Our thinking Archives - Page 22 of 33 - Jesuit Social Services

Quality childcare and education crucial to achieve positive outcomes in adult life
- 17 December 2018
Australia is below the OECD average in investment in early childhood education, and our political leaders must prioritise the care and education needed by children before they reach five, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy and Advocacy volunteer TONY SANTOSPIRITO. This year’s report Lifting Our Game: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian…
With suicide on the rise, postvention services can save lives
- 3 December 2018
In September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its annual Causes of Death report which provides analysis on Australia’s leading causes of death. Deaths by suicide 2008-2017 It showed that the number of people who died by suicide in Australia in 2017 rose by 9.1 per cent from 2016, and that suicide remains the leading…
Adequate funding for postvention programs can reduce the risk of further suicide
- 21 November 2018
Programs like Support After Suicide, which work with people bereaved by the loss of a loved one, also work to reduce the risk of further suicide. With suicide numbers on the rise, it is important programs like this receive adequate funding, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy and Advocacy volunteer TONY SANTOSPIRITO. Many Australians have been…
Give people a home, and you give them a second chance to get their lives on track
- 20 November 2018
Unstable housing is the most significant factor affecting the likelihood of somebody returning to prison. If we want to reduce re-offending and create a safer society, we must ensure people leaving prison have access to safe and secure housing, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy, Research and Advocacy Officer JEMIMA HOFFMAN. The recidivism rate in Victoria…
Keeping young people engaged with school means better outcomes for the whole community
- 16 November 2018
More than half of the young people involved in Victoria’s youth justice system have been suspended or expelled from school. The Navigator program helps keep vulnerable young people connected with education – and more children should have access to it, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. The links between disengagement from education…
Victorian election is a time to commit to solutions to fix our broken youth justice system
- 14 November 2018
The next Victorian Government must commit to solutions to fix our broken youth justice system – including a rollback of regressive sentencing practices, raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years and investing in diversion programs, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy and Advocacy volunteer AARON BATCHELOR. Youth justice is at a crossroads…
The National Apology for child abuse - Let’s support all victims
- 26 October 2018
This week’s national apology to victims of child sexual abuse is an important acknowledgement of past failure to protect our children and young people. But it is vital that all people have the right to access compensation, support to rehabilitate, and an opportunity to heal, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy, Research and Advocacy Officer JEMIMA…
Secure, long-term funding for postvention services can save lives
- 11 October 2018
New statistics shows the number of Australians who die by suicide has increased – which means more people bereaved by suicide are at heightened risk. This World Mental Health Week, we want to see secure, long-term funding for postvention services, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. Last month the Australian Bureau of…
New reports show the failings of the Victorian youth detention system
- 25 September 2018
New reports by the Victorian Auditor-General’s office and Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People highlight the significant strain the state’s youth detention system is under – and the harmful impact this has on the rehabilitation prospects of young people. It’s time for evidence-based solutions, writes Jesuit Social Services’ KATHRYN KERNOHAN. The failings of the…
New report reveals impact of isolation in prison
- 13 September 2018
A new report by Jesuit Social Services reveals the physical and mental impact that isolation can have on young adults in the Victorian prison system. Change is needed to improve their chances of rehabilitation and reintegration in the community, writes Jesuit Social Services Communications volunteer LIAM FALLON. Like many others, James was transferred from a youth…