New partnership connecting talent with opportunity - Jesuit Social Services

Brewing Skills and Confidence: Graduation day for Jesuit Community College’s Barista and Café Operations students

“The more I came to class, the more I never wanted it to end.” That’s how Michael, one of Jesuit Community College’s newest graduates, described his experience in the Barista and Café Operations course — a three-month program designed to give young people hands-on skills in hospitality, food safety and café service.

“It just didn’t feel like a regular hospitality business, it was something more special.” A final farewell to our beloved Ignite café

“It just didn't feel like a regular hospitality business, it was something more special.” This was the sentiment echoed by employees and customers alike as we recently farewelled our social enterprise Ignite café program in Camberwell, Victoria. Ignite café supported people facing barriers to work or training to build both skills and meaningful connections, helping…

Growing skills and relationships in the garden.

“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…

“I’ve been building a desk for my house, it’s really cool”.

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…

Homework Club’s annual Iftar event continues to bring the community closer

At Kensington Town Hall in inner-city Melbourne, children as young as three gathered round a large table spilling over the edges in glitter pens, Ramadan themed colouring pages and games. Amidst the buzz of artistic chaos, Tatil, a participant of Jesuit Social Services’ Homework Club program since grade one, now in grade nine, mentioned, “the…

Making something out of nothing: from bottle tops to tools and wisdom

Most people see discarded bottle caps from milk and soft drink bottles as rubbish. Stuart Muir Wilson, Program Coordinator at our Ecological Justice Hub, sees them as a way to reimagine climate education and climate action in schools.

Aboriginal Diversity Recruitment program graduates have ‘everything needed’ to start careers with Victoria Police

Six graduates who ‘may never have considered’ applying for Victoria Police are a step closer to sitting and passing the Academy’s entrance exam after successfully completing the second-ever Victoria Police Aboriginal Diversity Recruitment Program.