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.

Exploring the needs of people on Community Correction Orders and opportunities to improve rehabilitative pathways
- 14 September 2020
Rates of imprisonment have consistently risen in Australia over the past few decades. In addition to the significant economic cost, research shows that prison is not an effective deterrent and may itself lead to criminal behaviour. Community-based options show promise in relation to recidivism reduction and cost effectiveness. In Victoria, the Community Corrections Order (CCO)…
Submission to the inquiry into the Victorian Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 3 September 2020
At the time of writing this submission, Victoria was grappling with a surge in COVID-19 cases and a second large-scale lockdown. Much remains uncertain. We do not know how long this pandemic will last, the total number of deaths, or the full physical, mental, social and economic toll. We do know, however, that certain groups…
Submission to the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development Review
- 17 August 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report of its National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development Review. While the formal VET system is the main focus of the Commission’s Interim Report, we believe there is scope for more nuanced discussion of the important role of foundational learning for…
Submission regarding the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Ensuring Fair Representation of the Northern Territory) Bill 2020
- 12 August 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to write in support of the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Ensuring Fair Representation of the Northern Territory) Bill 2020. Our work in the Territory reinforces every day the size, diversity and unique demographics of this jurisdiction. It is extremely difficult to imagine how the Territory would be appropriately or fairly…
Submission to the Federal Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
- 7 August 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. We acknowledge the detailed and complex nature of the Commission’s deliberations and its attention to sensitive issues impacting older Australians. Our submission draws attention to two contexts – the experience and care of older Australians in prisons,…
Submission to the Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy review
- 8 July 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the independent Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy review. Our submission focuses on the key foundational learning pathways that are crucial for the people we work with, including pre-accredited training and accredited foundation skills training, as well as the important role played by the Skills First Reconnect…
Submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19
- 9 June 2020
Life before the COVID-19 pandemic was already tough for many people on the margins. As an organisation working with some of the most disadvantaged members of the community, we saw and continue to see this first hand. While we are all affected in some way, the burdens of crises such as these are not borne…
Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
- 5 May 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The bushfires of 2019-20 were unprecedented and tragic. The bushfire crisis finds common roots with the current overlapping health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic in our broken relationship with our environment and our failure to recognise…
Submission to the Inquiry into the 2019-2020 Victorian Fire Season
- 1 May 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry into the 2019-2020 Victorian Fire Season being conducted by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM). The Victorian Government announced this Inquiry in January 2020, at the same time as it established the statutory body, Bushfire Recovery Victoria. The focus of the first phase of the…
Submission to the Victorian Government’s inquiry into VCAL
- 28 April 2020
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Victorian Government’s review of Vocational and Applied Learning (VCAL) in Senior Secondary Schooling. In our experience working with young people who have disengaged from education in Victoria, many students benefit from undertaking VCAL as an alternative to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). We believe…

Policy submissions

Want to hear more?