A shared commitment

371 Church Street (PO Box 271) Richmond 3121 Telephone (03) 9427 7388 www.jss.org.au

The right to a fair go

09WinterNews

Standing in solidarity with those in need Expressing a faith that promotes justice

Julie Edwards with Jesuit Social Services new Volunteer Coordinator, Róisín Murphy

Recently I participated in a conference in Thailand organised by the International Harm Reduction Association. The international harm reduction

movement focuses on the rights of disadvantaged populations who are affected by illicit drug use.

Illicit drug use and related harms, including the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, are among the most pressing health problems facing the world today. Australia has a harm minimisation drug policy, with a focus on reducing the supply of drugs, the demand for drugs and the harms associated with drug use. A harm reduction approach focuses on human rights, rights to health care and non-punitive measures for dealing with drug users. By contrast, as we heard at the conference, in many countries people are forced into ‘treatment’ programs that are virtual prisons, where they are shackled, beaten and endure unfair prolonged incarceration.

We are fortunate toshare a common story of hope

The conference highlighted the need for non-government organisations and governments such as ours to advocate for an international approach to drug policy that is based on a health and human rights agenda, as distinct from the failed policies of punishment and law enforcement.

After the conference I spent time visiting some wonderful programs run the by the Jesuits in Cambodia. One focus of their activity is providing education, health care and housing to children and young people with disabilities due to land mines and polio. This direct service is enhanced by advocating for their rights – a hallmark of the Jesuit approach.

At Jesuit Social Services our approach is also grounded in direct service to the most disadvantaged and matched by a commitment to advocate with them for their rights. It was inspiring to locate our work within an international framework and to recognise our shared tradition that always sees us building respectful relationships, listening and learning what the problems are, analysing and discerning what must be done and then resolutely setting out to achieve those goals.

This newsletter provides a few glimpses into that work – work that is skilled, compassionate, responsive, flexible and courageous. We are fortunate to share a common story of hope and struggle with many people of good will throughout the world.

Julie Edwards, Chief Executive Officer

Many of us view Australia as having a good record for protecting human rights.This is certainly true by the standards of many

countries, where extreme poverty, political oppression and civil strife lead to widespread human rights abuses. Indeed, human rights are seen by many in Australia as being an issue only for other people in other countries. But this is not true. Many in our society, not just the few high profile cases such as Cornelia Rau or Mohammad Haneef, do not have their human rights protected.

What about the human rights of Indigenous people in their day to day attempts to access basic health, housing and education services?

What about the situation of a homeless teenager trying to put his life back together following years of abuse and subsequent drug problems or an eighteen year old remanded in adult prison?

Does Australia protect the human rights of a young Muslim woman denied employment or verbally abused in a supermarket because she wears a hijab?

These are some of the every day issues confronting the people Jesuit Social Services works with. They point to the need for more to be done in Australia to protect human rights.

While Australia supports key international human rights conventions, most recently the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, how are the rights contained in these conventions upheld within our society?

These and many other questions are the concerns of a national human rights consultation that was announced by the federal government late last year. The consultation is being undertaken by an independent commission headed by Frank Brennan SJ.

The central focus is whether human rights in Australia are sufficiently protected and promoted and what steps could be taken to strengthen them.

Jesuit Social Services is currently preparing a submission to the consultation. We have drawn on the experiences of staff and program participants who express considerable support for national legislation that seeks to protect and promote the human rights that Australians profess to support, including the economic, social, civil and political rights we have signed on to internationally.

Are human rights upheld within our society?

This, like the consultation process itself, would make an important contribution to an ongoing conversation about how we build a stronger culture of human rights in Australia. It would also ensure that government and policy makers have human rights considerations to the fore of their thinking when drafting legislation and policy.

Some may argue that the current global financial crisis and its impact on jobs and living standards means that the issue of human rights is not the most pressing at this time. However how we look after the weakest in our community and protect the human rights of all is always an important matter. But at this time it is critical that we continue to improve how we treat those at the margins because during such hard times the margins seem to become that much more distant.

www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au

Rev Tim Costello and Fr Frank Brennan SJ addressing attendees at the first Just Leadership breakfast held in April. One hundred people heard Tim and Frank speak on the theme ‘It is the task of each generation to work out what it means to build a just society’. Details on the next breakfast can be found on the back page.

Finding myself in a busy worldPrograms

Community Partners, standing in solidarity

Community Partner pledge I would like to become a Community Partner by making a MONTHLY contribution to Jesuit Social Services

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WISP initiative awarded

Gateway and Connexions participant, Tim, painted this artwork titled ‘Windmill’ for the Connexions staff during his time at the Artful Dodgers Studios.

A letter of thanks (right): This WISP participant has been supported by Brosnan Youth Services since leaving prison five months ago. She has been able to gain safe and affordable accommodation, re-connect with her two children and is feeling positive about starting a new chapter in her life.

Community Partner and volunteer, Tony Santospirito with Senior Policy Officer, Andrew Nette looking over the 2009 State Budget.

My name is Tim* and I’m 26 years old. I was homeless for 10 years and I have a mental health problem. My view of the future back then was not

much. Just recently I obtained my first commission flat and have been stable, coming to Gateway for the last 10 months and now Connexions too.

Gateway fills my days with something positive to do. I’ve never had a dual diagnosis worker and I’ve now got one at Connexions. I haven’t had any difficulties in sticking with Gateway or Connexions.

Gateway is a worthwhile program for young people who need a supportive environment and Connexions gives me a supportive worker.

The most helpful thing about Gateway is the ability to be able to create my own expression through art.

With Connexions it’s the ability to find myself amongst a busy world.

