Media releases Archives - Page 22 of 32

Isolation in detention has irreversible impact on young adults
- 10 September 2018
James (not his real name) was a teenager when he was subjected to isolation in detention. For 22 hours a day, he was locked in his cell. For the other two hours he was permitted out of his cell with a small group of fellow prisoners. When James left prison and returned to the community,…
Damning report reveals extent of youth detention system failings
- 8 August 2018
A damning report tabled today by the Victorian Auditor-General’s office reveals the shocking failures of the youth detention system to rehabilitate young people involved in the system, ultimately failing to reduce reoffending, says Jesuit Social Services. The report on Managing Rehabilitation Services in Youth Detention finds that young people in detention have not been receiving…
Letter to the Editor re: African young people in Victoria
- 19 July 2018
The below letter was submitted to the Herald-Sun on July 18, 2018 with regard to recent comments made by the Prime Minister about young African people in Victoria. Dear Editor, Comments by the Prime Minister regarding young African people in Victoria this week have been inflammatory, misleading and unhelpful. Rita Panahi’s article responding to comments…
Support for frontline staff means less crime and fewer victims
- 29 June 2018
This week’s investment of $2.77 million to support the Northern Territory’s frontline workers in child protection, youth justice and domestic violence services will ultimately result in less crime and fewer victims, says Jesuit Social Services. “Our child protection and youth justice workers play vital roles in supporting some of the community’s most marginalized children and…
Victorian mandatory sentencing will result in more vulnerable people caught in the prison system
- 20 June 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JUNE 20, 2018 New laws to impose a mandatory sentence for assaults on emergency services workers are poorly considered, rushed and misguided, says Jesuit Social Services. “These laws will unfairly impact on vulnerable Victorians, remove judicial discretion, and further clog our courts and prison systems,” says Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie…
Restricting prisoner access to redress scheme denies human rights
- 19 June 2018
A coalition of representatives from Australia’s legal, human rights and community services sectors have signed an open letter to state and Federal Attorneys-General and Social Services Minister Dan Tehan, urging them to ensure people with criminal convictions have access to the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child abuse. “We welcome the…
New youth justice data shows Australia is failing Aboriginal children
- 29 May 2018
A tenfold over-representation of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people in the criminal justice system shows that Australia is failing vulnerable children, and raising the age of criminal responsibility and culturally-specific responses should be among the solutions to address the issue, says Jesuit Social Services. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Youth…
A joint Catholic statement about bridging visas
- 25 May 2018
In 2016 a small number of people seeking asylum were evacuated from Nauru and sent to Australia in need of medical care and support. Many of these people were experiencing complex health needs in addition to the trauma and persecution they had faced on their journeys to Australia. The Federal Government is now seeking to…
Federal Government’s decision to strip income support is shameful
- 24 May 2018
The Federal Government’s decision to strip income support and housing from a group of highly vulnerable families seeking asylum in Australia will impact the entire community, says Jesuit Social Services. “We are appalled that the Federal Government is continuing its cruel campaign of needlessly punishing people who have sought asylum in Australia,” says Jesuit Social…
Investment in education key to keeping children and young people on track
- 1 May 2018
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the Government’s $44 million expansion of the Navigator education program statewide. This program, which has been operating as a pilot in selected areas, has proven successful in keeping marginalized young people in school. Jesuit Social Services delivers Navigator in the Hume and Moreland regions and in its submission to the 2018/19…