A new date for our National Justice Symposium

In partnership with the National Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Jesuit Social Services will be hosting the upcoming National Justice Symposium in Alice Springs. The event has a theme of 'Youth at the Centre' and will centre the voices and stories of young people and their communities, and explore the ingredients for change from the grassroots to the system level.

The day will include a series of keynotes and panel discussions, including conversations with young people, conversations with Elders, a focus on system reform, case studies of good practice, and finally, a look at the power of storytelling and community action.

Speakers include:

• Cheryl Axleby – Co-Chair, Change the Record Coalition
• Strong Grandmothers Group of the Central Desert Region
• Olabud Doogethu (‘Everyone Together’) Justice Reinvestment Project, Shire of Halls Creek, WA
• Serena Dalton – Cultural youth mentor and founder, Grassroots Action Palmerston and Grassroots Youth Engagement Program and NT Human Rights Award Recipient 2020
• Frank Shadforth – Owner, Seven Emu Station, delivering on-country youth camps, Gulf of Carpentaria, NT

...with more to be announced soon!

Following the full-day Symposium, Katerina Gaita, Founder of Climate for Change, will facilitate a half-day facilitated Sector Workshop - one that will help attendees digest the previous day’s biggest takeaways and create an action plan for keeping up the momentum.

The Symposium will be live-streamed for those unable to join physically in Alice Springs. 

Volunteer profile: Claire Wallace

Claire jumped at the opportunity when she saw an ad in her local paper calling for volunteers at our Ecological Justice Hub in Brunswick.   

“It was an interview with Stuart. I thought that's right up my alley. I called but thought, ‘there are probably hundreds of people wanting to do this.'”

Lucky for Claire (and us!) there weren’t and soon after, she landed a role volunteering in the Hub’s permaculture garden once a week. “I just love it. It's a really inspiring place. You work hard. It's good, physical work. The people make it a fabulous and inviting place to work. They're really open to any suggestions that you might have to improve the garden. 

Stuart’s interview in the newspaper wasn’t the first Claire had heard of Jesuit Social Services. “I've been a donor over many, many years.” As a retired nurse, Claire worked with Artful Dodgers Studios at one of her past hospitals when they had a Dodgers artist in residence. “So I got to know more about what was being done with Jesuit Social Services. I’ve always had an interest in what the organisation does.” 

When asked what volunteering means to her, Claire said that it has allowed her to stay connected to community. “It’s important to keep involvement in it for the people who are benefitting from your work but also for yourself. It connects me with a completely different group of people who I wouldn’t’ normally socialise – younger people, people from different professions. It keeps your mind open.”  

“It's been a really, really interesting time and I always looked forward to Tuesdays.” 

We love getting to know our volunteers and staff better! Please get in touch with polly.elsey@jss.org.au if you’d like to be interviewed. 

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in volunteering with Jesuit Social Services, please get in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator at jssvolunteer@jss.org.au   

Manhood, Dads and Me webinar

The Men's Project team members Paul Zappa and Elise Awudu recently delivered a webinar for parents where they shared the Man Box research and provided practical tips for supporting children to enjoy healthy, respectful relationships.

The webinar was delivered in partnership and funded by Star Health and the City of Stonnington for parents in that area.

A recording of this webinar is available below.

Our Waste Conversation webinar

Susie Moloney from our Centre for Just Places facilitated a panel discussion with three local community leaders in climate action. The group discussed initiatives they're championing to inspire everyday people to take action on waste.

Panellists included Taryn D’Costa of Neighbours United for Climate Action, Sophie Dahm of Awareaway (formerly Colourful Collective) and Gregory Lorenzutti, urban farmer and performer.

We'll be having another Our Waste Conversation on 9 June! 

A recording of this webinar is available below and click here for a list of actions and resources!

New video for our College's Cafe Ops course

Our Ready Set Work Café Operations course gives participants the skills they need to find work in the hospitality industry. We recently spoke to Bradley Lark from our Ignite Café in Camberwell and participants Liam and Darcy about the course, and how it has shaped their outlook for the future.

Matt Tyler, Executive Director of The Men’s Project, spoke to The Age about our work engaging boys and men around issues of masculinity. “We deliberately work with role models, because the messenger on this stuff really matters,” he says. Read more.

Our General Manager – Northern Territory, John Adams, had a comment piece published in the NT News about why proposed youth justice reforms in the Territory turn their back on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory – and ultimately fail children, their families and the broader community. Read more.

Jesuit Social Services has joined other Catholic leaders to urge state and territory Governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years across the country. CEO Julie Edwards says the Federal Government’s recent decision to refer the decision-making back to states and territories will condemn more vulnerable children to unnecessary contact with the criminal justice system. Read more.

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