Our thinking Archives - Jesuit Social Services

World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023
- 24 September 2023
Avoiding death and danger isn’t enough to live a life that’s truly free, writes Andy Hamilton SJ to mark this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Reflection: Australia must enact a Human Rights Act
- 21 September 2023
Jesuit Social Services’ rights-based approach to advocacy and service provision is grounded in our belief that every person’s rights and freedoms must be protected. Here, Andy Hamilton SJ reflects on our recommendation that the Federal Government enact a Human Rights Act – building on our...
Deepening our conversation on The Voice to Parliament
- 19 September 2023
Jesuit Social Services supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament and throughout 2023, we are advocating for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum. We were honoured to welcome Amanda Watkinson, who is an Aboriginal woman and former Jesuit Social Services staff member, to speak to staff at our recent All Staff Day in June about what a YES vote would mean for Indigenous peoples and for Australia as a whole.
National Gender Equality Strategy must address harmful ideas about all genders
- 29 June 2023
Jesuit Social Services made a submission to the Federal Government’s National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in 2022. We advocated for a strategy that recognises and addresses harmful gender norms. The Strategy is due to be released in the second half of 2023.
NAIDOC Week 2023
- 28 June 2023
Like all the celebrations of Australian identity this year, the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week falls under the light of the Referendum on the Voice.
Reflecting on the role of neighbourhood houses under a changing climate
- 22 June 2023
Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places worked with a network of neighbourhood houses in Darebin to create a climate action and resilience plan in 2022. Inspired by this process, the Centre co-designed a framework with the Darebin network which can be used to guide strategic action planning and advocacy for networks of neighbourhood houses across the country. No similar framework currently exists for neighbourhood house networks. Below are some of our reflections from this work.
Jesuit Social Services’ commitment to Restorative Practice
- 9 June 2023
Jesuit Social Services takes pride in delivering supports and services that recognise a person’s individual needs, experiences and story. We develop strong relationships and connections with the people and communities we work alongside to help facilitate positive change and create better outcomes....
‘Open door’ place-based approach facilitates culturally safe space for First Nations people
- 31 May 2023
Recently, Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places, our hub for place-based action, research and advocacy, was commissioned by the Victorian government to investigate what makes some place-based approaches so effective. Our team, alongside partners RMIT University, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Queensland, explored existing literature and practice, publishing a research report and case studies across the state, including the Latrobe Valley Authority.
Reflection: Designing and implementing justice reinvestment in Australia
- 26 May 2023
Read Andy Hamilton SJ's reflection on community led justice reinvestment to support our submission to the Justice Reinvestment Design Project.
Voice to Parliament web resources
- 24 May 2023
Jesuit Social Services supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. This page contains a list of relevant resources.

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Voice to Parliament