National Reconciliation Week – Reconciliation must be first made with reality

On Sorry Day (May 26) and ahead of National Reconciliation Week (May 27 - June 3), ANDY HAMILTON SJ writes that reconciliation begins by recognising the human reality of the relationships between Indigenous people and non-indigenous Australians and the history of those relationships.

National Reconciliation Week this year marks the 20th anniversary of Reconciliation Australia and its mission to find a right and just place for Indigenous Australians in our society. It occurs at a time of distress at the number of Indigenous Australians who have died in custody. As Reconciliation Australia notes in its review of the last 20 years, it also marks the growing number of ways in which non-Indigenous Australians have come to recognise the unique place of Indigenous peoples in our Australian story, and the further distance we must go if there is to be reconciliation.

The theme for 2021 is ‘More than just a word’. It points to the ever-present danger that words like reconciliation which express large hopes and commitments will turn out to be no more than words. Such big words occur everywhere in documents and in speeches, but rarely command actions, policies or budgets. They are an art-form constantly drawn on to give an appearance of good will and commitment which will later prove to be illusory.

Situations in which one group of people has been discriminated against by another, and discrimination is written into the unnoticed workings of society, demand more than just a word. They demand just words. Reconciliation needs to be embodied in actions, in change of heart, in changed public attitudes, and in the resolve to meet demanding challenges instead of denying or neglecting them. Reconciliation demands change.

Executive Director Programs and Chief Operating Officer Sally Parnell emailed all staff recently in regards to the newest COVID restrictions in Victoria. The key work-related points of the restrictions are:

• Mask-wearing indoors is mandatory – ie in the office at all times.
• Use of the Service Victoria QR code service will still be mandatory in all venues and facilities.
• Schools and workplaces will remain open with the current restrictions that are in place. Depending on the workplace, this includes COVIDSafe measures and in some cases, a density requirement. There are no changes to existing density rules.

You can find more information here.

Our CEO Julie Edwards emailed all staff in advance of National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week. Julie reflects that National Sorry Day 'is an important moment to remember and acknowledge the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.'

Julie also notes that National Reconciliation Week is held from May 27 to June 3 and that these two dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. You can read Julie's full email here.

There are a number of events happening around the organisation and the country to mark National Reconciliation Week. More details on these events can be found in Andrew Yule's, General Manager Strategic Communication and Engagement, email which was sent last week to all staff. Read it here.

Lastly, Julie emailed all staff with her latest CEO Communication to All Staff. In May's Communication, Julie reflects on the most important part of leadership: having coherence between what we say and what we do. The document also includes updates on our Strategic Directions, Policy and Advocacy, Fundraising and staffing. You can read the full Communication here.

Men's Project Webinar: Promoting healthier masculinities among adolescent boys

Join us for a free online webinar to discuss how we can promote healthier masculinities among our young people and, in doing so, create safer and more respectful communities.

Day: Tuesday 1 June

Time: 4:00pm - 5:30pm AET

Speakers include:

The Hon. Gabrielle Williams MP is Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Women in the Victorian Government.

Minister Williams is a passionate advocate for equity and social inclusion and is proud to be a member of Victoria’s first ever gender-equal cabinet. She is committed to driving an important reform agenda to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians, women, young people and families across Victoria.

Julie Edwards is CEO of Jesuit Social Services

Dr Michael Flood is Associate Professor at the Queensland University of Technology with expertise on men and masculinities, violence against women and its prevention, and gender. Michael collaborated with Jesuit Social Services on our Man Box research.

Ayman Islam is General Manager of the Islamic Council of Victoria - the peak Muslim body in Victoria representing approximately 200,000 Muslims and 60 member societies. Ayman has partnered with The Men’s Project on a pilot of our adolescent man box survey as well as on work with Imams and community leaders.

Kit McMahon is Chair of Gender Equity Victoria and CEO of Women’s Health in the South East. Proudly the daughter of two feminists from south western rural Victoria, Kit has consistently and passionately advocated for gender equality, empowering women and girls.

Matt Tyler is Executive Director of The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services, working with a team committed to providing leadership on the reduction of violence and other harmful behaviours prevalent among boys and men.

Paul Zappa is General Manager Primary Prevention and Community Engagement for The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services – he brings decades of experience as a teacher and also working with men as well as boys to prevent the use of violence.

THANK YOU to our volunteers!

Last week was National Volunteer Week and we’d like to say a massive THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organisation and they bring a range of skills and experience that allow us to continue delivering our work all over the country.

Organised by Volunteer Coordinator Branka, we held morning teas in celebration and recognition of our volunteers throughout last week. Pictured here are two of our volunteers who attended the Richmond site tea - Thomas and Agnes. Thomas volunteers for our Flemington Homework Club, while Agnes volunteers for our English Language Support in Sunshine. The two of them met several years ago while volunteering together for a different program. 

Sites celebrate IDAHOBIT!

In celebration of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), staff from our different work sites got together to watch a keynote presentation by members of the Minus18 education team that included tips on how to be an LGBTQIA+ ally in our work and lives.

Last Monday, May 17 marked 31 years since the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. While IDAHOBIT is a day for celebration it should also challenge us to come together and think about the work that still needs to be done in making it more possible for LGBTQIA+ people to live happy, fulfilling lives free from judgement and discrimination.

IDAHOBIT one of the important dates to mark as an organisation and was selected as such by our Rainbow Tick Staff Advisory Group.  

A new graduate of the Vic Police Diversity Recruitment Program

We are pleased to share that the first female participant from our Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program, Birtukan (Birty) Weaven-Cahill, graduated from the Victoria Police Academy last week as a member of Squad 14. Birty is pictured with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton (third from right) and Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius (second from right), alongside representatives from Program delivery partners Stephen Mutton (Jesuit Social Services), Fiona Bocksette (Victoria Police), Kate Wadsworth (Jesuit Social Services), Phil Brooker (Africause) and Kate Savage (Victoria University).

Our CEO Julie Edwards spoke to The Age about a new Victoria Police pilot that monitors people who are considered at high risk of re-offending, highlighting the need to support people to stay out of the justice system through education, training and work. Read more.

We recently joined more than 75 legal, social services and human rights organisations to call on all levels of government to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years as a matter of urgency. Our CEO Julie Edwards says “we are urging our political leaders across the country to commit to supporting children in the community, keeping them connected with family and school, and giving them every opportunity to get their lives back on track.” Read more.

The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum, which Jesuit Social Services co-convenes with Jesuit Refugee Service (Australia), issued a media release condemning the passing of the Migration Amendment Bill, which will expose people in need of protection to indefinite detention and cause significant harm. Read more.

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