Our thinking Archives - Page 3 of 35 - Jesuit Social Services

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…
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…
Postvention funding can work to reduce suicide rate
- 13 April 2018
Secure, long-term funding to support people bereaved by suicide will ultimately save lives, writes Jesuit Social Services volunteer FRAN SHEAHAN. Allan thought about taking his own life following the suicide of Don, his partner of 22 years. Jesuit Social Services’ Support After Suicide program supported him through a period of deep grief and, thanks to…
Political leaders must support, not punish, vulnerable Australians
- 10 January 2018
Tens of thousands of Australians will be impacted by proposed welfare reform measures. It’s time for our political leaders to support, not punish vulnerable people, writes Jesuit Social Services Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. In 2017 the Federal Government courted controversy by proposing to drug test welfare recipients, despite evidence from several US states that…
Vulnerable young people need support, not stigma
- 3 January 2018
Focusing on punitive measures as a means of tackling crime deprives us of the opportunity to constructively discuss effective solutions that address the causes of alienation and disengagement young people often experience, writes Jesuit Social Services Communications Coordinator ANDREW GILLETT. Jesuit Social Services has been working with young people who have been involved with the…
Anti-Poverty Week: small things matter in our quest to eradicate poverty
- 15 October 2017
Anti-Poverty Week (October 15-21) is a chance to reflect on issues of poverty and hardship, both locally and globally. ANDY HAMILTON SJ writes that small things matter in our quest to eradicate poverty. We usually think of poverty as something that afflicts third world nations. But it is also present in Australia – shamefully so,…
Improving mental health services benefits the whole community
- 3 January 2017
We must ensure mental health services give people the help they need before they reach the acute end of the criminal justice system, writes our CEO, JULIE EDWARDS. Almost one in five Australians will experience a mental illness over any 12-month period. One particularly vulnerable group is people who come into contact with the justice…
Disadvantage must be considered as a central issue in response to disability
- 12 August 2016
Jesuit Social Services recently provided a submission to the discussion paper of the Victorian state disability plan for 2017-2020. The Victorian state disability plan is a government policy framework for improving the way services and environments work for people with disabilities. Our submission, highlighted the issues for people with cognitive disabilities in the criminal justice…
Homelessness is a scandal and must not be allowed to continue
- 1 August 2016
National homelessness week is always an embarrassment. And rightly so. We pride ourselves that we are a respectful society, but there is no greater sign of disrespect than to allow people to be homeless. Nothing eats into our self-respect more than to wonder where we and our family will sleep tonight. Too many Australians are…
Calling for Just Justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cognitive impairments
- 21 June 2016
In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cognitive impairments are being indefinitely detained in prison despite not being charged. In 2014 the Australian Human Rights Commission found that the inability of both the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments to provide adequate accommodation and support services for four Indigenous men with disabilities…