Victorian communities are strong and resilient. However, many people across the state are experiencing significant and persistent disadvantage. Complex challenges such as housing insecurity, family violence and mental ill-health are often underpinned by experiences of trauma.
These issues often intersect, interact, and can be systemic in nature, with intergenerational impacts. Victorians experiencing disadvantage are already often at-risk of exclusion from education and employment and are over-represented in the adult and youth justice systems.
We recognise that the need to maintain critical services, pay down the state’s debt, promote economic growth and meet Victoria’s future transport needs all contribute to competing investment priorities. Yet the Government has committed to significant infrastructure spending at a time when the cost-of-living crisis and other pressures (including increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19) are placing unprecedented pressure on the resilience of Victorians.
This pressure is driving up demand for social services. At the same time, the capacity of community sector organisations to respond to increasing demand is limited by funding cuts and the winding up of programs. For organisations, this is further compounded by difficulties attracting and retaining appropriately skilled staff, and the need to compete for limited funding.
This submission, provided in advance of the 2025-26 State Budget, outlines Jesuit Social Services’ priorities across interconnected areas of social policy where early intervention and prevention are key to addressing the underlying causes of disadvantage. We identify critical gaps in efforts to address complex issues relating to justice and crime prevention; education, training and employment; and preventing violence against women and children.
