Just News
Welcome back to Just News. In today's edition: Our support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, a volunteer's success at Ignite Cafe, All Staff Day is on 14 June, plus more. Here on Wurundjeri country in inner Melbourne, we're well into waring (wombat) season, with lots of rain, cold days, and misty mornings. Stay warm and dry, and enjoy the edition.
Jesuit Social Services supports a Voice to Parliament
CEO Julie Edwards' email on 5 May articulated our organisational stance on the enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Jesuit Social Services supports the Voice and and Yes vote. Read our full position below, and stay tuned for more resources and information shortly.
Volunteer role helps Max remember his value
At Ignite Cafe, our social enterprise in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, a shy and softly spoken volunteer named Max built confidence, independence, friendships, and new hospitality skills – learn how it happened in our latest website story.
Modelling Respect and Equality in Victoria's west
In February, The Men’s Project headed to Colac in Victoria’s west to deliver a two-day Modelling Respect and Equality workshop to 20 male community leaders. Watch a short film capturing participants’ reflections, thoughts, and positive feedback below.
Microsoft Teams enabled for all staff for meetings
All Jesuit Social Services staff can now join online meetings and access shared files using Microsoft Teams, even if your team hasn't yet transitioned to using the platform. Learn more and see steps to access meetings and files at Trent McDonald's email from 8 May.
Media, news and events
Dates to add to your diary and Jesuit Social Services in the news.
Media
Our advocacy around raising the age of criminal responsibility continues, with Andrew Yule speaking to Sky News about the need for the Victorian Government to raise the age to 14.
If you missed it in Just News 159, our CEO Julie Edwards was quoted on Nine News and in The Age, arguing that the Victorian Government's decision to raise the age to 12 doesn't go far enough.
And The Men's Project's executive director Matt Tyler was interviewed for Principle of Charity podcast, articulating how we can help boys and men to turn away from ‘role models’ that represent masculinity at its worst.
Events
All Staff Day is happening in person, in Melbourne, on 14 June!
All Staff Day is a twice-a-year opportunity for all of us to get together, connect with colleagues from across the organisation and learn from each other. The expectation is that every staff member attends All Staff Day in person unless they are unable to do so. An online viewing option will be available for those unable to make it in person. Please talk to your manager if attending in person poses a challenge for you.
Staff must register to attend, and we'll share registration details soon, including a reminder about booking travel and a request for your details, including any dietary or accessibility requirements. We're looking forward to gathering together again.
Ecological justice
How we're enacting our commitment to ecological justice across the organisation – acknowledging the intersection of social and environmental justice in everything we do.
Garden Pathway program a breath of fresh air for justice-involved participants
Jesuit Community College’s Garden Pathway program is run in partnership with the Department of Justice and Community Safety. With the aim of embedding pre-accredited training into community work, the program supports men who are in contact with the justice system to serve their community work hours growing produce which is donated to food relief programs. Program trainer, Carol, told us, “from the very first day running the Garden Pathway course, I noticed that everyone leaves the garden in a better state than when they arrived. And I’ve even had some participants get emotional on their final day, because they’re going to miss the garden so much.” Read the full story here.
Ecological justice more than environmental awareness and sustainability
In case you missed it, the Centre for Just Places ran two Lunchtime Learning sessions where we heard from six different programs across Jesuit Social Services on how they are embedding ecological justice approaches into their work. One staff member commented, “I’ve been struck today by how ecological justice is about so much more than being environmentally aware or sustainable… I like how you’ve highlighted the complexity in the work of strengthening our connection to each other, the eco-system of people.”
In Session 1 we heard from Kane Apelu (Housing Programs Manager), Stuart Muir Wilson (Coordinator at the Ecological Justice Hub) and Maeve Elrington (CAPSA Coordinator in the Policy, Research and Advocacy team). Julie Edwards also provided a brief outline of the organisation’s journey to understand and embed ecological justice across the organisation. Recording of session 1 linked here.
In Session 2 we heard from Delander Hayes (Projects Coordinator at Wilmot Community Hub, Western Sydney), Andrea Wolf (Project Officer at The Centre for Just Places), and Kate Brewster (General Manager of Business Support). Recording of session 2 linked here.
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