-
National Sorry Day: "The Apology is not an event. It is a way of life."
It seems an age since the Australian Parliament apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children taken away from their parents. At the time it seemed a brand new day; even now, children continue to catch the freshness of what was done and are inspired by it. But the condition of...
-
Community legal centre cuts will hurt the most vulnerable
This National Law Week, Jesuit Social Services has joined a coalition of organisations from the legal and social services sectors to support the Law Institute of Australia’s Legal Aid Matters campaign....
-
Youth unemployment scheme must meet the needs of the most vulnerable jobseekers
Youth unemployment is one of the most important issues facing our nation and this week’s 2016-17 Federal Budget contains some positive initiatives and investments towards addressing this....
-
2016-17 Victorian State Budget responds to needs of a growing population
The 2016-17 Victorian State Budget has been welcomed by the community and social services sector....
-
PNG Supreme Court finding on Manus Island shaming for Australians to read
In recent days the plight of the people whom Australia has despatched to Manus Island has twice been highlighted. The Four Corners program on the death of Mr Hamid Khazaei displayed in horrifying detail the negligence, indifference, lack of urgency and priority given to following bureaucratic...
-
Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody: up to us to improve outcomes for future generations
Today marks 25 years since the landmark Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody handed down its final report. The report made 339 recommendations on how the Federal Government could work to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in our criminal justice system....
-
Frank Brennan SJ on Patrick Dodson's Senate mandate
On 15 April 1991, 25 years ago this Friday, Elliott Johnston QC, Patrick Dodson and their fellow commissioners signed off on their final reports for the long running royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody....
-
Returning to learning: re-engaging disadvantaged learners in education and training
Every year 10,000 Victorian students disengage from the education system....
-
Family violence needs whole community response
Over the last few years Australians have become much more aware of the extent of family violence and of its effects on victims and perpetrators. The tragic death of Luke Batty and the advocacy of Rosie Batty, his mother, were catalysts for this change....