Catholic Social Services Victoria

Welcome to Catholic Social Services Victoria, the peak body in Victoria for the Catholic social services sector.

COMING EVENTS
Contact Emmy Silvius on 9287 5566 esilvius@css.org.au for bookings or further information:

All members and friends are invited to join this annual opportunity for the Catholic social services community to celebrate our work, and to strengthen the links between those who are active within our broad community of service. Click here for a flyer and registration form.

During the course of the evening, Elizabeth Proust AO will speak on Building a mission focused organisation..

Seeking Social Inclusion: Equipping Organisations to respond to people experiencing mental illness.
A symposium for people and organisations in social services.

9 September 2010: 8.45am-4.45pm

Kildara Centre, rear 39 Stanhope Street, Malvern

This symposium will inform and equip management, policy and practice staff across community services in responding to the mental health needs of service users. Workshops will provide the opportunity to integrate information into service strategies.

Speakers include:
Professor Ruth Webber - ACU
Associate Professor Neil Cole - Mental Health Research Institute, University of Melbourne
Michael Perusco - CEO Sacred Heart Mission
Martin Turnbull - Assistant Director, Mental Health and Drugs Strategy, Department of Health.

Enquiries: Helen Burt 0407 779 429

click here for flyer, program and registration

21 September 2010- Gathering of religious working in Catholic social services

12 – 13 November, Weekend of spiritual renewal for women in Catholic social services

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Thanks to Jacqui Remond of Catholic Earthcare Australia for an informative and inspiring Breakfast Briefing and workshop on Thursday 15 July 2010. During the breakfast briefing Jacqui developed the theme of Protection and Care for our Environment, around Pope John Paul II's World Day of Peace message: "If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation." This message teaches us that integral human development is linked with the obligations which flow from human relationships. Click here for the PowerPoint presentation.
The intention of the workshop that followed was to assist organisations and individuals to become sustainable using Catholic Earthcare's new ASSISI initiative. During this three hour workshop Jacqui encouraged participants to explore their relationship with God's creation and ask themselves how they can contribute to its care. Some principles of Catholic social teaching, such as the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity were linked with caring for the environment. A presentation was given on the Ecological Footprint Tool (ECIS) which measures, tracks and develops reports on the organisations ecological footprint. Click here for the PowerPoint used at this presentation. Futher information can be obtained at http://www.catholicearthcare.org.au

Nurturing the Founding Spirit
A symposium on sustaining the mission and spirit of our organisations
Thurs 8 July

Thanks to all our presenters and participants who made this event enjoyable and useful. A short report on the day will be distributed soon, and a number of follow-up activities are in planning, including a network group for people with responsibility for mission and formation.

Further information is available from Denis Fitzgerald - dfitzgerald@css.org.au

Patricia McCourt from St Vincent De Paul Society responds to a panel comprising Julie Edwards from Jesuit Social Services, Sr Pam Moloney rgs, and Denis Fitzgerald, Executive Director of CSSV.

Click here for the June 2010 edition of our electonic newsletter, MiniMicah. Contents include:
* Presentation on spirituality and mission
* Catholic social teaching
* Asylum seekers presentation, and follow up
* Spirituality in Catholic social services – Beth Crisp
* Enquiry into National Disability care and support scheme
* Enquiry into aged care
* Women’s retreat update
* Order of Australia: recognition for sector
* Who am I? Sr Margaret Armstong DC – Marillac

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Click here for previous editions of Mini Micah

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Thanks to Sr Brigid Arthur for an inspiring Breakfast Briefing on 2 June 2010 on Asylum Seekers. A focus during the briefing on the lives of individuals who are traumatised by these legal and political structures challenges all of us to renewed effort to seek reform.

On 18 May 2010 Denis Fitzgerald of Catholic Social Services Victoria and Jenny Glare of MacKillop Family Services led a 'Day of Reflection' for staff on the Archdiocese of Melbourne on the theme of spirituality and mission. Click here for the notes of their main presentation. The presentation is about the connection between our personal spirituality and our shared spirituality, and the vitality of the mission of a Catholic organisation. The main point is that there is a connection, which we should nurture.

The 2010 Victorian budget reflected many of the benefits of a strengthening economy, and increased expenditure in many important areas. But much pressing need in the community remains unfunded, and community safety needs a broader focus than just increased police numbers. Click here for a CSSV media release on the 4 May budget.

Disadvantage and Inequity in Rural and Regional Victoria: CSSV member organisations are active in a range of services across the State of Victoria. Based on consultations with those members, in a recent submission to a Victorian Parliamentary enquiry, CSSV highlighted the need for a focus by Governments at all levels on the provision of basic services, and attention to specific needs, in rural and regional Victoria.

Bruce Bonyhady, Chair of Yoralla, inspired those who attended our April breakfast briefing on the topic of Why Australia needs a National Disability Scheme.
Click here for a copy of Bruce's presentation, and here for a report on the Briefing. Bruce exhorted all to make a contribution, through www.ndis.org.au or www.australiansmadashell.com.au. CSSV will be making a submission to the current Productivity Commission enquiry into a national disability scheme. [Photo: Bruce Bonyhady; Carol Vale]

2010 Commissioning Mass and Annual General Meeting - 11 March 2010
Many representatives from our member agencies as well as friends of CSSV joined together in celebrating our combined works within the social services sector as well as pledging to continue to better the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. For the Commissioning text click here.

Mass was followed by the AGM during which the Chair of CSSV - Peter Bearsley and Executive Director - Denis Fitzgerald spoke on the events of the past year as well as the vision for the future. For Denis' speech click here.
Melissa Brickell, Coordinator Aboriginal Partnerships at MacKillop Family Services was our guest speaker. She spoke on the Sharing of Vision and Commitment. Click here for melissa's talk.
[Photo: Chair, Peter Bearsley; Executive Director Denis Fitzgerald; Council member, David Beaver]

More on the this event plus photos can be found on our News page.

