AUGUST 2025

It is our pleasure to bring you another update from Research, Policy and Advocacy at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence.

In this issue you can learn about our new name and its alignment to our strategic goals; catch up on our last BSL Talks; watch our panel discussion on partnering for a poverty-free Victoria; learn outcomes from the Inclusive Pathways to Employment pilot; and much more. 

You can read more about our current work at www.bsl.org.au/research and also browse our policy submissions. 

Please share this update with your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.

Research, Policy and Advocacy update

Our Social Policy and Research Centre has been repositioned as a Research, Policy and Advocacy portfolio. This aligns it with BSL’s Strategy 2030 and our strategic focus areas of early years; employment, education and training; and inclusion.

The new structure also focuses on impact and learning, enabling us to better evidence and learn from the work we do – to better address our strategy together with the local and national agenda.

RECORDING: TACKLING INEQUALITY

Our last BSL Talks, Tackling Inequality, is now online.

This talk features experts with personal experience of disadvantage, sharing their insights into the systems perpetuating inequality and the work they are doing to address it. Hosted by our Social Policy and Research, Policy and Advocacy Director, Dr Nicole Bieske, the panel had an insightful discussion on the key issues of inequality and canvassed a range of possible solutions. This discussion highlighted the importance of listening to those directly affected by disadvantage while creating systemic change.

Our panelists (from left to right):

• Aradia Sayner, Co-founder and CEO, Women in Poverty Network
• Maggie Shambrook, Advocate and Co-founder of the Housing Older Women Movement
• Hayley Prasad, Youth Advocate, Brotherhood of St. Laurence
• Peter Sutton, Employment and Social Security Advocate

Watch Tackling Inequality 

RECORDING: THE FUTURE OF DISABILITY SERVICES 

On 19 June, BSL hosted a panel discussion on the future of Disability Services in Australia. Facilitated by Sue Hall, Director of Disability Services at BSL, the panel discussed their experience with system navigation, the impact of administrative pressure on families, the introduction of foundational supports and ways Disability Services could support people who don’t qualify for NDIS funding. 

On the panel were: ​

• Karen Dimmock, CEO of Association for Children with a Disability ​
• Sarah Watt, Senior Manager of NDIS Projects at BSL ​
• two parents of children in BSL’s early years disability pilot.

Watch The future of Disability Services

UPDATE: CHANGE MAKERS GRADUATE

Seven Seymour women recently graduated from the SEED (Sustaining Economic Empowerment and Dignity for Women) Project’s Change Makers leadership and empowerment program. The graduation ceremony brought together SEED staff, BSL leadership and members of the local community in a shared celebration of growth, courage and connection.

At the event, five graduates spoke powerfully on topics such as mental health, motherhood and advocacy for local transport. Their stories highlighted the impact of place-based initiatives and the strength found in community.

The six-week Change Makers course offers a supportive, community-led space for women navigating life’s challenges. It builds confidence, connection, and leadership skills as part of BSL’s broader commitment to locally embedded solutions that tackle the root causes of poverty.

Congratulations to Tamara, Christa, Jaz, Anne, Suzi, and the entire SEED team, for their achievements and impact. The event was reported on in the Seymour Telegraph.

Find out more about the SEED Project  

REPORT: INCLUSIVE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT

The Inclusive Pathway to Employment (IPE) pilot trialled ways mainstream youth employment services can support young people with disability to pursue their interests, aspirations and goals, and be socially and economically included in their communities.

IPE provided young people with disability early integrated transition support that offers a cohesive, aspiration-focused and inclusive service across systems. The pilot demonstrated the benefit of young people with disability receiving enhanced support from a youth employment service on their career journey that could start while they were still at school and be sustained.

There were positive outcomes for participants including in career exploration, work preparation, self-knowledge, social connections and employability skills. Most agreed they felt more hopeful about reaching education/training goals. Some achieved education/training outcomes during their time in the program.

Image credit: Chloe Sumner, IPE Youth Advisor.

Find out more about the Inclusive Pathways to Employment pilot and read our recommendations 

REPORT: CRITICAL INTERIM SUPPORT

In the last Spotlight, we shared research summary findings of the Critical Interim Support pilot. The evaluation found that integrating intensive case management into existing programs such as Care Finder could enhance support for vulnerable older people in Australia. Given the cost savings and improved outcomes associated with intensive case management, expanding such services could be beneficial. The full report, Critical Interim Support: innovative case management for older people experiencing barriers to accessing aged care services is now available. 

The Guardian published this piece on Critical Interim Support in April. 

Find out more about Critical Interim Support: innovative case management for older people experiencing barriers to accessing aged care services

POLICY: ENERGY EQUITY

BSL continues to advocate for fair decommissioning of gas supply in domestic Australian settings and energy regulation in Victoria.

It is essential that Australia takes a comprehensive approach to equitable gas decommissioning. We propose that the challenges and costs of decommissioning are considered holistically, taking into account governments, networks and all types of consumers. Equitable gas decommissioning must ensure those living on low incomes and facing disadvantage are not further disadvantaged in the transition away from gas. 

We also made a submission to the Victorian Energy Retail Code of Practice (ERCOP). We are very supportive of proposed changes that will strengthen the code, but raised concerns that the new rules may not capture everyone facing energy stress. We strongly support automatic offer switching for all customers and we propose the arrears threshold should be set below the disconnection threshold, to allow for customers to address arrears before they are cut off. 

Read Submission to gas connections consultation paper (340 KB)

Read Submission to Energy Retail Code of Practice review (219 KB)

POLICY: SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

As the leader of the National Collaboration on Employment and Disability (NCED) and a NDIS Partner in the Community since 2016, BSL champions employment opportunities for people with disability both at a systems level and in the community. 

We made four recommendations for inclusion in the Department of Social Services’ plan for Supported Employment: include actions to disrupt the ‘polished pathway’ from segregated education to disability employment; actions to reduce employer discrimination and increase inclusion; make a long-term plan that is co-designed with the disability community; address entrenched disadvantage and barriers to employment that arise from losing access to income support. 

Read Next steps in Supported Employment: promoting social and economic inclusion of people with disability (300 KB)

USING THE BSL LIBRARY

​The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) is a social justice organisation that works to prevent and alleviate poverty across Australia. You are receiving this email as you have previously subscribed to the BSL Research and Policy Centre e-newsletter. To unsubscribe, please click on the link below.