Our thinking Archives - Page 23 of 33 - Jesuit Social Services

Isolation of young people in prison leads to irreversible damage
- 5 September 2018
Victoria’s adult prison population grew by 71 per cent over the 10 years to 2017 – an extra 3,006 people. This is largely attributable to changes to bail laws: the adult remand population soared more than 150 per cent over the same period, and 38 per cent of young adults in prison are on remand.…
Migrant and Refugee Sunday invites us to extend our compassion beyond our own suburb, city and nation
- 26 August 2018
World Migrant and Refugee Sunday (August 26) invites us to extend our compassion beyond our own suburb, city and nation, and reminds us that the plight of refugees and immigrants is worldwide, writes ANDY HAMILTON SJ. World Migrant and Refugee Sunday is celebrated by Catholics around the world. It invites us to extend our compassion beyond…
Shift in illicit drug rhetoric and policy should not be considered soft
- 8 August 2018
An expansion of the successful Drug Court and trial of a Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Victoria are are examples of a health-based response that reflects a compassionate, evidence-based policy agenda, writes Jesuit Social Services’ policy volunteer MITCHELL GLASS. Collectively, there is a growing recognition that the current ‘war on drugs’ approach is not an effective…
This Homelessness Week, it is time to focus on young people
- 6 August 2018
Many young people who have contact with the youth justice system have experienced insecure or unsafe housing, or homelessness. Jesuit Social Services’ Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN writes that this Homelessness Week, it’s time to focus on housing for vulnerable young people to ultimately prevent crime. More than 116,000 Australians are homeless on any given…
NAIDOC Week - time to celebrate the strong women who have spoken truth to power in Australia
- 6 July 2018
The theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week – Because of her, we can – is timely for all Australians and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the strong women who have spoken truth to power in Australia, writes ANDY HAMILTON SJ. The origins of NAIDOC Week came out of a Day of Mourning for the destruction…
Francis' ordeal reveals failings of NDIS and the prison system
- 4 July 2018
The story of a young man named Francis reveals significant failings of both the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the criminal justice system – and his plight must lead to better outcomes for people like him in the future, writes Jesuit Social Services Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. In November 2017, a young man…
Refugee Week - finding a home in Australia does not heal all the wounds of people’s past
- 16 June 2018
This Refugee Week (June 17 to 23), ANDY HAMILTON SJ writes that for vulnerable people who arrive in Australia as refugees, finding a new home does not heal all the wounds of people’s past. Refugee Week this year invites us to raise our eyes briefly from the barbarity of Manus Island and Nauru to take a…
Education and employment key to overcoming disadvantage
- 9 June 2018
Jesuit Social Services works with people who are often frustrated at the lack of access to job opportunities. This is most acute for people from disadvantaged backgrounds who often lack employment experience. Research by the Productivity Commission notes that more than 30 per cent of people who are unemployed experience deep social exclusion. In a…
National Reconciliation Week - it is important for all Australians not to keep our history a mystery
- 26 May 2018
National Reconciliation Week is a reminder that Indigenous Australians have faced challenges to educate an Australian public that prefers not to be reminded of the wrongs Indigenous Australians have suffered or of the need for reconciliation, writes ANDY HAMILTON SJ. The theme of National Reconciliation Week (May 27 – June 3) this year is ‘Don’t keep…
Law Week - Time to treat children with a restorative justice and welfare approach
- 18 May 2018
This Law Week, it’s time to talk about the need to raise the age of criminal responsibility to better support young children, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. This week is Law Week (May 14-20), an opportunity for members of the community to learn more about elements of the legal system as…