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Victoria needs evidence-based justice system, not new prison
A new 1,000-plus bed prison for Victoria, plans of which were revealed in the Herald-Sun this week, would be counter-productive to community safety, according to Jesuit Social Services. “We are extremely disappointed to learn of plans for another prison in Victoria, after the Victorian Government has already committed money to a new 700-bed prison in…
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ANDY HAMILTON SJ explores how justice can hold people to account while also offering hope and a pathway forward. In recent years in Australia justice has increasingly been seen through the lens of punishment. It is retributive. You do the crime, you do the time. In public controversies about justice critics usually complain that the…
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Plans for secure, cottage-style youth justice facilities welcomed
Jesuit Social Services has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield, of new youth justice facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs. Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards said she was pleased to see the NT Government acting quickly and decisively to improve facilities found to be unfit by the Royal Commission into the Protection and…
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Education funding gives children chance to flourish
An additional $1 million towards repairs and maintenance at remote homeland learning centres, announced as part of the Northern Territory budget, will provide young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have greater opportunities to flourish. Jared Sharp, Jesuit Social Services’ General Manager in the Northern Territory, says the funds will provide a foundation for success…
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Advocating for a mental health system that supports everyone to flourish
A focus on mental health and wellbeing has become increasingly important for communities and all levels of government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building and nourishing strong mental health and wellbeing enables us to navigate challenges, reach our full potential and heal. This year, Jesuit Social Services has contributed to a wide range of reforms that…
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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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Youth remand court will ease pressure on youth detention system
A new youth remand court, which will ‘fast-track’ the cases of many children currently held in detention unsentenced, will ease the pressure on Victoria’s youth detention system according to Jesuit Social Services. “The pressure on Victoria’s youth detention system has been clear in recent months. We’ve seen a series of incidents, including one in November…
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World Children’s Day highlights need to #RaiseTheAge
World Children’s Day (November 20) is a timely reminder of the vulnerabilities of children and the need to ensure primary school aged children are in the playground – not in prison. Jesuit Social Services’ Worth A Second Chance campaign has just launched a new animated short illustrated by Melbourne artist Ben Jelfs and narrated by…
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Victorian 2022-23 Pre-Budget Submission
Many people in Victoria continue to experience persistent disadvantage that manifests in disengagement from school, joblessness, homelessness, substance misuse, family violence, contact with the justice system, mental ill-health, and trauma. These are complex challenges, especially because they intersect, interact, and are often intergenerational. The Victorian Government is to be commended for implementing several important initiatives…
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This submission responds to the 2013 Victorian Government discussion paper, Towards A More Effective and Sustainable Community Services System. The discussion paper is part of the Victorian Government Service Sector Reform Project. Our submission is framed by two contextual considerations: The extent to which poverty and disadvantage in society are the consequence of structural factors that lie beyond the…