I’m seeing Michelle at Connexions and we’re working towards a more positive future for me. Connexions gives me sanity through good conversations and counselling. It has allowed me to find a new dimension to my mental health and experience things that I haven’t experienced before, like new and challenging thoughts.

Gateway gives me a supportive environment and achievements like having my art in an exhibition. Being a part of the Gateway program has broadened my horizons and allowed me to live laterally. My hopes for the future now are to continue along the same path that Gateway and Connexions put me on.

View artworks for sale from Gateway’s Artful Dodgers Studios online at www.artfuldodgers.tv* Pseudonym

Many women exiting the prison system encounter a range of challenges during their reintegration into the community. These

include: finding housing, family reunification, parenting and the renegotiation of care arrangements with other family members, drug and alcohol problems, managing finances, finding employment, and managing mental and physical health.

To give women exiting prison the skills, resources and the support necessary to address these transitional needs, plus reduce their risk of reoffending, Brosnan Youth Services, Melbourne City Mission and the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders co-deliver a program known as WISP: Women’s

Integrated Support Program. The program targets all eligible females in the prison system, with Brosnan Youth Services focusing on the 18 to 25 age group.

Following a nomination by Corrections Victoria, WISP was awarded a Merit at the 2008 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards for its achievements in streamlining access to support for women leaving prison.

The award recognises WISP’s innovative approach in delivering services for women and the positive outcomes which they have achieved through this approach.

Congratulations to the staff from Brosnan Youth Services and partner organisations for their ongoing commitment to the women they assist through WISP.

I had been doing voluntary work for Jesuit Mission for some years but being retired and having time to spare, I always felt that I needed to do more. So a couple of

years ago I went to Jesuit Social Services and inquired whether they had any work I could do. I was given a job in their Policy Unit, assisting the Policy Director by gathering statistics on topics relevant to Jesuit Social Services participants.

In the course of this work I learned about the drastic problems which afflict the young people Jesuit Social Services endeavours to help, such as mental health

problems, drug and alcohol problems, unemployment, family violence, sexual abuse and the particular problems of Indigenous people. The more I learned, the more I realised how great the needs of these young people are and therefore how important the work of Jesuit Social Services is. I came to understand how a regular contribution assists in the long term goals of the organisation and because I wanted to do my bit I’ve become a Community Partner of Jesuit Social Services.

Tony Santospirito, Community Partner

Events

Jesuit Social Services Winter Appeal 2009Yes, I would like to support the Jesuit Social Services Winter Appeal 2009

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Donation amount Payment type Contact details

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Or ❏ direct debit from my bank accountWe will send you a direct debit authorisation banking form by email or post for you to complete.

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Please make your tax deductible donation payable to Jesuit Social Services Winter Appeal 2009

Please send me details on: ❏ remembering Jesuit Social Services in my Will ❏ joining the volunteer program

Our newsletter is printed on recycled paper, from an FSC accredited source.

A special appeal to our supporters

Save the dateWomen for Social Justice

Christmas in July luncheonSunday 26th July 2009

Atlantic, Docklands

For more information, call (03) 9427 7388.

Annual Fundraising Dinner 2009

Jesuit Social Services staff, friends and supporters will be taking part in

Run Melbourne on 28th June to raise money for Jesuit Social Services.

To donate or for information visit www.runmelbourne.com.au

or call Jesuit Social Services on (03) 9427 7388.

At our Annual Fundraising Dinner on 28th March at

the Melbourne Town Hall, over 430 people heard

Waleed Aly, a young Muslim community leader,

talk about participation – what it means in our society,

particularly for refugees. His speech was complemented

by a moving DVD about Jesuit Social Services’ work with

refugee communities. The enjoyable evening featured

a successful live auction, silent auction and raffle.

The Frantics band saw guests dancing the night away.

Guest speaker, Waleed Aly, addressing guests at the Annual Fundraising Dinner.

Pat Santamaria, James Prowse and Clare Condon enjoyed catching up at the Annual Fundraising Dinner.

Steve Curtin SJ, Australian Jesuit Provincial with Dr Berhan Ahmed, Victoria’s finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards 2009.

Jesuit Social Services is feeling the impact of the economic downturn. We rely on the generosity of our loyal

supporters as it is only with your assistance that we can support the most disadvantaged in our community.

Our quarterly newsletters generate most of our donations each year, and historically the Winter / tax-time

newsletter has generated the most significant proportion of those donations.

In these challenging times, we need you Donations from the previous two newsletters, Summer and Autumn, were down 14% on our figures from the

previous year. This reduction impacts greatly on the work that we do. We understand that the financial crisis is

affecting so many of us - but as we are facing significant challenges for the year ahead we are calling on you to

get behind this year’s Winter Appeal by donating as generously as you are able to.

In these times of hardship, it is those already experiencing disadvantage who are most affected. It is now in

these challenging times that we need you the most. Please join us in standing in solidarity with those in need.

Guest speakers: Peter Ellyard and Rita Sully

When: Thursday 4th June 2009, 7:15am - 8:55am Where: Mallesons Stephen Jaques, 600 Bourke St Melbourne

Cost: $15 For more information call David Renouf on (03) 9427 7388.

ANTI-POVERTYWEEK11 – 17 October 2009

Poverty and severe hardship affect more than a millionAustralians. Around the world, more than abillion people are desperately poor.

In Anti-Poverty Week helpfight poverty and hardship.

Why not organise a display, stall or award? Maybe a workshop, lecture or forum? How about a fundraiser, fact sheet or petition?

For more information & ideas:visit www.antipovertyweek.org.auemail apw@antipovertyweek.org.auOr call 1300 797 290