CAPSA helps students meet the candidates - Jesuit Social Services

In the lead up to the Federal election, students from Parade College (Bundoora and Preston) as well as Santa Maria College (Northcote) met local candidates to discuss their views on policies surrounding people seeking asylum.

A group of 25 students from across both schools met with Australian Labor Party candidate and current Member for Batman, David Feeney, on Wednesday June 1. Students asked pointed questions about Labor’s commitment to a more compassionate policy. Length of processing, offshore processing, and working with the UNHCR, were all topics of discussion between the students and their local member.

Students from Parade College presented Mr Feeney with a letter for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten outlining the school’s belief, based in a strong Catholic tradition, of a policy of compassion over cruelty for people seeking asylum. Likewise, students from Santa Maria College asked Mr Feeney to share a welcoming message for people seeking asylum on his Facebook page and possibly at his office.

This meeting is a part of a series that the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA), of which Jesuit Social Services takes a lead role, is facilitating between schools and local candidates. Students from Santa Maria will later meet Greens candidate for Batman, Alex Bhathal, whom students from Parade have already met with.

CAPSA hopes to build capacity for political engagement amongst students, future voters and leaders of this country, and show them that they have the power to affect political change.

Alliance key to climate justice in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is on the frontline of intensifying heat, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. Remote communities and homelands across the Territory are particularly at risk of these impacts with many Aboriginal communities already facing food insecurity, a lack of safe drinking water and access to reliable, affordable electricity. The Climate Justice Alliance, established in the Territory in 2021, strives towards a just transition - one that focuses on adapting to the impacts of climate change, and on the alternative economic futures needed to ensure justice for people and planet.

Neighbourhood houses building climate resilience and community connections

In the city of Darebin, nestled in the inner north of Melbourne, there are many community members who experience multiple forms of disadvantage and are vulnerable to the impacts of heat. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the Centre for Just Places is working closely with communities like Darebin, to build climate resilience. The Centre empowers them to cope with the impacts of climate change and to continue thriving as connected, vibrant communities.

School canteens feed curiosity

The Currawong Kitchen school canteen was established in 2020 to provide healthy school snacks, catering, and food hampers to families in the historically disadvantaged and under-serviced area of Mount Druitt. Two school canteens now sit alongside Jesuit Social Services’ affordable grocery stores, Ignite Food Store and Open Pantry, where the parents of school children can shop in a supportive, educational, low-cost setting. As Chandelle, who oversees Jesuit Social Services' food security programs in Western Sydney, explains "We’re different from a typical school canteen. We’re passionate about inspiring children to be curious about what they eat and encourage them to try a variety of healthy foods. We want them to develop their palates and trust their taste."

Sharing our vision with Jesuit leaders

In January, Jesuit Social Services was honoured to host special visitors from the global Jesuit community. Fr Arturo Sosa SJ is the Father-General of the Society of Jesus, the global leader of the Jesuit Order. When he visited Australia for the first time, we were delighted that he made time to visit our Richmond office. This is the first time a Father-General has visited Jesuit Social Services.

Annual Dinner 2024

More than 200 people gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 1st for Jesuit Social Services’ Annual Dinner. The event has traditionally sought to deliver a thought-providing keynote on important social justice issues, give attendees a chance to network and mingle, while raising funds for the organisation’s work. But this year, fundraising took a back seat in favour of more time to connect and build relationships.

Nine Yarra neighbourhood houses join forces to strengthen local climate resilience

Nine Yarra neighbourhood houses gathered this week to launch a plan to reduce their environmental footprint and support the local community to adapt to climate change.

Open Pantry helping provide food security and connection

Hear how Open Pantry delivers healthy meals and community for the Western Sydney residents.