Our thinking Archives - Page 4 of 33 - Jesuit Social Services

A Christmas reflection by Father Andy Hamilton SJ
- 24 December 2023
Christmas Day is a day of celebration. Of family, of children, of leisure, of freedom from work, of good food and drink. And yet in recent times, Christmas has also been a time of anxiety, of fear, of separation, of hardship. On one recent Christmas we lived with COVID and the isolation that accompanied it.…
A reflection on the times by Father Andy Hamilton SJ
- 11 December 2023
These have been hard days in a hard world, haven’t they? They favour hard people who wear masks and helmets, carry clubs, and lock their purses. We had hoped that the Referendum on the Indigenous Voice would be a celebration of peace and reconciliation, a gentling of the community. Instead, it was a bitter time…
Evidence shows flexible mental health and wellbeing supports essential
- 6 December 2023
Jesuit Social Services has a decades-long history of working with people to improve their mental health and wellbeing so they can then build healthy social connections and be more engaged in their community. We offer a range of mental health and wellbeing programs, and take pride in our individualised and person-centred approach. Recent data from…
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 3 December 2023
The theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities puts disabilities into a broader context of how society affects them and must change to meet them. Pope Francis has always commended the day, focusing on people’s personal needs. Both approaches are necessary. Some disabilities affect individual persons but are made doubly disabling by society.…
New 10-year national housing and homelessness plan must prioritise public housing and raise the rate of income support
- 2 November 2023
The Australian Government is developing a National Housing and Homelessness Plan – a 10-year strategy to inform future housing policy in Australia and the first long-term strategy since 1992. Jesuit Social Services recently contributed a submission to the Plan calling for an increase in social housing – with a focus on public housing – and urging…
World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023
- 24 September 2023
Avoiding death and danger isn’t enough to live a life that’s truly free, writes Andy Hamilton SJ to mark this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Reflection: Australia must enact a Human Rights Act
- 21 September 2023
Jesuit Social Services’ rights-based approach to advocacy and service provision is grounded in our belief that every person’s rights and freedoms must be protected. Here, Andy Hamilton SJ reflects on our recommendation that the Federal Government enact a Human Rights Act – building on our recent contribution to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights…
Deepening our conversation on The Voice to Parliament
- 19 September 2023
Jesuit Social Services supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament and throughout 2023, we are advocating for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum. We were honoured to welcome Amanda Watkinson, who is an Aboriginal woman and former Jesuit Social Services staff member, to speak to staff at our recent All Staff Day in June…
National Gender Equality Strategy must address harmful ideas about all genders
- 29 June 2023
Jesuit Social Services made a submission to the Federal Government’s National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in 2022. We advocated for a strategy that recognises and addresses harmful gender norms. The Strategy is due to be released in the second half of 2023.
NAIDOC Week 2023
- 28 June 2023
Like all the celebrations of Australian identity this year, the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week falls under the light of the Referendum on the Voice.

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