- click here for a copy of our 2009 Annual Report -

Council Elections: Congratulations and thanks to Peter Bearsley who has been re-elected for another 12 months as Chair of the CSSV Council, and to Fr Joe Caddy who has been re-elected for another two years.
Congratulations and welcome to our three new Council members Jamie Edwards - Centacare Sale Diocese, Michael Perusco - Sacred Heart Mission, and Micaela Cronin - MacKillop Family Services.
Thanks and best wishes to our departing Council members Arda Tymensen, Bernie O'Regan, and Patrick Gallagher.
See http://www.css.org.au/council.html for contact details.

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Thanks to Assoc Prof Beth Crisp for an engaging Breakfast Briefing to a capacity crowd on 24 February, on the subject of spirituality in Catholic social services.

As Beth's presentation, and the subsequent discussion, highlighted, there are many aspects to the interaction of spirituality and social services, which could only be touched on or alluded to in a short breakfast presentation and discussion. The hope is that each of us will be informed and stimulated to follow up some aspects to develop our own engagement, and to enable us better to engage with others, be they clients or colleagues.

Click here for a copy of a recent paper which Beth has made available which discusses many of the points covered in her Breakfast presentation. And click here for a copy of the recent McCosker Oration 'The Church as an Advocate in the Public Square', by Frank Brennan SJ, , that Beth referred to in her talk.

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Click here for summary and full text of a recent CSSV paper on counselling in a Catholic agency, delivered to the 2010 Catholic Bioethics Conference, on 25 January 2010. The paper considers counselling in Catholic agencies in the context of the role of the Church in social services, and the features of Catholic social services in Australia. A key finding is that dialogue is needed within agencies and more broadly to ensure that people and processes are in place to maintain a continued focus on mission within Catholic agencies, and particularly in recruitment and in staff formation.

Other items recently posted to this site include:

media release and article of 11 December 09 commenting on recently released ABS data on prisons in Australia: "Increasing numbers of people in our prison systems challenge our society as a whole; and increased indigenous imprisonment is a matter of national shame"
CSSV prepared Background Notes for politicians who participated in our 2009 Victorian Political Forum, held on 1 December 2009. This statement sets out principles that CSSV ascribes to in public policy analysis, and some of the issues that the Catholic social services community consider are important in Victoria today.
‘A key lesson from the Ombudsman’s Report into the Victorian Child Protection Program is that families that are under stress need more support from our Government and our community generally’, - see CSSV media release of 26 November 2009

Thank you to Bernie Geary for a challenging and engaging Breakfast briefing on 28 October on Protecting vulnerable children in our society. Bernie's own journey of learning and growth through solidarity with young people, and his outline of current issues, were most appreciated by the 30-plus attendees. He exhorted all of us to play our part in creating a society that values and cares for vulnerable young people. Click here for a copy of the 'Charter for Children in Out-of-home Care' put out by Bernie's office.

Fr Tony Kerin launches the 2009 Social Justice Sunday Statement at the Rerum Novarum LectuClick to read speech

For the complete 2009 Social Justice Sunday Statement CLICK HERE

Fr Charles Rue SSC presents Let the Son Shine - An Australian Catholic Response to Climate Change at the 2009 Rerum Novarum Lecture in Melbourne. Click for an overview

CSSV Annual Dinner, 28 August 2009
See under our News section or click here

Catholic social services and freedom of religion: On 5 August 2009 Catholic Social Services appeared before the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee of the Victorian Parliament to speak to its submission on the interplay between the provision of Catholic social services and freedom of religion. Click here for the introductory comments from that presentation.

The submission was a contribution to an enquiry into exceptions and exemptions in the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic.) Click here for earlier CSSV written submission to the Review. During the public hearings, Denis Fitzgerald, Executive Director of CSSV, summarised the submission along the following lines:

Freedom of religion is an important plank in the broad human rights agenda.
Catholic social service agencies need to be able to take religious commitments and beliefs into account in their staffing decisions; and to deliver services in accordance with the requirements of Catholic teaching.
These freedoms are necessary for the Catholic Church and community, through Catholic agencies, to continue in the provision of their wide range of social services and support for the general community.
This freedom of religion would not be impaired by some narrowing of existing exemptions.

Changes in senior roles in Catholic social services sector click here for more information on moves and appointments involving
Bishop Christopher Prowse, appointed as Bishop of Sale
Paul Linossier, CEO of MacKillop Family Services
Michael Yore, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services

Pastoral Care in Catholic Aged Care facilities click here for more information.

Helping those affected by Victorian bushfires, and learning lessons for the future
See report on this, also on our news page.

Reinforcing a preferential option for the poor in Catholic Health During May 2009, ACU Melbourne has hosted two groups of Catholic Health Australia executives participating in the Graduate Certificate In Leadership And Catholic Culture. As part of each of these programs, Catholic Social Services Victoria worked with CHA to arrange visits for participants to our member agencies so that they could gain some insight into the barriers that the poor face in accessing health care. Click here for further details.

Victorian Budget maintains focus on the vulnerable members of society Catholic Social Services Victoria welcomed the 5 May 2009 Victorian Budget: "in a time of economic downturn, the budget's focus on productive public investment and on the needs of more vulnerable members of society is good news for Victoria" - see CSSV media release.

CSSV's budget comment also notes that there is more to be done to address areas of continuing pressing need: improvement to Out of Home Care for vulnerable children are one such area, where budget initiatives are welcomed, but the community and the Government must continue to work to guarantee the safety, pesonal development and the future of our vulnerable children - see earlier media release on this topic.