Our thinking Archives - Jesuit Social Services

Young people are worth a second chance.
- 10 June 2024
The age of criminal responsibility has been much debated recently. Victoria has committed to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 this year, and to 14 in 2027. The Northern Territory has raised it to 12, and the ACT is in the process of doing so. Other states are planning, considering, or…
World Environment Day 2024
- 5 June 2024
"And yet there are grounds for hope, if not for optimism." Read Andy Hamilton SJ's reflection on World Environment Day 2024.
Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week
- 25 May 2024
Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week must be a time of sober commitment by all Australians to the unfinished task of Reconciliation, reflects Andy Hamilton SJ.
Climate emergency and prisons don’t mix
- 22 March 2024
On a 38-degree December day in the middle of the desert, 15 people incarcerated at Alice Springs Correctional Centre used t-shirts and pedestal fans to rip a hole in a ceiling, in a desperate attempt to escape the stifling heat of their overcrowded cells. The incident reignited calls to air-condition the prison – one recommendation…
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 recent contribution to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights…
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…
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.
Review of Victoria prison system highlights need for better trained workers
- 3 April 2023
A recent report found Victoria’s prison system is rife with bullying, harassment, sexism and racism – creating an unsafe workplace for staff and impacting on the ability for prisoners to turn their lives around. Victoria must look at international best practice and ensure its staff are equipped and supported to perform challenging work.
Raising the age of criminal responsibility
- 13 December 2022
Raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years has been a key policy focus for Jesuit Social Services for almost a decade, and 2022 has seen us increase our advocacy to achieve this goal.
Victorian State Election 2022: Permanently extend access to Navigator to primary school aged children
- 30 November 2022
Our Victorian election platform advocates for funding for initiatives that enable people to re-engage with education, training and employment, such as our Navigator and JVES programs.

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