Media releases Archives - Jesuit Social Services

‘Adult time for violent crime’ laws won’t reduce youth crime or improve community safety
- 12 November 2025
The Victorian Government’s plan to introduce ‘adult time for violent crime’ laws – which could see children aged 14 sentenced to life in prison – is deeply concerning, will not make the community safer and is incompatible with the fundamental rights of children.
Closing the Gap report highlights need for national leadership on children and young people
- 1 August 2025
The Productivity Commission’s annual Closing the Gap report finds that just four of 19 targets are on track to be met, and that outcomes are worsening across a range of indicators for Aboriginal children and young people, demonstrating the need for Federal leadership to ensure vulnerable individuals, families and communities are supported to thrive.
State Budget a missed opportunity to focus on prevention and early intervention
- 20 May 2025
The Victorian Government’s 2025-26 State Budget, handed down today, includes some positive investments to support the community to address current cost-of-living challenges. But, with well over half a billion dollars being invested into expanding the state’s prison system, it is ultimately a missed opportunity to invest more into prevention and early intervention to support stronger…
Expanding prison capacity is money spent at wrong end of the system
- 13 May 2025
A $727 million expansion of Victoria’s prison capacity, announced ahead of the 2025/26 State Budget, is money spent at the wrong end of the system and won’t do anything to prevent crime in the long run, says Jesuit Social Services.
Federal Budget a missed opportunity for national leadership on youth justice
- 27 March 2025
The 2025-26 Federal Budget represents a missed opportunity for the Federal Government to show national leadership on youth justice at a time when many states and territories are shunning the evidence of what works in preventing crime.
State Budget must prioritise funding of early intervention support to help Victorians to flourish
- 14 March 2025
The Victorian Government’s 2025-26 State Budget must prioritise the funding, or re-funding, of critical services that support marginalised people and communities to flourish.
Proposed Victorian bail reforms won’t prevent crime
- 13 March 2025
The Victorian Government’s bail reforms, which will be introduced into Parliament next week, focus on the wrong end of the system when more investment is needed in preventing crime from occurring.
Federal Budget must protect nation's children, says Jesuit Social Services
- 5 February 2025
Jesuit Social Services has called on the Federal Government to appoint a Minister for Children and invest in evidence-backed intervention to reduce family violence, child sexual abuse, and address failing youth justice systems.
Latest crime statistics highlight need for early intervention to prevent youth crime, gender-based violence
- 20 December 2024
The latest release from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency shows the number of young people committing offences has dropped over the past year, but that the number of crimes each young person is committing has increased.
Postvention should be part of the narrative this World Suicide Prevention Day
- 10 September 2024
Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, Jesuit Social Services’ Support After Suicide program remembers and honours the lives lost to suicide and acknowledges the immense grief and incredible strength of their loved ones left behind.