We start this issue of Just News with a message from our CEO Julie Edwards. In the video linked below, Julie talks about the timeliness of last week's 5th National Justice Symposium and also shares why the Feast Day of Ignatius Loyola is an opportunity for us to reflect. You can watch Julie's video here.

Julie also reached out to all staff requesting that they take part in the Organisational Health Index (OHI) survey. Jesuit Social Services is taking part in this major piece of diagnostic research alongside 40-50 other social sector organisations. You can find Julie's full email about it here.

The Feast of St Ignatius

For the Feast Day of St Ignatius of Loyola (July 21), ANDY HAMILTON SJ writes that the Ignatian tradition of travelling lightly with firm and respectful commitments to people is designed for living in times of crisis and uncertainty.

The Feast Day of St Ignatius of Loyola this year has been affected by the coronavirus and its restrictions. So indeed has the Ignatian Year, marking the 500th anniversary of his change of life. Ignatius himself would not have been surprised at the restrictions. He lived in a time of recurrent plague and some critical years of his life were spent on the streets. Had a vaccine been available he would most likely not have been offered it.

That alone makes him a suitable patron for Jesuit Social Services. Many of the people whom we accompany in our work are vulnerable in a similar way to St Ignatius. In our society they are also often not seen as a priority.

Coming together for the 5th National Justice Symposium

Last Wednesday, nearly 250 people participated in our biennial Symposium, which we hosted this year with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) in Mpartwe / Alice Springs and online. 

With over 25 speakers presenting across 3 countries, four time zones, five sessions and six cities, the event brought together a speaker cohort with a diverse range of experiences and expertise to discuss the Youth Justice system in Australia. 

The day began with a moving Welcome to Country by Pat Ansell-Dodds of The Strong Grandmothers Group of the Central Desert Region. The audience was also treated to a memorable performance by up and coming Indigenous hip-hop talent from the Top End, Biggie T and S. Evans (pictured above). 

Several sessions included Jesuit Social Services staff on their panels, including Julie Edwards, CEO, who moderated a discussion between Australian and international panellists about what it takes to transform a system.

Craig Frean, Senior Practitioner and Genevieve Higgins, Manager of Community Justice Programs paired up to present in Session 4: Doing Justice Differently - what's working and why?

Staff were invited to attend free of charge. If you were unable to make the Symposium live, visit our Symposium page and sign up at the bottom of the page to receive news about access to session recordings. 

Endalkachew with his 'Masinko'

Tupac joins the team

Musician Endalkachew “Tupac” Yenehun, from Addis Ababa, Ehtiopia is the latest recruit to the Just Voices Speakers Program.

A multi-instrumentalist he is best known for playing the ‘Masinko’, a single-stringed Ethiopian lute.

The highly skilled musician and comedian first made his name in his homeland performing at weddings, family functions and night clubs.

As his profile grew, he travelled to Israel, Bahrain, and Dubai to perform in concerts with other international artists. He has released four albums. 

Our CEO Julie Edwards spoke to ABC Radio Darwin ahead of the National Justice Symposium, discussing the impact of recent regressive legislation passed in the Northern Territory, raising the age of criminal responsibility and what best practice in supporting vulnerable young people looks like. Listen to it here.

Ahead of the National Justice Symposium which we hosted with NAAJA in Alice Springs and online this week, Andy Hamilton SJ wrote about the need for Governments across the country to raise the age of criminal responsibility for Eureka Street. Read it here.

Pricilla Atkins, CEO of NAAJA, spoke to ABC TV’s News Breakfast from Alice Springs ahead of the National Justice Symposium. The event coincided with the five year anniversary of the announcement of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory. Watch it here.

The Alice Springs News covered our response to the news that the Northern Territory Government has reached a $35 million settlement with children who were mistreated in its youth detention system. Read it here.

Like what you've read?