Jesuit Social Services was recently invited to share our insights on economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage with the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee. Established in 2022, the Committe’s role is to provide independent advice to government before every federal budget on economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage.
In our submission and subsequent meeting with the Committee, we shared our perspectives on the challenges faced by vulnerable Australians, including young people; possible policy solutions; and an overview of how Jesuit Social Services is working to improve outcomes for people facing social and economic exclusion.
We emphasised:
- Our support for the Committee’s ongoing calls for income support payments be substantially lifted, and for Australia’s employment services system to be redesigned to be less punitive and uphold the right to social security
- The reforms needed to provide pathways into education and training for cohorts who are most excluded
- The need for governments to address the ways in which deep and persistent disadvantage is being impacted by climate change.
