Policy submissions

Here you’ll find a wide selection of policy papers and submissions we’ve published. Each paper draws on our experience working with disadvantaged youth, families and communities.

Youth Justice: Strengthening our approach
- 19 October 2014
This paper identifies eight initiatives to improve the Victorian youth justice system, with a focus on opportunities to intervene and divert vulnerable children and young people from the justice system. The paper calls on the next Victorian Government to: Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years old to 12 years old and put in place approaches to…
Action to tackle educational disadvantage
- 10 October 2014
This position paper is one of four produced by Jesuit Social Services as part of our 2014 Victorian State Government Election Platform. In it, we call for action to tackle educational disadvantage. The people we work with who are experiencing educational disadvantage have hopes and aspirations to participate productively in our society. Their hopes can…
A criminal justice system that builds a safer community
- 10 October 2014
This position paper is one of four produced by Jesuit Social Services as part of our 2014 Victorian State Government Election Platform. In it, we call for a more effective and humane approach to criminal justice that focuses on: preventing crime by addressing its root causes diverting people from the justice system providing safe and…
Submission to the Review of Australia's Welfare System
- 19 August 2014
This submission responds to the Australian Government’s 2014 Review of Australia’s Welfare System. It recommends that reforms to the income support system should: Focus on maximising civic participation: support and reward both employment and social activation, including volunteering, learning and other forms of independent participation. Ensure rates of income support adequately meet the needs of people: any reforms that…
Strengthening Prisoner Transition to Create a Safer Victoria
- 20 June 2014
This paper considers the reforms and investment needed to achieve a reduction to reoffending in Victoria. Our analysis is drawn from our long experience working with prisoners and ex-prisoners and is reinforced with evidence from the emerging international research on ‘desistance’ – the factors that contribute to people stopping offending. The paper describes the complexity of transitioning from prison to the community, and highlights the needs…
Submission to the Intentional Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour in Children Inquiry
- 19 June 2014
This submission responds to the 2014 National Children’s Commissioner Inquiry into Intentional Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour in Children. In it, Jesuit Social Services calls for a whole-of-community approach to tackling the risk factors for self-harm and suicide. The submission urges Governments to: Effectively plan for and adequately resource a full spectrum of evidence based services that promote the mental…
Submission to the AHRC National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
- 30 May 2014
Jesuit Social Services joined Wesley Mission Victoria, MacKillop Family Services and Catholic Care Melbourne in making this submission to the Australian Human Right Commission (AHRC) National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014. As organisations with a commitment to social justice and upholding the human dignity of every person, we share serious concerns about the…
Submission to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ANAC) repeal
- 1 May 2014
This submission responds to a 2014 inquiry by the Senate Standing Committees on Economics into the Bill to repeal the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ANAC) Act 2012. The submission opposes abolishing the ANAC national regulatory framework. It calls on the Australian Government to work with the states, territories and other stakeholders in order to realise a truly national regulatory framework for…
Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into Affordable Housing
- 3 March 2014
This submission focuses on how to best support the most disadvantaged people in our community to find safe and secure homes. It was made to the Senate Economics References Committee’s Inquiry into Affordable Housing. In the submission, Jesuit Social Services makes four recommendations: Develop a National Housing Strategy that covers all aspects of policy relevant…
Submission to the 2014-15 Victorian State Budget
- 10 December 2013
This submission responds to the 2014-15 Victorian State Budget. It provides solutions that can stem the growing cost – and increasing harm to people – caused by imprisonment. Our submission proposes practical programmatic reforms to support people to build pathways to productive lives, reduce crime and strengthen our communities. It calls on the Victorian Government to invest in three priority areas: ensuring…