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JVES makes a “dream come true” for Biruk
After over 30 unsuccessful job applications and no luck with a Job Active service, Biruk* was losing hope and thought of giving up his dreams of working as an electrician. Eventually, friends recommended that he connect with Jesuit Social Services’ Jobs Victoria Employment Service program, which assisted him with his resume, job search training, and supported him to find work at an electrical company in 2022 - his “dream come true".
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Deepening our conversation on The Voice to Parliament
Jesuit Social Services supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament and throughout 2023, we are advocating for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum. We were honoured to welcome Amanda Watkinson, who is an Aboriginal woman and former Jesuit Social Services staff member, to speak to staff at our recent All Staff Day in June about what a YES vote would mean for Indigenous peoples and for Australia as a whole.
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New suicide data shows the ongoing need for specialised bereavement support
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) annual Causes of Death data, released last week, shows that the suicide rate has sadly continued to increase over the past decade pointing to the need for evidence-based and compassionate postvention support to care for the mental health and wellbeing to the increasing number of Australians impacted by suicide loss.
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Independent Review Panel will enable effective and meaningful youth justice reform
The Victorian Government’s appointment of an Independent Review Panel to deliver its commitment to raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 is a positive step towards effective and evidence-based justice reform.
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Helping Donna and Shayne make ‘a contribution beyond our caring’
Donna and Shayne’s fulltime role as carers to Jasmine saw them nominated for the lived experience reference group for Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect – our recently launched resource and support hub for carers of those experiencing mental health or substance misuse issues. Donna and Shayne’s 23-year-old daughter, Jasmine, has autism and associated mental health and mood problems – frequently experiencing anxiety, particularly when life lacks structure and order.
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More than 200 people gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 1st for Jesuit Social Services’ Annual Dinner. The event has traditionally sought to deliver a thought-providing keynote on important social justice issues, give attendees a chance to network and mingle, while raising funds for the organisation’s work. But this year, fundraising took a back seat in favour of more time to connect and build relationships.