Our stories

Building a just society means elevating everyone by supporting all people to reach their full potential. Every success story is crucial because none of us can flourish, until we all do.

Legacy of support: how Connexions improves youth mental health and substance abuse
- 3 December 2016
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. When Katie* joined Jesuit Social Services’ Connexions program in 2016, she was struggling with an alcohol problem and mental illness.…
Totes Making A Diff: bagging funds for Artful Dodgers Studios
- 6 November 2016
A new social enterprise, Totes Making A Diff, has partnered with our Artful Dodgers Studios program in Collingwood. The initiative launched in Melbourne recently with a huge opening night party at Collarts in Fitzroy. Totes Making A Diff engages local artists to illustrate limited edition screen-printed tote bags. Artful Dodgers Studios receives 50% of profits…
Artful Dodgers Studios artist receives gift of music from new fans
- 2 August 2016
Support for the work of Jesuit Social Services comes in all shapes and sizes. A didgeridoo, made in Darwin 20 years ago, was recently donated to Artful Dodgers Studio participant and young indigenous performer Brent Watkins. The musical gift came from members of the Living Faith Church in Greensborough, who were "captivated and very moved"…
Artful Dodgers at National Catholic Education Conference
- 4 July 2016
Representatives from Jesuit Social Services have taken a leading role in activities at the recent national National Catholic Education Conference in Perth. With a conference message of 'Faith to Lead - Lead to Faith,’ the event was attended by more than 1,300 Catholic educators from around Australia and the world. Presenting a number of highly…
Artful Dodgers Studios gets Grill'd
- 16 February 2016
The innovative work of Jesuit Social Services gets invaluable community support from far and wide, which now extends to leading hamburger chain Grill'd. Grill'd recently became supporters of our Artful Dodgers Studios when patrons at the Richmond restaurant voted Jesuit Social Services as the organisation most deserving of support. Manager of Richmond Grill'd, Alex Wyllie…
Block Party
- 19 December 2015
We took part in the Block Party held on December 10th in the Atherton Garden Reserve on Napier Street, Fitzroy. Hundreds of people attended this free event, hosted by Yarra Youth Services and the Yarra Council. The event provided entertainment aimed for the residents living in the housing commission apartments nearby, along with people living…
Day of People with Disability (Dec 3)
- 3 December 2015
Carparks bring out the best and worst in people. Most carparks thoughtfully leave special parking spaces for people who are disabled. Most people respect them. But others without a disability often squat in the reserved places. And people who can walk only short distances, but have no outward signs of disability, are sometimes abused when…
Christos
- 6 November 2015
“Coming here has definitely helped me in a lot of ways, mainly in becoming a lot more sociable. It has helped my confidence in some ways but more socially – just meeting new people and being around people similar to you is a really good thing. I just love the atmosphere whenever I go into…
New sounds from Dodgers
- 30 October 2015
A new breed of young innovative recording artists will feature on the latest CD to be released by the Artful Dodgers Studio called ''REVERBERATE.'' To be released at 5 pm on the November 19 at the prestigious Victorian Arts Centre, the new disc features emerging young artists like Sudanese girl rapper Ronika, acoustic trio Eric's…
Players and dodgers
- 26 October 2015
Jesuit Social Services Artful Dodgers studio staff and participants recently teamed up with loyal and longtime supportive community group the Gertrude Players, for a night of live music, laughs, dancing and trivial pursuit. ''Trivia & Tunes 90s Rock'' was held at the Collingwood Town Hall and attracted more than 300 patrons and…