2004 Social Justice Forum

Social Justice Forum2 October 2004

THE PASSION FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES

2 | St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc.

Social Justice Forum 2004

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society inAustralia is to deepen the Catholic faith of itsmembers and to go out into our nation to heightenawareness of Jesus Christ.

We do this by sharing ourselves – who we are, andwhat we have – with people in need on a person-to-person basis. We seek to co-operate in shaping amore just and compassionate Australian community,and to share our resources with our twinnedcountries.

Our preferred option in this mission of service is towork with people in development by respecting theirdignity, sharing our hope and encouraging them totake control of their own destiny.

Meaning of St Vincent de Paul Society logoThis logo is the symbol of the St Vincent de PaulSociety in many countries. It represents the hand ofChrist that blesses the cup, the hand of love thatoffers the cup, and the hand of suffering that receivesthe cup.

3 | The Passion for Justice Continues


CONTENTS

Mission Statement 2

Prayer 4

External Networks 5

Internal Networks 6

Media 7

Network Register 8

Presentation: Migrant & Refugee Committee 9

Forum Attendees 11



PRAYER

In our opening prayers, we pray that we may be open to the inspiration of theHoly Spirit.

Do we sometimes pray for help and guidance with specific situations whichconfront the conference?

Should we sometimes stop during the meeting to allow time for a specificprayer in this way?

Would a few minutes of quiet reflection help uncover solutions to our moredifficult problems?

How important is our ‘network’ with the Holy Spirit?

Feedback from groupPrayer is essential in Society work.We must refrain from tendency to rush our prayer, and be mindful of the duration of our prayer.Prayer is a potent tool to relieve tension during conference meetings.Prayer is essential before conference visits. Prayer should be used during visitation with appropriate prudence.Conference calling card with "Our Father" and Society history are useful.The new Rule will provide for spiritual advisors other than from the religious community.The web offers useful sites for spiritual readings.

Other CommentsWe should never lose focus on Frederic Ozanam's mission.



EXTERNAL NETWORKS

External networks are the contacts we have in the local community with otherorganisations which are specially equipped to help people in need, withparticular skills or facilities beyond the scope of the usual conference.Examples are Centrelink, local councils, welfare agencies, appliancerepairmen, among many others.

How important to our work is a well-established range of contacts with thesegroups?

How can we foster closer ties with these groups?

Is it better for the conference to have one member who ‘networks’extensively, or should many different members be involved?

How do we handle ‘privacy’ issues?

Feedback from groupExternal networks are part of being a fully functional conference.External networks are very important to enhance assistance provided to those in need.External networks develop cooperation and empower conferences and members (hand up).The conference contact list must be kept up-to-date so it is relevant and timely.External networks can be fostered by attendance at regular community meetings, personal friendship contacts (informal), and through other adjacent conferences.External networks of the conference are best developed by several conference members, to spread the load, and build resilience. Ideally, all members should be involved in networking activity.

Other Comments Local parishes should be included in the conference networks. Use the web to identify local institutions for assisting in networks. Avoid listingspecific individuals.



INTERNAL NETWORKS

Internal networks are the various parts of the St Vincent de Paul Societywhich are available to conferences to assist them in their work. Some ofthese are administrative, but many are directly concerned with getting theright kind of assistance where it is needed, when it is needed.

How well do we know the extent of assistance available for people in needwithin the Society?

How well do we know how to get at that assistance?

Who is in the best position within the conference to hold this information?

How well do we know what special assistance is available from otherconferences in our region?

How do we foster closer links with these conferences?

Feedback from groupInternal networking lacks organised form – no schematic guidelines, so always re-inventing the wheel.A concept map of internal networks is needed.An internal directory of network services available within the Society is needed.The conference Social Justice officer is in best position to act as a conduitand facilitator for this information.Conferences are too isolated from each other, and miss opportunities to achieve better outcomes for those we assist.There is a need to foster Regional Social Justice officer networks. Induction of new members should include instruction in internal networks.

Comment from the floor

[Question: How important is the issue of the Society getting its internalnetworks clearly defined and understood by members?Answer: (loud) VERY IMPORTANT.]

Strong agreement that this matter must be addressed.



MEDIA

Local media, both radio and press, can provide useful support for conferencework, particularly if that work involves either a clear injustice in thecommunity, or a community project in which the conference is involved.

Do we keep regular contact with the media organisations in our conferencearea?

Do we understand the Society policies with regard to media release material?

Do we use the media for promotion of the Society and its work?

Feedback from the groupMedia used in two ways 1) Promotion, where we have clear guidelines and are reasonably comfortable, AND 2) Advocacy, which we use less, because we don't like the attention, and don't understand the boundaries with this.These should be made clearer.Conferences should have been issued with media guidelines – what happened?People still don't understand the protocols for media.Media such as parish and school bulletins, local notice boards, local papers, and Light FM are all available, and potentially useful.Use of media to promote Society's work is frequent.It is important to liaise with specific people (individual journalist).

Comments from the floor

There is generally not enough awareness of the need for contact with media.Positive action needed to make conferences aware of media guidelines. More alliances in media use with other Christian churches is desirable.



NETWORK REGISTER

This is a set of references which lists in some sort of order the organisations,agencies and services in the local area which may be of use to theconference in finding assistance for someone in need. It can be kept in avariety of ways, but to be useful, must be up-to-date. Several samples areprovided at the forum.

