“Effective means to redress the marginalization of the world's poor through globalization will only be found if people everywhere feel personally outraged by the injustices in the world and by the concomitant violations of human rights"
Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Peace, December 2008

COMING EVENTS
Enquiries re coming events to Emmy Silvius, tel 9287 5566, esilvius@css.org.au

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

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.

June 2009 MiniMICAH - our newsletter for members and friends

Helping those affected by Victorian bushfires, and learning lessons for the future

As bushfire-affected communities move into the recovery phase, Catholic social service agencies are strengthening their support for affected bushfire communities, as part of an integrated, long term effort, in consultation with local parishes and communities. Our vision is to develop a sustainable community development response that leaves the affected communities in better shape after the bushfire recovery than they were prior to the fires. See update report on our News page.

Other Catholic agencies - including the Australian Catholic University and Caritas Australia - are also contributing to a review of our response, and of our continuing work, with a view to assisting the community more generally to be better able to respond to any such disaster in 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.

Our Breakfast Briefing on 27 May 09 for around 20 members and friends, featured input from Frank Quinlan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, on the recent Federal budget and related matters. The session went very well, with good engagement across the room. Click here for more detail.

Contracting with Government: managing risks and learning lessons: Several CSSV members met on 27 May 2009 with Frank Quinlan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, to reflect on some of the implications for the sector of recent experiences in contracting with Government.

Experience across the sector is diverse, reflecting the range of agencies in terms of size, location, services etc; and reflecting variations across state and Federal Governments, and within each of those Governments. Nevertheless, the broad themes emerge of increased Government demands on funded or contracted agencies, and increased competition for Government contracts.

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.

2009 Commissioning Mass and Annual General Meeting

Thanks to all CSSV members and friends who were able to join us to make our Commissioning Mass and Annual General Meeting such a positive evening - it was good to gather as a community to celebrate our work, to pray together in solidarity with those we serve, and to reflect on the issues that we face in building a more just and compassionate society.

Our annual report is now on the website, as is our Constitution, updated to reflect changes agreed at the AGM.

Council elections: Congratulations, and thanks, to Peter Bearsley, reelected for another 12 month term as Chair of the CSSV Council, and to Carol Vale and Johanna Snelleman, who were reelected to a further two year term. Congratulations and welcome to Janis Klavens of Villa Maria, who was elected to a two year term, and thanks and best wishes to Helen McPhee, who finished up after a much appreciated contribution as a member of Council over recent years. Details of Council members are also on the website.

Our AGM guest speaker was Teresa Wilson, Director, Office of Youth in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and National Youth Representative, St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia.  Teresa spoke on the topic: “Engaging young people in service and justice agencies”.

The Cardinal Knox Centre. 383 Albert Street (PO Box 146), East Melbourne Vic 3002
Tel: (03) 9287 5566, Fax: (03) 9287 5567, Email: office@css.org.au