Just News

Hello, and welcome back to Just News. In today's edition: we commemorate Reconciliation Week, share a great new video about our Ecological Justice Hub's plastic recycling (and international visitors!), gear up for All Staff Day, and share our thoughts about our work sites. Stay warm, and enjoy the edition.

Media, news and events

Dates to add to your diary and Jesuit Social Services in the news.

Media

Just News 161 arrived on the day of the Victorian State Budget – our response welcomed progressive reforms to the state's criminal justice systems, like new drug courts and expanded funding to the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and called on the Government to commit to immediately raising the age of criminal responsibility.

On youth justice, we expressed concern over Queensland's regressive laws that will only criminalise more children, instead of supporting them to flourish in communities.

We acknowledged National Reconciliation Week as an opportunity for all of us to use our power, words and actions to create a better, more just Australia for everyone, and Andy Hamilton SJ penned a thoughtful reflection on the Voice to Parliament.

And The Men's Project's executive director Matt Tyler was interviewed for a book called Bringing Up Boys Who Like Themselves, which was extracted in the Courier Mail.

Events

Over 250 staff have registered for All Staff Day, which is just around the corner on 14 June! If you're coming but haven't registered yet, please do here. Registering helps us make sure your dietary and access requirements are met. If you have any questions, please contact our events team.

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.

Staff explore how nature-based therapy can enhance practice

Did you know that being present in nature can slow down the part of the brain which narrows on thinking and ruminates? Jesuit Social Services’ staff gathered recently at the Bush Hut, in Kew, to learn about nature-based therapeutic practice and the ways it can enhance their work with participants, and improve their own wellbeing. Pip, who works in people and leadership development, said, “I was taken by the idea of how time outside – including while moving/exercising, can promote problem-solving and access to new perspectives – I know this intuitively but great to hear it too!” Learn more and read other staff reflections.

Victorian budget delivers air conditioning for public housing towers and funding for cleaner air in Melbourne’s west

 While it is disappointing to see the Victorian Budget reduce spending on climate action by 43% there were a few positive outcomes in the area of ecological justice, including funding to install air-conditioners in public housing towers, and $20 million dollars over four years to improve air quality in Melbourne’s west. These outcomes align with some of the Centre for Just Places’ recent climate justice work, including the Collaborative Action Plan – the result of a year-long project bringing 44 community health and services organisations in Melbourne’s west together, in part to understand shared climate change risks and vulnerabilities in the region, such as the health impacts of higher rates of air pollution.

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