Just NewsStep into this fortnight's edition of Just News, the internal newsletter for the vibrant community of Jesuit Social Services, highlighting current happenings and inspiring stories. Welcome back to the new-look Just News. Read on to see how we celebrated NAIDOC Week, find our new Voice to Parliament conversation guide (and regularly updated website page of Voice resources), and news and media about our groundbreaking suicide bereavement toolkit. From Wurundjeri country, where this newsletter is scribed, the golden wattle is blooming as we see out the final weeks of the cold, misty waring (wombat) season, and head towards the abundant guling (orchid) season. Enjoy the blooms, enjoy the edition. A daily quote in your inboxOur daily inspirational leadership quotes help you start each day in a contemplative way. Subscribe for daily Just Leadership emails and enhance your leadership practice and reflection. Navigator at Melbourne's NAIDOC Week marchStaff from our Navigator team walked in solidarity in Melbourne for this year's annual NAIDOC Week march, which featured speeches, music and dance from First Nations community members, in a celebration of culture and history. Voice Kitchen Table Conversation GuideWe've launched our conversation guide on the Voice to Parliament, to enable reflective and compassionate conversations about the Voice's purpose and significance. Find it at our Voice to Parliament website resource page. Growing Around Grief toolkit launchedPeople affected by suicide and sudden loss have a new tool available to support them through bereavement, after the launch of the Growing Around Grief toolkit our Support After Suicide program collaborated on. Ecological justiceImportant updates from our operations teams. Empowering young people's recovery through connection to natureThe Outdoor Experience is Jesuit Social Services’ long-standing Bush Adventure Therapy program, which supports young people aged 15-25 who are struggling with substance abuse and mental health. The program gives young people the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, creative team-building, canoeing, and more. Program Coordinator Jenny Vran said The Outdoor Experience is unique, “combining adventure-based activities with a therapeutic approach, which provides more engaging and memorable experiences than more traditional avenues”. Learn more in this website story. Reflecting on the role of neighbourhood houses in a changing climateIn a community emergency, neighbourhood houses are often the first to respond and they play an essential role in rebuilding communities. Importantly, they also take a preventative approach, building resilience of communities by addressing the underlying drivers of vulnerability in their everyday work. Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places coordinates the Victorian Resilience Community of Practice (RCOP), which brings together metropolitan and rural organisations from across community services, community health and local government to strengthen collaborative efforts towards climate resilience. Recently, the RCOP held a session focussed on the role of neighbourhood houses in climate resilience. You can access a recording of the RCOP session here, or learn more about the role of neighbourhood houses in our latest blog. Media, news, and eventsJesuit Social Services in the news and events to add to your diary. NewsHow to 'grow around grief' in Dandenong StarThe Dandenong Star paper featured the ground-breaking suicide bereavement toolkit we helped create and launch last week. “This kit holds everything I wish I had access to 14 years ago," said user and lived experience advocate Su-Rose McIntyre. “We need to know how to get good help and how to give good help.” Julie Edwards attends Jesuit meeting in RomeCEO Julie Edwards was in Rome last week, attending the Annual Meeting of the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat. Meeting delegates discerned the future of the Jesuit social justice and ecology mission, and shared a strong sense of shared mission and profound willingness to work together. EventsCelebrating NAIDOC WeekWe celebrated NAIDOC Week with an online event celebrating First Nations photographic portraits and respect for Elders, in line with this year's theme, 'For Our Elders'. See photos and hear reflections from staff about the event. Upcoming eventsOn the horizon: a Melbourne-based Voice to Parliament Kitchen Table Conversation facilitated by our LPDU on 17 July (RSVP here), the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola Day on 31 July, and an event for Homelessness Week in early August. We want to hear from youJust News loves hearing your thoughts and showing off your work. We're always open to story ideas, feedback, tips and photos. Like what you've read?Keep goingRead 81+ past editions of Just News at the archive on our website. Share your thoughtsSend your feedback, updates, questions and tips to Just News. |