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 Northern Territory Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill 2013
- 31 May 2013
This submission responds to the Northern Territory Department of Health’s Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill 2013. It outlines our serious concerns about this proposed legislation and the scheme that it will create. The submission questions the scheme’s enormous and unjustified economic cost, given the lack of evidence for the effectiveness of mandatory treatment. It recommends that the Northern Territory Government: Postpone…
Submission to the 'Towards a More Effective and Sustainable Community Services System' discussion paper
- 20 April 2013
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…
Submission to the 'Melbourne, Let's Talk About the Future' discussion paper
- 20 March 2013
This submission responds to Plan Melbourne’s 2012 discussion paper, which was released to prompt debate around the challenges and ideas for Melbourne’s future. Our submission draws on our understanding that cities exist for people, and not people for cities. It argues that Melbourne in 2050 must be a city that provides for the basic needs of all of its people. The…
Submission to the NSW Inquiry into Strategies to Reduce Alcohol Abuse Among Young People
- 20 March 2013
This submission responds to the 2013 Parliamentary Inquiry into strategies to reduce alcohol abuse among young people in New South Wales. The submission’s key themes include: changing community attitudes and behaviours to alcohol; proactive engagement with young people in environments where alcohol consumption and its related harm are likely to take place; and treatment services that care for…
Submission to the 'Employment Services: Building on Success' issues paper
- 15 March 2013
This submission responds to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ 2013 issues paper, Employment Services: Building on Success. The issues paper sought comments on several key themes, including meeting the needs of job seekers, and working in partnership with employers and other services. Our submission identifies three areas for employment services reform: Effective support between services to…
Submission to the Value of a Justice Reinvestment Approach to Criminal Justice in Australia Inquiry
- 9 March 2013
This submission responds to the 2013 Senate Inquiry into the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. The submission advises that the starting place for a justice reinvestment framework should be the right to respect, dignity and compassion for all human beings. Integral to this is cultural respect, foremost for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The…
Submission to the Reforming Support to Vulnerable Young People scoping project
- 20 February 2013
This submission responds to the Victorian Government’s scoping of a new approach to supporting vulnerable young people in 2013. It highlights Jesuit Social Services’ concern that the underpinning services system lacks the capacity to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people. The submission calls for a new approach to supporting vulnerable young people that involves: capacity building…