Discover what's happening around Jesuit Social Services. No images? Click here Hello, and welcome to another edition of Just News. We're acknowledging World Mental Health Day (and boosting spirits with goodwill leave dates), celebrating the latest graduates of the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program, and learning the First Nations land we're working from, as part of our deeper Engaging with Place project. From Wurundjeri country in Melbourne's inner-north, enjoy the edition. CEO Julie Edwards emailed us on 28 September to announce we'll once again receive three days of goodwill leave this year – bonus leave days for permanent staff, regardless of the length of their service. This is leave over and above our regular leave allocation, and is a great thing the organisation does to show how much it values staff. Your goodwill leave can be taken on three of the following nominated days:
Chat to your line manager about when you'll take your additional leave, and apply for it as usual in Preceda, using 'Goodwill Leave' as both the leave type and leave reason. If you're planning a longer holiday or need a reminder, our Business Support Services update in Just News 145 told us how we can purchase additional leave or take other, slightly more unusual forms of leave – including leave for blood donations, ceremonies, jury duty and study. Remember to always coordinate your leave with your line manager. Happy holiday planning, and get your leave requests in as soon as you can! STORY | Newest Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program graduatesTwenty-three participants from 14 countries are the most recent graduates of the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program – a pathway towards a possible future career in policing – after last week's course completion ceremony in Melbourne. Delivered by Victoria University in partnership with Jesuit Social Services, the 15-week program aims to increase the cultural diversity of Victoria’s police force and assist students from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to navigate the Victoria Police recruitment process. The program was featured on Melbourne's Channel 9 News last week, where Jesuit Social Service' Stephen Mutton shared how effective the program is at supporting diverse recruits to build new and relevant skills. “What you’ve learnt is not just technical skills – the swimming and the first aid and critical thinking – but what’s more important, I think, is two things people learn as they go through this program: self-belief, and the capacity to learn from each other,” Victoria University Deputy Vice Chancellor Dianne Semmens (above left) told graduates at the ceremony. UPDATE | World Mental Health Day 2022Yesterday was World Mental Health Day 2022: an annual event envisaging a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need. On our blog this week, Andy Hamilton SJ reflects on the relationship between tackling disadvantage, addressing ill mental health, and working together to enable all people to thrive – which with cost-of-living pressure and the pandemic is more important than ever. Smoking at Jesuit Social Services premisesThe Smoking Tobacco in the Workplace Policy (doc id 7.1.11 on Gemba) was reviewed at the September Quality, Risk, Compliance and Policy Committee meeting. The policy states no smoking within fifteen (15) metres of any entrance or open window of any Jesuit Social Services’ premises at any time, including during official meal breaks. This includes all forms of smoking, electronic and other smoking forms and devices. Jesuit Social Services will provide support to employees to assist them to quit smoking through our Employee Assistance Program and organisations who provide support to people wishing to quit: The Cancer Council Australia and Quit. Preceda Payslips explainedDo you know how to read your payslip? Business Support Services is here to help. Click this link to see a marked-up example payslip to help you decode your own. Newly arrived families grow their engagement with First Nations culture at Homework Club eventDuring the school holidays, close to sixty students and family members from the Settlement Program’s Flemington Homework Club gathered on Wurundjeri land to experience a Welcome to Country and play bush bingo and scavenger hunt activity with an Indigenous lens. The event was run in collaboration with Jesuit Social Services’ The Outdoor Experience, who led a nature play activity encouraging children to search for pictures of native animals hidden around the park, and learn Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri language group) words for different animals. Settlement Program Coordinator, Kimberley, said the event was one example of the work Jesuit Social Services’ Settlement team are doing to grow participant and staff engagement with the First Nations and Wurundjeri histories and culture. “Establishing a sense of place is fundamental to the settlement process for our newly-arrived families. Learning about the history, culture and custodianship of the Traditional Owners of the land can enrich that sense of place.” Read the full story here. Interested in exploring the First Nations histories of the lands where your work site is located?The ‘Engaging with Place' project encourages Jesuit Social Services staff to explore the First Nations’ histories and significance of the lands on which our work sites are located. Getting involved is voluntary, and you can choose to engage in whatever way interests you. To learn more about the project or volunteer to engage with place at your site, contact Ecological Justice Support Officer, Jack Piper, at jack.piper@jss.org.au. Click the AIATSIS map below to find information about the First Nations Country your work site is located on. Last week was National Week of Prayer and Action, and you can watch our fantastic CAPSA in Conversation webinar back in full here. Our other advocacy campaign – youth justice campaign Worth A Second Chance – has released another episode of its podcast. Listen to retired police officer Dean McGowan share the personal story behind why he's still committed to giving kids second chances after 30 years on the force. And this year Jesuit Social Services celebrates our 45th anniversary! CEO Julie Edwards has recorded a video to mark the occasion, which you can view here and below. “Sometimes it's just the flip of the coin when some young kids get into trouble. And I think that's what I fear at the moment – that some young people at the moment have been given a life sentence for exercising their youthfulness, and perhaps pushing the boundaries in certain circumstances. And, you know, giving people a second chance is something that resonates with me, and helping them and giving them a chance in life, so that they can get a leg up, is what it's all about."— Dean McGowan, Worth A Second Chance podcast, episode 7 If you've got an update or story to tell, or want to share your feedback, we're happy to hear from you. Use the buttons below to share your thoughts. |