As Victoria once again heads into stage three lockdown, over the past week our CEO Julie Edwards shared a video message and email acknowledging the difficulties the restrictions would create in our lives and work, which was followed by an update from Acting CEO Sally Parnell. A public statement regarding lockdowns and restrictions was also released on Monday 6 July. Finally, our Executive Director, Advocacy and Strategic Communications Cath Neville shared details of how support could be provided to residents of the nine public housing estates that have been placed into hard lockdown.

COVID-19 has resulted in a spike in family violence and we expect an increase in mental health concerns, demonstrating that the work of The Men’s Project is more vital than ever before. In light of the challenges presented by COVID-19, connection and compassion have never been more important. During this time, The Men’s Project has moved to delivering our services remotely to support boys and men to flourish and live healthier and fulfilling lives.

Program update: Jesuit Community College

Training and Employment programs
As our training programs are classified as an essential service, we have been able to continue some program delivery with appropriate COVID-19 safety measures in place. While some courses have been forced to shut or seek alternative venues due to local councils building closures, others have remained operational thanks to Daniel Clements and his team making the Dandenong site available to participants. We are also offering several courses online, including Animal Studies, Language for Life and our Zero Waste cooking program.  

Aged Care training
We have 61 participants enrolled in our Aged Care program, with 46 participants successfully gaining employment and further education. Of these, 43 are still employed and engaged in their Cert III traineeship. We have 100 more enrolments in the course over the next 6 months with the expectation that it will lead to at least 80 more long term employment opportunities. There is the scope and capacity based upon negotiations with the employers involved for a further 350-450 positions over the next two years.

Melbourne Water Pathway Program 
We had five Melbourne Water Participants start with us for Preparation Training last week and they had their first day at Melbourne Water on Monday. This is for a one year placement, with the hope of two and three year rotations after this to Melbourne Waters delivery partners to ensure they receive top quality experience in all areas of the engineering sector in Australia.

Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program
Round Four of the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program started last week with 12 participants, who will complete the course remotely, with classes run by Victoria University via Zoom every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. VU have also developed an online assessment module so the Course can be done online in its entirety.

Working for Victoria
Nine people have now commenced with the organisation through funding provided by the Working for Victoria program. We are currently interviewing gardeners, drivers and kitchen assistants for the Eco-Justice Hub meal drop program this week and in two weeks’ time will look to employ candidates in the social and youth work fields.

#WorthASecondChance Community Check-in: International evidence that small scale facilities work.

For many years, Jesuit Social Services has called for a shift to small scale, home-like youth justice facilities in Victoria instead of large prison-like structures. 

In this #WorthASecondChance Community Check-in, Dr. Sanne Oostermeijer speaks about how the design of youth justice facilities can best support positive outcomes for justice-involved young people in Victoria. 

Dr Sanne Oostermeijer is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at The University of Melbourne. Her work involves national evaluation projects and policy-based research in primary mental health care, suicide prevention and the youth justice system. 

Bereavement counselling delivered remotely

Our Support After Suicide program has delivered vital counselling services and group sessions to children, young people and adults who have been bereaved by the suicide of a loved one since 2004. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant the program has had to deliver its one-on-one and group services remotely since March. Read more about how it has adapted its services:

Volunteer profile: Andrew Kitchen

In this series, we are profiling some of our amazing volunteers from across the organisation to learn more about what they do and what drives them. This week, we hear from Andrew Kitchen, a volunteer with our Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program. Andrew is a mentor with participants, assisting them to successfully navigate the Victoria Police recruitment process.

I have volunteered with Jesuit Social Services for just over a year. it has been a great learning experience for me. I’ve always viewed the role as a ‘working partnership’ where we are all equals with a shared common goal, to pass the Victoria Police Entrance Exams. Whilst the primary objective is to assist the participants with their learning in Numeracy and English, we have in addition used the opportunity to discuss and prepare the participants for daily life within the Police Force. Sharing the participants successes is exhilarating.

I have been particularly fortunate with my students. Their drive for success, quest for education, learning and commitment for their goals have been inspiring. Their commitment to success has been admirable. My participants have taken it upon themselves to become actively involved and ultimately, leaders within their local communities. 

The NT Government’s Climate Change Response lays strong foundations for addressing the challenge of climate change, however the goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 must be enshrined in legislation to hold future Governments to account. We issued a media release highlighting why legislative action on climate change would be transformative for the Territory. Read more here.

Andy Hamilton SJ writes that the focus of World Population Day needs to be broader than population control, and particularly broader than the techniques of control. "It is about culture, and particularly the culture that governs the mutual relationships between governments." Read more here.

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