What are some of the systems which can be used for a register?Where is the register best held?Who keeps it up-to-date?Are local versions of a register available – eg, from the Council?Are personal contact details important in the register?.

Feedback from groupContacts which should be in the register include: Local and state government departments, Local professions – doctors, etc., servicemen and repairers, Parishes, Legal aid and child support, Government agencies, Centrelink, DHS, Justice, Professional welfare groups – social workers etc., Local institutions (clubs, etc), SJC Speaking. The register should be held at conference with members directory. The register is best kept up-to-date by an appointed person in the conference (Social Justice Officer).Local registers are often available through the local council. Many local councils produce lists of all community services available within the council area. The Commonwealth Government produces a guide to Commonwealth government payments. DHS issues guide to concessions (Call 1800 658 521 for copy, and to go mailing list.)Conferences can usefully put together a simplified portable version of the register for each member, to include key local contact list. (Individual names are not as important as correct departments.)

Comments from floorJustice Department information info on interventions, etc. can be accessed.



MIGRANT & REFUGEE COMMITTEE

An old slogan used by the Society was 'No work of charity is foreign to theSociety’. That principle is regularly practised by the Migrant & RefugeeCommittee as it networks with a wide range of institutions.

Household Formation SupportIn conjunction with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural andIndigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and four metropolitan agencies, the Society inMelbourne provides basic household goods to authorised settlers arrivingfrom overseas refugee camps.

In three years 1,989 households, 6,728 persons have received thegovernment-funded package.

East TimoreseFollowing acquisition of East Timor by Indonesia, circa 1990, some 1,600asylum seekers settled in Melbourne – because of their country's links toPortugal permanent residency was denied and reached flashpoint in early2003 when they were advised that deportation was imminent.

In association with the City of Yarra where the big majority reside, the Societysupported a fairer treatment of these vulnerable people, some of whom hadmarried Australians or whose children were born in Australia.

Appealing against deportation orders they were downgraded to the mostrepressive of Immigration Visa categories, the Bridging Visa E which deniesaccess to Centrelink, Medicare or paid employment. Appalled by theseinjustices, our committee approached Red Cross who provided primeinformation to enable St Vincent de Paul to subsidise house rentals for sixhouseholds. As some families received permanent residency others replacedthem. All told, 17 households have been assisted at a cost of $32K.

Sudanese 70% of participants in the Humanitarian Program are from Africa. More than50% are from The Sudan. Most popular area for resettlement has beenDandenong. Many are Catholic. Currently St Vincent de Paul is negotiatingwith the Dandenong Deanery to establish employment of a Pastoral worker.



MIGRANT & REFUGEE COMMITTEE (continued)

Assistance has been given to Holy Eucharist Parish, St. Albans South for aNo Interest Loan Scheme. Our committee has funded a caseworker due tothe extremely large number of Catholic Sudanese parishioners where it is notuncommon for 100+ to be present at Mass.

A group comprising Bishop Mark Coleridge, St Vincent de Paul, CatholicSocial Services, Mackillop Family Services, Centacare, Catholic Education,Cabrini Hospital and Good Shepherd are examining ways to assist thoseliving in the Footscray and Sunshine areas. Emphasis is directed towardschool children forced to attend government schools because of cost of fees,uniforms etc. The Catholic parishes can absorb only so much, eg waiving ofschool fees.

St Vincent de Paul is one of 25 church/community groups identified asJustice for Asylums (JAS). The group is seeking a more humane treatmentfor persons incarcerated in Detention Centres – of special concern aremothers and their children many of whom witness brutality, attemptedsuicide. These children suffer from depression and are denied a normalchildhood.

Because of its concern for these people, in late 2002, John Meahan, TerryMcCarthy and three other Vincentians met with the then Minister who upheldgovernment policy. JAS sees this hard-nosed treatment of our brothers andsisters in Christ as contrary to Gospels standards. In recent months thatpolicy has been subjected to a major turn around. Some women and childrenstill remain in detention.

With other Catholic and denominational groups the committee advocated fora better treatment of Temporary Protection Visa holders, 90% of whom arerecognised as genuine refugees. They are denied family reunion and accessto free English language tuition.

People are referred to International Office for Migration, Canberra (IOM)where a 40% discount is usually given for air travel costs for sponsoredauthorised refugees.



MIGRANT & REFUGEE COMMITTEE (continued)

Various legal aid agencies are contacted when we seek pro bono legalrepresentation for Bridging Visa and Temporary Protection Visa holdersfighting deportation.

Working in with parishes/conferences the committee has assisted:

Noble Park Parish – establish No Interest Loan scheme for Sudanese.Mitcham conference – loan as part payment for purchase of a motor vehicle to enable a refugee to establish a painting business.All Saints, Fitzroy – towards air fare costs.One committee member, a Christian Brother, visits Adult Migrant Education Service (AMES) for the purpose of imparting woodworking skill to Eritrean refugees.

The Salvation Army referred a Drouin caravan park resident who is an illegalimmigrant on Bridging Visa status and a chronic asthmatic. The committee ismeeting his accommodation and medical expenses until his visa is reviewedin November.

THE PASSION FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES

St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. ABN: 28 911 702 061

43 Prospect Street, Box Hill Vic 3128 Locked Bag 4800, Box Hill Vic 3128Phone: 03 9895 5800 Fax: 03 9895 5850Email: [email protected] Web: www.svdp-org.au

Documents

2004 Social Justice Forum