Rev. Bill Crews AM is one of Australia’s most respected faith leaders, social advocates and community innovators. Ordained in the Uniting Church and based in Sydney’s inner west, he has spent more than five decades working alongside people living through homelessness, poverty, trauma and social exclusion. Before entering ministry, Bill trained as an engineer and worked in microelectronic research, where he built Australia’s first machine for growing ultra-pure single-crystal silicon. His life changed course after volunteering at Sydney’s Wayside Chapel, where he helped establish Australia’s first 24-hour crisis centre and went on to lead pioneering programs supporting vulnerable children, young people and families. These included early services focused on child abuse prevention, family reunification, youth refuge and drug education – work that reflected a deep and practical commitment to dignity, protection and opportunity for every child.
In 1986, Bill founded what became the Rev. Bill Crews Foundation, now recognised as one of Sydney’s leading frontline charities. Through free meals, health care, literacy support, counselling, and trauma-informed programs for children and families, the Foundation continues to provide tangible care to those most in need and to serve “the person in front of us”. More recently, BCF has expanded its programs to support local NGOs operating in some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian environments. Bill has also been a longstanding advocate for interfaith understanding, social justice and the rights of marginalised communities. His service has been recognised through numerous honours, including appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia and inclusion among Australia’s National Living Treasures. In 2024, he was appointed one of UNICEF’s three Global Faith Envoys, a role that reflects his longstanding commitment to advancing children’s rights, building trust across cultures and faiths, and championing compassionate responses to vulnerability both in Australia and internationally.
In March 2026, Bill was awarded the NSW Multicultural Community Harmony Medal.
