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Helping Aboriginal children stay out of the justice system
For many 13-year-olds, life revolves around school, hanging out with friends, spending time with family and extracurricular activities like sport or learning a musical instrument. But that wasn’t the case for Sarah*, aged 13, when she was first referred to Jesuit Social Services’ Barreng Moorop program. Barreng Moorop is a small intensive case management program…
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Engaging vulnerable groups in employment
Helping people find and keep jobs means overcoming prejudice with on-the-job training and mentoring, argues GLENN JESSOP, Jesuit Social Services’ General Manager of Policy and Advocacy. NAB employees Chenai Chairuka and Colleen Mandizha celebrate the African-Australian Inclusion Program’s 300th participant milestone with The Hon. Wade Noonan MP, Minister for Industry and Employment, and Julie Edwards,…
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NDIS not meeting the needs of marginalised members of the community
The harrowing tale of a young man languishing in prison due to a lack of suitable accommodation in the community highlights that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) does not meet the needs of some of the most marginalised members of the community, writes Jesuit Social Services Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. The story of…
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Vulnerable young people need support, not stigma
Focusing on punitive measures as a means of tackling crime deprives us of the opportunity to constructively discuss effective solutions that address the causes of alienation and disengagement young people often experience, writes Jesuit Social Services Communications Coordinator ANDREW GILLETT. Jesuit Social Services has been working with young people who have been involved with the…
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Shift in illicit drug rhetoric and policy should not be considered soft
An expansion of the successful Drug Court and trial of a Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Victoria are are examples of a health-based response that reflects a compassionate, evidence-based policy agenda, writes Jesuit Social Services’ policy volunteer MITCHELL GLASS. Collectively, there is a growing recognition that the current ‘war on drugs’ approach is not an effective…
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New reports show the failings of the Victorian youth detention system
New reports by the Victorian Auditor-General’s office and Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People highlight the significant strain the state’s youth detention system is under – and the harmful impact this has on the rehabilitation prospects of young people. It’s time for evidence-based solutions, writes Jesuit Social Services’ KATHRYN KERNOHAN. The failings of the…
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Quality childcare and education crucial to achieve positive outcomes in adult life
Australia is below the OECD average in investment in early childhood education, and our political leaders must prioritise the care and education needed by children before they reach five, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Policy and Advocacy volunteer TONY SANTOSPIRITO. This year’s report Lifting Our Game: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian…
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2019/20 Federal Budget again ignores the needs of vulnerable Australians
This week’s Federal Budget represents yet another missed opportunity to work towards the compassionate Australia we all deserve, by ignoring the needs of vulnerable Australians, writes Jesuit Social Services’ Media Relations Manager KATHRYN KERNOHAN. With the handing down of the 2019/20 Federal Budget this week, the Federal Government is again ignoring the needs of vulnerable…
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A ‘beautiful insight’ into social justice
Xavier College student DOMINIC BEECH reflects on the profound impact of meeting participants from our Settlement Program during his Christian Service placement with Jesuit Social Services. A week with Jesuit Social Services gave me a beautiful insight into the work being done in our community. Until now, I hadn’t had much, if any, first-hand experience…
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Ravenhall audit a sobering reminder of need for transparency in prison system
A new audit of Ravenhall Prison, tabled yesterday by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, shows that an over-crowded prison population is limiting people’s access to vital programs and services to help them address the underlying issues behind their offending. We need greater access to data and transparency across the board to assess whether prison operators are…