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.

Submission to the Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship discussion paper
- 6 June 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to put forward our views on the Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship discussion paper, which outlines the Australian Government’s proposal to change the eligibility requirements for Australian citizenship. In our submission we call on the Australian Government to support initiatives to empower vulnerable migrants and strengthen social cohesion,…
Submission to the Humanitarian Programme 2017-18 discussion paper
- 6 June 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to put forward our views on the composition of the 2017-18 Humanitarian Programme, as well as initiatives assisting humanitarian entrants to secure stable employment and achieve self-sufficiency. In our submission we call for a more generous response to the needs of displaced people under an expanded Humanitarian Programme. We…
Submission to the Productivity Commission's study on NDIS costs
- 20 April 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Productivity Commission study into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) costs. The NDIS is designed to provide Australians with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life, however in its current form it is not…
How to improve youth justice centres in Victoria: reduce harm, protect children's rights and tailor transitions
- 15 March 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Inquiry into Youth Justice Centres in Victoria. We believe youth justice in Victoria must be delivered according to a clear model, underpinned by a philosophy aligned with what we are trying to achieve – meeting the needs of children and young people, and creating a…
How to better prepare people to transition from prison to the community
- 9 March 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Victorian Ombudsman’s enquiry into rehabilitation services post prison. People exiting prison in Victoria are some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community, yet the limited support that is available to them means they often get stuck in the revolving door of the…
Submission to the review into Victoria's bail system
- 9 March 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the review into Victoria’s bail system. Our submission focuses on the difficulties some groups face in accessing support, and the consequences of this exclusion both for the individuals involved and the community as a whole. Every Victorian should have the opportunity to access the support they…
Disability, disadvantage and complex needs: submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission
- 8 March 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission National Consultation Paper, Shaping our future: discussions on disability rights. Our submission draws on our experience engaging with vulnerable people and communities throughout Australia. It focuses on the intersections of disability with complex needs, disadvantage and involvement in the justice system,…
Submission to the inquiry into migrant settlement outcomes
- 19 February 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration inquiry into migrant settlement outcomes. In our submission, we call on the Australian Government to: ensure programs and policies affecting newly arrived migrants recognise the significant impact that migration and pre-arrival experiences have on individuals’ settlement outcomes recognise that settlement…
Northern Territory 2017/18 Budget submission
- 9 January 2017
Our submission to the Northern Territory 2017/18 Budget highlights the role of place-based disadvantage, which underpins a range of inequities in the Northern Territory. Our recent repot, Dropping off the Edge 2015, found that 25 per cent of locations in the NT accounted for 47 per cent of the highest disadvantage rankings. These findings highlight both the complexity and…
States of Justice: Criminal justice trends across Australia
- 19 December 2016
For the first time, Jesuit Social Services’ States of Justice Report has drawn together data from around Australia to provide a fuller picture of how Australia’s criminal justice system is trending. It offers a chance to delve into the reality of crime and punishment in Australia: that we are becoming more punitive but to less effect. The…