Palms Lawn (beside Lakeside Carpark). Registration is $20, donated to a local charity.
Environmental action
Caring for the earth together
Protecting the environment and protecting the mind go hand in hand. As part of our environmental action, BLIA Victoria members take part in national community events alongside thousands of fellow Australians.
We take part · Every March
Clean Up Australia Day
Each March our members join Clean Up Australia Day, rolling up their sleeves to collect litter from local streets, parks and waterways. In 2026, around 30 Buddha's Light volunteers cleaned the streets of Yarraville.
We take part · Every July
National Tree Day
Each July, BLIA Victoria members, young adults and families from Er You Temple's Three Goodness School take part in National Tree Day — Australia's largest community tree-planting event — planting native seedlings to restore local bushland.
Caring for the earth is part of Venerable Master Hsing Yun's teaching to protect both the environment and the mind — and a joyful way for families to practise the Three Acts of Goodness together.
Every August · Fo Guang Shan Melbourne
Sangha Offering
A day of gratitude to the Venerables who teach and guide us — held together with the commemoration of Venerable Master Hsing Yun's birthday.
In the Buddhist tradition, making offerings to the Sangha — the monastic community — expresses thanks for the Dharma they share and plants seeds of merit and wisdom for everyone who takes part. Each August, BLIA Victoria hosts the Sangha Offering at Fo Guang Shan Melbourne. In 2026 nearly 400 members, families and friends gathered on 9 August, with the ceremony presided over by Venerable Man Ko, head of Fo Guang Shan in Australia and New Zealand.
Everyone has a part to play: members form the offering procession, and the sub-chapters, the Buddha's Light choir, BLIA Scouts, Er You Temple's children's class and BLIA YAD perform songs and dances to thank the Venerables.
Oceania · Every year
BLIA Oceania Regional Conference
Each year Buddha's Light members from across Australia and New Zealand gather for the Oceania Regional Conference to learn, share and plan together. The 2026 conference was held in Perth from 15 to 17 May, with BLIA Victoria among the co-hosts, and included a worldwide simultaneous sutra-copying practice for Fo Guang Shan's 60th anniversary.
Year-round
Serving our community
Culture
Chinese New Year
We celebrate the new year with blessings, cultural performances and community gatherings.
Education
Dharma talks & the Buddhism Exam
Talks, study groups and BLIA's worldwide Buddhism Exam help members deepen their understanding.
Fellowship
Pilgrimages & retreats
Journeys to Fo Guang Shan temples in Australia and abroad strengthen practice and friendship.
Interfaith
Interfaith & multicultural harmony
We work with faith and community groups across Victoria to promote understanding and peace.
Get involved
Make a difference with us
Every event on this page runs on the kindness of volunteers. Lend a hand — we will find the right role for you.