The 'Voices for Justice' gathering was part of the Micah Challenge campaign of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice.

Mr and Mrs Jansz, who attend the Essendon Baptist Community Church, applied for the chance to talk to politicians such as federal Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten about reducing poverty and tackling climate change.

Ms Jansz, who works as a disability case manager at Wesley Mission in Footscray, said the four-day event was a great chance to have a say.

"We are quite aware of social justice issues. It's our passion. It was really exciting. It gave us more passion. It was good to network with people from other aid organisations."

Ms Jansz said speaking to Mr Shorten was an ideal opportunity for local people to have a greater impact.

"He just kept pushing for us to tell more people to write letters because they really do count.

"All of them [the MPs] just kept saying 'we need more support from our electorate. Once we know this is one of our electorate's main issues we'll do something about it'."

Micah Challenge is a global movement of aid and development agencies, churches, schools, groups and individuals who want to deepen their engagement with poor communities and influence world leaders to meet their commitments to the United Nation's

Millennium Development Goals.

Campaign details: www.micahchallenge.org.au