Our thinking Archives - Page 31 of 32 - Jesuit Social Services

Youth unemployment scheme must meet the needs of the most vulnerable jobseekers
- 5 May 2016
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. Jesuit Social Services believes that a $750 million investment into assisting young people with the transition from education to employment is a step in the right direction, however…
2016-17 Victorian State Budget responds to needs of a growing population
- 5 May 2016
The 2016-17 Victorian State Budget has been welcomed by the community and social services sector. The Budget responds to the needs of a growing Victorian population with investment of $925 million in education infrastructure, $3.2 billion on public transport and funding for child and family services (including $133 million for Maternal and Child Health Services…
PNG Supreme Court finding on Manus Island shaming for Australians to read
- 27 April 2016
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 procedures over the value of a human life. The…
Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody: up to us to improve outcomes for future generations
- 15 April 2016
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. Twenty five years later it is an indictment on our nation that we…
Frank Brennan SJ on Patrick Dodson's Senate mandate
- 15 April 2016
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. That commission was set up by the Hawke government at the end of 1987 to investigate 99 Aboriginal deaths that…
Returning to learning: re-engaging disadvantaged learners in education and training
- 7 April 2016
Every year 10,000 Victorian students disengage from the education system. We know that people who drop out of school often experience multiple and complex disadvantage with an increased risk of involvement in the justice system, involvement with child protection, poor health, being unemployed, being homeless and having mental health issues. Re-engaging vulnerable learners in education…
Family violence needs whole community response
- 30 March 2016
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. But the statistics continue to horrify. Seventy-nine women were killed by…
For children’s sake: Raise the age of criminal responsibility
- 29 March 2016
Imagine going back to your 10-year-old self. You’re standing outside a cinema, watching people stream in to see a new film that you’re dying to watch. You wish you had a few dollars to buy a ticket but you spent the little pocket money you receive on a few lollies at school this week. Perhaps it…
Not just offshore processing that is inhumane
- 3 March 2016
In the past six months we have had a change in Prime Minister, but unfortunately the country’s punitive and inhumane policies surrounding people seeking asylum remain. The current system of offshore processing exposes vulnerable men, women and children to indefinite waiting times, violence and sexual assault and does not respect their fundamental right to human…
How to Close the Gap: put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the driver’s seat
- 1 January 1970
Since the introduction of the Closing the Gap reports 10 years ago, we are only on track with one target out of seven – educational attainment. Each year Close the Gap Day raises awareness about the gap in life expectancy and health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the rest of the…

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