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Language support for Myanmar/Burmese seniors’ group in Sunshine
Settlement Program staff and Burmese participants at a group excursion to Sunshine Library. Over March and April 2017 the Language for Life program provided 15 seniors from the Burmese/Myanmar community the opportunity to develop new skills and improve their English. The eight-week program was conducted in partnership between Jesuit Social Services’ Settlement Program, Foundation House…
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Jesuit Social Services collaborates with St Vincent's Health Australia
Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards is pictured here with Toby Hall, CEO of St Vincent’s Health Australia, after signing an agreement between the two organisations that will see them work collaboratively to improve the health service response to those at the margins of society. St Vincent’s Health Australia and Jesuit Social Services are proposing…
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Singing justice: why music and youth diversion make a great mix
Young people in our Youth Justice Group Conferencing program can record their apology to victims as a song. SEZ WILKS chats to studio producer JESSE SULLIVAN about expressing remorse and avoiding ‘tough guy’ lyrics. Jesse Sullivan from Artful Dodgers Studios If sorry is one of the hardest words to say, can singing make it simpler?…
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New photo exhibition captures Brimbank’s diversity
The Diversity Through The Lens photography project promotes cross-cultural exchange in Melbourne’s west. SEZ WILKS stopped by a workshop to preview new work by Brimbank’s community photographers. Tadros and Boman, Diversity Through The Lens participants What do diversity and harmony look like? The question is front of mind for 12 Brimbank residents who are using…
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Talking to all kinds of people: Martin is a counsellor with Support After Suicide
When MARTIN RYAN was given a social work placement at Jesuit Social Services in 1978, he never imagined he’d be back in 2009. Now a counsellor with our Support After Suicide program, MARTIN chats to SEZ WILKS about a career spent helping others. “When I dropped out of school in year 12, I suddenly had…
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Giving gratefully: Chantelle donates to help people affected by suicide
Image credit: Pexels When Chantelle Bazerghi decided to become a monthly donor to our Support After Suicide program, helping other people learn about the service was front of mind. “Support After Suicide is a totally specialised service – it’s completely unique, and I hope that more people can access it.” Specialist suicide prevention services Since…
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Artful Dodgers Studios is a place of possibility
Our Artful Dodgers Studios program offers young people creativity and connection. Emerging artist Kris chats to SEZ WILKS about finding social support in the studio environment. Kris says Artful Dodgers Studios is “a place to you can go to be yourself”. Image credit: Fiona Basile When Kris came to Artful Dodgers Studios in 2014, she…
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Creating hope and community after suicide
Alex says the Support After Suicide program “creates a community, and a community can generate hope”. Image credit: Alex Aulich When Alex Aulich’s husband Damien took his life in 2008, Alex was overwhelmed by grief. “My reaction was a common one: interrogate the past, your relationship, everything. The overwhelming feelings for me were horror, self-blame…
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Mentor reward: Terence volunteers to help young people leaving care
Terence is a leaving care mentor with Jesuit Social Services. He tells SEZ WILKS why everyone needs someone to believe in them. Image credit: Pexels Terence Leong was 14 years old when he went into full-time care. Now a father, he says his experiences of foster and residential care inspired him to volunteer with young…
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Legacy of support: how Connexions improves youth mental health and substance abuse
Connexions is Victoria’s longest-running service for youth facing both mental health and drug and alcohol issues. SEZ WILKS chats to Connexions counsellor BECKY HALLIDAY about the changes one young woman has made through the program. Connexions was Victoria’s first dual diagnosis service for young people with concurrent mental health and substance abuse problems. Image: Fiona…