Our stories Archives - Jesuit Social Services

To have my boy back is beyond words
- 19 January 2025
Hear how our Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility is supporting men exiting prison to move on from their offending and rebuild their lives.
Our justice work described as “credit worthy and unique” by global expert
- 18 January 2025
In November, we hosted renowned international criminal justice systems expert Dr Baz Dreisinger for a day. Baz founded the Prison-to-College Pipeline program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and as Executive Director of Incarceration Nations Network she investigates how justice can be done differently around the world. Baz has written books,…
Tailored support enables ReConnect participants to flourish
- 16 January 2025
As Father Brosnan once said, “Three things that I have noted are needed by someone leaving prison are: a place to live that is decent, a job they can handle, and friendship.” Our ReConnect program echoes this wisdom by providing the comprehensive support that enables participants to flourish. It provides up to nine months assistance…
A Q&A with Dr Baz Dreisinger
- 18 December 2024
In November, we were lucky to host renowned global justice systems expert Dr Baz Dreisinger for a day. An inspiring proponent of restorative justice, Baz founded the Prison-to-College Pipeline program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and now as Executive Director of Incarceration Nations Network is travelling the world investigating how…
Healing through dialogue: Callum’s path to making amends
- 29 October 2024
Participating in a Youth Justice Group Conference gave Callum the chance to apologise in person to the people he harmed, talk about things from his perspective, and then listen to the impact of his offending. Callum came out of the group conference with an agreed outcome plan, making commitments to enrol at a TAFE, avoid anti-social…
"My career is head work and volunteer work is heart work" - how Lucy's volunteer role is helping young people to thrive
- 20 August 2024
With two decades of volunteering experience under her belt, Lucy Losinno was looking for a new way to help in 2020 when she came across the Community Connections Mentoring program, and decided to give Jesuit Social Services a call. Hear how her support is helping her participant to "live her dream."
Growing skills and relationships in the garden.
- 12 June 2024
“I have grown as a person over the last 15 months, and I know doing this has helped me gain a lot of knowledge, not just about gardening but about myself,” says Jim*. Jesuit Community College, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, runs the program to support men who are in…
How conversation helped Billy reflect on harm caused.
- 11 June 2024
"It was like a wake-up call for me that I had to change, I needed to stop doing bad stuff and concentrate on my future,” said Billy*. He had taken part in Jesuit Social Services’ Youth Justice Group Conference program. The process encouraged him to take responsibility and to make amends for his offending.
"I've been building a desk for my house, it's really cool".
- 9 June 2024
Christian* is a student at the Ignatius Learning Centre. For the first time in his life, he now looks forward to school every day. “I didn’t like any teachers at my old school, but I don’t mind some of the teachers here, so that’s good and it’s cool. They know how to approach kids, it’s…
How dialogue helped Billy reflect on harm caused
- 8 January 2024
16-year-old Billy* did the wrong thing under the influence of drugs and older peers, but took responsibility for his actions through our Youth Justice Group Conferencing program. Billy is a 16-year-old boy born in the Northern Territory who moved to Darwin several years ago with with his step-uncle. He had recently started to drink and…

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