We partner with people experiencing disadvantage and go where help is needed most.
Our work to repair the web of relationships with self, with family, community and earth can be profound.
We know we are only part of the solution but we aim to lead by example, go where others won’t go, and build communities of justice to ensure our work has a lasting impact.
As a social change organisation, we demonstrate our impact across three key focus areas:
1.
Supporting people to flourish in a network of healthy relationships.
2.
Empowering communities to participate and create positive change.
3.
Changing hearts, minds and systems towards love and justice.
Supporting people to flourish in a network of healthy relationships
We engage respectfully with individuals experiencing disadvantage and hardship in a way that gives them the opportunity to harness their full potential – providing people with hands-on support to connect with community services; build skills and capacity to live independently; establish and affirm their goals and aspirations; participate in their community; and strengthen their view of themselves and others.
Some examples include:
- 3,760 people participated in Jesuit College employment programs. With a range of practical, vocational courses designed to help people prepare for the world of work or further study, these people are now better equipped to achieve their career goals.
- 1,270 people were supported after the suicide of a loved one, through counselling, groups, or our online community.
- 846 young people who had disengaged from education were supported by the Navigator Program. The Navigator Program provides assertive outreach to young people who are disengaged from school, to support their re-engagement with education, training and employment pathways.
- 300 young people involved in the justice system received after hours support.
- 138 participants with mental health and/or substance abuse problems supported through Connexions counsellors and outreach. Connexions engages with young people in a way that promotes trust, safety and understanding, and supports them to improve their wellbeing while working towards their individual recovery goals.
- 75% of participants improved their hope for the future while involved with Jesuit Social Services, which is over 7,500 people.
Twelve months ago, I was struggling to find a job. Linking with Jesuit Social Services has saved my life.
Major Projects Jobs Service
Yasmeen came to Australia as a refugee with her mother and younger sister on a Women-at-Risk visa when she was 14.
The family escaped war in both Iraq and Syria. Yasmeen dreamed of studying medicine after seeing the atrocities of war. She studied hard and, after finishing high school in Australia, was offered a university place in biomedical science.
Yasmeen needed to work in order to support her studies. But as a young Muslim woman, she had been rejected for work many times. Some employers even told her they would be happy to hire her as long as she took off her hijab, which she refused to do.
Yasmeen was referred to one of Jesuit Social Services’ education, training and employment programs, where she received support to complete her qualification to become a traffic controller. She was also supported to purchase equipment for the job, including a two-way radio.
Getting a job was great. I could support myself and become more independent and strong.
Yasmeen is now financially independent and studying her Bachelor of Biomedicine while working part-time. She hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon.
Empowering communities to participate and create positive change
We encourage and support local community members to participate, problem-solve, and have agency over their lives, through recreational, cultural, educational and entrepreneurial community development activities that provide new opportunities for community participation, strengthen people’s skills, and facilitate community leadership and connection.
Some examples include:
- 10,599 participants from schools engaged in social justice sessions in Western Sydney.
- 13,013 people were inspired by participant stories of struggle and survival through Just Voices. The Just Voices Speakers Program connects with the community in unique and unforgettable ways. We offer inspiring motivational keynote speakers, musicians and story tellers from diverse communities, cultures and lived experiences.
- 1,815 school students, practitioners, community members amongst others unpacked masculinity through the Man Box research. The Man Box is a study on being a young man in Australia. Its findings shed a new light on the social pressures that young Australian men experience to be ‘a real man’ and the impact this can have on their wellbeing, behaviours, and the safety of our wider community.
- 20,900 people engaged with the Dropping off the Edge (DOTE) website.
- 6,827 participants engaged through Schools and Community Engagement in social justice activities, learning and reflection.
- 3,000 drop-ins for community connection and support to the Hub at Mount Druitt.
Because of the program, I have a job, a house and a social circle. I would have been stagnant in the typical lifestyle of a prisoner, without that support. I have my life back now, because of the program.
spent time at our Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility
Dave* exited prison and spent time in our Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility (MCRF). In Dave’s own words, the program has helped him break the cycle of reoffending and get his life back on track.
“I haven’t had much help in the past and so getting help from the MCRF team was good. Even a month after leaving, I picked up the phone and asked for a letter of support for a job and within 24 hours they had it done.”
The facility gave me a space to feel safe, work on myself, get on my feet. I saw people getting released with nowhere to go and they were going to live on the streets. I know this program has been a bit of a lifeline for a lot of people.
“I have got further than I thought I would. I sort of feel like I can beat this and I can stay away from jail. I’ve been out for 14 months, before that I’ve been in jail 13 times – that’s nine years of my life. I really didn’t see much of life changing. I sort of can now – I just need to keep strong now and I can see myself falling away from that lifestyle.”
Changing hearts, minds and systems towards love and justice
Through evidence-based direct advocacy to decision- makers and public-facing community engagement we address the policy and practice barriers that perpetuate inequality, prejudice and exclusion – encouraging and enabling governments to implement effective and humane policies and practices, so that all members of our community can flourish.
Some examples include:
- 18,857 reached by Advocacy and Strategic Communications advocacy and fundraising appeals.
- 83,834 engagements with our Facebook and X (Twitter) posts on social justice advocacy.
- 57,161 opportunities to engage with Worth A Second Chance online advocacy campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility and promote a fairer youth justice system.
- 10,190 views of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) website.