Catholic Social Services Victoria

Welcome to Catholic Social Services Victoria, the peak body in Victoria for the Catholic social services sector. We work to assist the social mission of the Church through work with our members in public policy advocacy, building a community of shared endeavour, and reflecting on our Catholic ethos and identity. Click here, or browse our website, for an introduction to us, and to our members and the services that they provide.

Easter has begun. It is in the Easter Jesus that we find our hope. As Cardinal Basil Hume put it: ‘The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake’. It is this hope that enables us to reach for the stars in our endeavours to build a more just and compassionate society, and it is in sharing this hope with others that we make progress in those endeavours.

Easter hope and blessings to all from Catholic Social Services Victoria

Good Shepherd Sunday, celebrated this year on 29 April 2012, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is a time to reflect on this best known image of God and of his call to mission. Click here for a Catholic Social Services reflection on the Good Shepherd and the ministries under that name in Victoria.

COMING EVENTS

Many parts of the Catholic Church in Victoria are responding to the needs of Asylum Seekers in our community, but we all know that more can be done.

You and your colleagues are invited to join us for a day of sharing information and experiences, and building networks and partnerships within the Church in Victoria:

Listen to experiences of asylum seekers
Respond to Catholic Social Teaching and the call to action
Share information on the current response of the Church – agencies, parishes, schools, etc.
Strengthen networks and contacts to expand current programs
Input from Fr Daniel Groody, CSC, on Catholic Social Teaching and migration
Leadership from Bishop Vincent Long

Friday 11 May 2012, 9.00 am - 3.30pm

Venue: Cardinal Knox Centre, 383 Albert St East Melbourne

Cost: Donation at door

Booking: online at http://www.trybooking.com/BILO by Monday 7 May

Enquiries: Lucia Brick, lucia.brick@css.org.au or tel: 9287 5566

Click here for flyer.

With thanks to colleagues and cosponsors from the Melbourne Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office and the Office for Justice & Peace, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Mental Health Workshops - dates to be advised

A series of workshops to equip those working in community and related services to work effectively with people experiencing mental illness.

Venue: Cardinal Knox Centre, 383 Albert St East Melbourne

Cost: $50 per workshop

Enquiries: Lucia Brick, lucia.brick@css.org.au or tel: 9287 5566

2012 CSSV Annual Dinner at Leonda – Friday 24 August

Our annual dinner is an opportunity for the broad Catholic social services community, our supporters and those that we work with to celebrate our work, and to strengthen the links between those who are active within our community of service. Politicians are invited, and spouses are most welcome.

Description: Chris Lowney We are delighted this year to have Chris Lowney (pictured) as our guest speaker. Chris is author of the best seller Heroic Leadership, which distils leadership principles from the first decades of the Jesuit order. His Heroic Living applies the principles of Ignatian spirituality to everyday life in the modern world.

A feature of last year’s dinner was increased interaction between tables. We will be working to enhance that aspect of the dinner again this year.

Tickets are $80, enquiries to lucia.brick@css.org.au. Click here for flyer.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Congratulations to the St Vincent de Paul Society Social Justice Committee on their 5 May 2012 forum on prisons and the criminal justice system. Click here for a CSSV write up of the day. Presentations and members' experience underlined the need for increased support for preventative and diversion measures, and for a policy approach that saw beyond imprisonment and focused on building a more just and safer Victoria.

Click here for our May 2012 newsletter, including updates on recent developments (Victorian Budget, Parliamentary Enquiry into handling of child abuse, etc) and sector events.

Thanks to the presenters and discussion leaders at our 30 April 2012 fundraising forum: Ralph Roath, Director of Development and Fundraising at CatholicCare; Trish Roath, Head of Philanthropy at the Australian Ballet School; and Barbara Kitchen, Director of the Development Office at the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Description: leader Ralph and Trish presented on Capital Appeals- click here for slides. Barbara presented on accessing Trusts and Foundations – click here for slides. Barbara also made available papers on useful references and websites; and two other discussions of fundraising – click here for the first and the second of these.

Both presentations stimulated informative discussion, and, as is often the case, the links established between the 20+ participants from a range of professional and organisational backgrounds were a strong feature of the morning.

An evaluation of the session is underway. Comments or suggestions relating to future workshops on this theme can be made to Denis Fitzgerald.

The Victorian Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce has called on the Government, in a tight budgetary climate, to support measures that will reduce Government spending over time, and which will also advance community safety and result in more just outcomes for Victorians. Click here for a copy of their letter.

They reiterated to Ministers that to make a lasting impact on community safety we must prevent crime in the first place through community strengthening and through individual and family support, and we must ensure that offenders are equipped and assisted to fully re-join our community. And when young people in particular offend, they need special treatment to reflect their vulnerability and to maximise the chances of their rehabilitation.

