Our CEO, Julie Edwards, recently shared her latest CEO communication to all staff. This communication follows the Board meetings, which are held every six weeks. You can read Julie's message here.

John Andrew, Principal of our Ignatius Learning Centre, emailed all staff last week with an update on the school's progress. From today, the school is welcoming incoming students and their families and classes will commence shortly. John communicated that any guests visiting the Centre need to make an appointment beforehand. His full update, including instructions on how to make a visitor's appointment, can be read here.

Julie Edwards sent an all staff video messages recently. Her message this time touches on a reminder that we are all united - in all the different work we do - in our vision of building a just society. You can watch Julie's full video here. 

There is another opportunity to participate in Reflection Day, for those who are interested. Julie Edwards writes in her email, "This day will draw on our Ignatian/Jesuit heritage, given these are our roots; but importantly, the day will be an opportunity for participants to step aside from the busyness of life, to reflect on their own purpose, values and what matters to them, to take time to listen to the 'voices within' and to one another." For full details on Reflection Day, including how to register your interest, please view the full email here.

Julie Edwards reflects on International Women's Day

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world resonates strongly for me with the campaign’s call to #ChooseToChallenge. Both present me with an invitation to pause and reflect on what kind of world I want to live in and what I’m prepared to do to help create that. It reminds me of my agency and my responsibility – personally and professionally. This invitation awaits us all. And the right starting point for this is our very selves – reflecting on the beliefs, values and attitudes we hold and how these play out in our behaviour. It seems to me that this ensures we come from a place of integrity when we then choose to speak up whenever and wherever we encounter gender injustice – at home, at work, in our communities, and in broader society. The current COVID-19 era lends greater urgency to this effort.

The Ecological Justice Hub is back with another Zero-Waste Cooking Class!

The leaves are starting to turn and the temperature is inching towards beanie-wearing levels... As we approach inside activity time, let the Eco Hub set you up with a fun, family-friendly Saturday morning activity that will leave you with a seriously great spread to enjoy!

Zero-waste cooking means getting the most out of your fresh produce, and money, by using the parts of the veggies we normally throw away. The Hub’s resident chef, Johnny Hassan, will demonstrate a few recipes while sharing tips on sustainable kitchen practices on a budget. You'll receive a list of ingredients prior to the event so you can follow along from home. All recipes will be vegan, halal, nut and gluten-free.  

Date: Saturday, 27 March 2021

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm AET

Location: On Zoom! (Link sent on the morning of the event)

Cost: Free

Transitional housing named in Inquiry recommendations

The final report of the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria was tabled last week. A  key focus of Jesuit Social Services' submission to the inquiry was the need for improved access to transitional housing, which was included in our recommendations.

If you would like to read our full submission, you can do so here.

Jesuit Social Services published a media release in response to the Federal Government's modest increase to the Jobseeker rate and was referenced in both The Age/ Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian. You can read the full media release here, The Age article here and The Australian article here (note: The Australian article is behind a paywall).

The organisation also published a media release welcoming the recommendations given in the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. You can read the full media release here.

In another media release published last week, Jesuit Social Services responded to the many reports of sexual assault among school communities. You can read the full media release here.

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