Ecological Justice Hub

Jesuit Social Services’ Ecological Justice Hub is a permaculture garden dedicated to both social and environmental justice.

The Hub uses ecological action to address disadvantage through education and training, demonstration projects, and community engagement.

How does the Hub help?

Part of Jesuit Social Services’ commitment to ecological justice, the Hub is working to restore our relationship with nature and each other.

We promote and teach ecological justice through plastic recycling, composting projects, social justice advocacy for community-based batteries, permaculture teaching and practice, waste to resource conversion, community scale composting, ecological house design, recycling and seasonal planting with food harvesting and cooking — always ensuring that justice and equity are central to our work. We also work collaboratively with other organisations within Merri-bek City Council to build a local network that rebalances injustices through practical social and ecological practices.

What does the Hub do?

The Hub helps build knowledge and skills through practical ‘hands on’ projects, to strengthen environmental protection and what this means in practice in our homes and in communities, including:

• Just Good Waste –  Regnerative Plastics: a community education program developing systems of plastics recycling, appliance repairs and re-use and water harvesting.
• Just Compost – Merri-beck composting pilot. Turning local Brunswick and commercial waste resources into garden compost and living soil carbon sequestration from organic wastes streams. Supported by Sustainability Victoria.
• Just Hammertime – hands-on courses using recycled materials, in carpentry and construction for women and LGBITQ+ people.
• Just Nourishment – a Tuesday volunteer program that builds permaculture gardens.

We have previously successfully tested a model of community advocacy, education and training, jobs pathways, and green living demonstration projects through:

• Developing a range of education and skill training programs, including permaculture and the Hammertime program for women looking to develop carpentry skills and enter into a trades career
• Staging several Ecological Justice Symposiums, which bring together organisations and stakeholders from across community, government, energy and education sectors to share ideas and the potential for collaborative action and partnerships, both in policy and practice.
• The Our Waste series of discussion events, which challenge us to rethink our relationship with the things we buy and discard, the things we need and want, and the power of convenience
• Building ecological awareness and understanding for individuals, community, government and businesses through advocacy and community education
• Providing skills, training and employment support into green economy jobs for people experiencing barriers to employment
• Creating ‘green living’ demonstration projects which support recycling, horticulture, zero carbon power, energy efficiency, waste reuse, ecological construction methods, climate change reduction and environmental recovery.
  • Just Mushrooms – workshops to demonstrate the techniques of growing mushrooms and using mycelium culture to restore depleted soils.
  • Just Energy – solar power and biogas systems for redistribution to people on low incomes and low income housing retrofits in the northern area of Merri-bek.
  • Just Habitat – manufacturing and designing small eco-friendly homes while creating employment and skill development opportunities.

We provide fresh food relief through our Tuesday gardening volunteer program.

Each Tuesday, our volunteers work alongside our participants to prepare the garden for fruit and vegetable production. The vegie food boxes go to the Brunswick Uniting Church Olive Way Kitchen, which feeds people who are hungry and experiencing homelessness, social isolation or family violence. We are always seeking new volunteers and partners to assist us in this important work.

Where is the Hub located?

The Ecological Justice Hub is located in 4-6 Michael St, Brunswick VIC 3056.

Find out more about the Hub

To find out more about the Ecological Justice Hub and upcoming events, contact us via email at ecojusticehub@jss.org.au or contact us via Instagram @ecojusticehubmelbourne.