This week's COVID-19 update features a message from our CEO Julie Edwards, detailing the introduction of wellbeing leave. This additional 5 days prorata wellbeing leave is available to all permanent staff, and is in addition to normal annual leave entitlements. 

On Wednesday 5 August, our Artful Dodgers Studios launched season two of its Braided podcast. Braided threads together the intimate, challenging, and triumphant stories of a group of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds who are living with difficult life circumstances, weaving a vivid tapestry of lives rarely glimpsed.

The six-part series connects young people with Victoria’s leading audio producers who work one-on-one with young people to bring to life the stories they wish to tell. Each episode is an intimate window into the daily challenges, lived experiences and individual passions of the creators.

Homelessness Week 2020 – The way forward must be built on respect. And respect begins with a home.

Homelessness Week 2020 (August 2-8) is taking place in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and ANDY HAMILTON SJ writes that the week is a crucial reminder of the naivety and recklessness of the policies that have produced homelessness. The way forward must be built on respect, and respect begins with a home.

A vital lifeline for Western Sydney remains open

When COVID-19 hit, our Ignite Food Store in Western Sydney was one of our services that felt the impact the most. Jesuit Social Services had spent years building up a network of regular food drives in parishes and schools that underpinned the supply of stock for the store.

The introduction of social distancing rules meant these food drives could no longer be held and this reduced the food on the shelves by at least 50 per cent. Keeping shelves stocked has meant purchasing more and more food and that has increased costs significantly.

#WorthASecondChance Community Check-In: What Does Home Mean to Young People Leaving Detention?

Jess Sanders speaks to Giovanna Nicolia about what the concept of home means to young men at risk of homelessness, exiting detention, and re-entering the community.

Matt Tyler, Executive Director of The Men’s Project, recently spoke to Sydney radio station 2SER about the new Unpacking the Man Box report. Listen to it here.

Following the news of a number of positive COVID-19 cases within the Victorian prison system, we have called for low-level offenders and other vulnerable groups to be considered for early release. Our CEO Julie Edwards says “taking a proactive approach now will protect the health and wellbeing of people who have contact with the system, including prisoners and staff, and may literally save lives.” Read more here.

Ahead of the Northern Territory election, we have joined a group of health, business and social service leaders in Katherine to call for immediate action on homelessness in the region. Read more here.

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