About CollabOratory

CollabOratory is a web app which facilitates creative collaborations for young people. The purpose of this app is to offer young creatives access to a safe and supervised network of creative peers, as well as creative resources, facilities, and mentors. The app is the initiative of the Australia-Pacific province of the Salesian Society - a Catholic organisation of priests and brothers dedicated to the service of disadvantaged youth. The Salesian Society has traditionally carried out its ministry in educative youth centres called Oratories, modelled upon the original institution established by the Society’s founder, Don Bosco. This app has been designed to reflect the experience of these traditional Oratories as places of welcome, social interaction, engaged learning, and Christian values.

Background to CollabOratory

In his 2009 address for the 43rd World Communications Day, the Catholic Pope Benedict XVI drew the Church’s attention to the emerging reality of the internet as a “digital continent,” and specifically entrusted young Catholics with the task of spreading the Gospel there. Inspired by this, the Salesian Society recognised their responsibility to establish creative digital presences to assist the young in this mission. In 2024, the Salesians’ Social Communications Commission held a global conference in Rome for its 90 province delegates to discuss the most effective way of achieving this. Among the key proposals was the plan to facilitate content creation collaborations for young people in settings which reflect Salesian values - preferably digital settings.

CollabOratory has been designed by Fr. Jeff Miller SDB, the Salesians’ social communications delegate for the Australia-Pacific province.