The specific measures for which funding is urged were:

Continuation and extension of the County Koori Court pilot
Appropriate funding for prison chaplains
Judy Lazarus Transition Centre replication
Extension of youth justice conferencing across the state
Community Chaplaincy Funding

Thanks to Paul O'Callaghan from Catholic Social Services Australia for his Breakfast Briefing on Friday 13 April on the topic of the national NFP reform agenda. Thanks too to Micaela Cronin for her Response, and to all who participated on the day. For further discussion on any aspect of this broad agenda, contact Paul at paul.ocallaghan@catholicsocialservices.org.au.

Click here for our March 2012 Newsletter.

The season of Lent commenced on 22 March, Ash Wedneday, and continues through to Easter. It is part of the cycle of change and recurrence that mark the year. Click here for a Lenten reflection that highlighting the inextricable link between love of God and love of other people, and thus with the work of Catholic social services.

Congratulations to Patrice Scales on her recent election as Chair of the Council

of Catho lic Social Services Victoria, and thanks to Peter Bearsley, who completed a six year term at teh AGM on 14 March. Congratulations too to the others who joined the Council at the AGM:

Tony Hollamby, CEO of St John of God ACCORD
Robyn Roberts, CEO of Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services
Gerard Jones, Executive Director Operations, MacKillop Family Services

and thanks to Marilyn Webster and Micaela Cronin, who completed their service

on Council. Click here for full list of Council members.

Thanks to the members and friends who joined us on 14 March for our Commissioning Mass and Annual General Meeting. All Saints Church was a wonderful setting for the Mass, and their parish hall, and, later, St Mary’s House of Welcome, were ideal for the occasion. Click here for the Executive Director's Report to the meeting. Click here for a write up of the day that was published in Kairos.
Thanks to Sr Margaret Mary Flynn ibvm (pictured) for her inspiring address on Responding to the needs of the marginalised; to Bishop Peter Connors for presiding at the Mass; Fr Tony Kerin for preaching the Homily, and the many others who contributed to the evening.

Sr Margaret challenged us not to get overly focussed on government funding requ $Description: T:\Catholic Social Services\users\AGM\AGM 2012\Margaret Mary Flynn Photo.jpg$ irements but rather, be able to demonstrate to government funders that creative program design by our agencies can achieve major results. Overall, Sr Margaret highlighted the need to remain true to our mission, always drawing on the energy and preferences of marginalised groups to frame our own program responses.

Fr Tony in his homily focused on the nature of gift and of gratuity, as reflected on by Pope Benedict XVI in his encyclical Charity in Truth. Fr Tony concluded:

We ought not just fulfill the contracts for which we have tendered, but rather go beyond that, to offer a free gift over and above the exchange of services contracted for. In our manner of working, we must bring the sense of the closeness of our God to those with whom we work, we must exude a spirit of cooperation with other agencies that might see them work more effectively too. Then the great gift that God has given to us, in our calling to serve the needy, will become more clearly a shared gift taken up not just by our colleagues but also by those for whom we work.

Thanks to Mr Bill Scales and our many guests for a most informative Breakfast Briefing on Protecting vulnerable children, on Tuesday 6 March 2012. The briefing focused on the wide-ranging report from the Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry that was tabled in the Victorian parliament on 28 February 2012. Mr Scales was a member of the Inquiry Panel.

An initial response from Catholic Social Services Victoria to the report noted that the protection, care and growth of our children are the responsibility of us all, but the Government has a central role to play. ‘For too long services essential for the wellbeing of Victoria’s most vulnerable children and families have been rationed because of resource limitations.’ The report has provided a strong rationale for resource allocation, and for systems changes.

Click for links to comments by CSSV members Jesuit Social Services and MacKillop Family Services, which include emphases on the importance of location-based focus on early intervention, and of individualised, therapeutic care, two areas that these agencies have been advocating and acting on for some time. Other responses to date include that from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and VCOSS.

Some of the recommendations are directed at the Church, including a call for increased reporting requirements, and for that ‘a formal investigation should be conducted into the processes by which religious organisations respond to the criminal abuse of children by religious personnel.’ The Archbishop has advised that he is studying the many recommendations, and Minister Wooldridge has indicated that she will be meeting with religious organisations and others as part of considering recommendations from the Inquiry.

CSSV will continue to work with member organisations and with other parts of the Church in following up this report, to advance the policies and funding that are needed to better protect vulnerable children and families in Victoria.

Thanks to Fr Frank Brennan SJ for an inspiring presentation on 22 February 2012 on Health Inequality: A justice challenge for Catholic Health and Welfare Providers. Fr Frank led us to reflect on the scriptural imperative to serve those most in need, and outlined the strong links between socio-economic standing and health, and between a healthy community and an equitable one. He challenged everyone present to engage with these broader issues, as part of their mission of service. Click for part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the slide presentation from which Frank’s address was drawn . Click here for a CSSV report on the Breakfast that was published in Kairos. Thanks to Catholic Health Australia for co-hosting the event, as part of broader cooperation between Catholic health and welfare providers.

Reform of poker machine regulation to reduce the harm to problem gamblers, their families and communities, remains a pressing priority, but it is slipping on the agenda of governments at State and Federal levels. Click here for a recent CSSV reflection on the current state of play.

Click here for The Weight of Sentencing Reform, a paper by Brendan A McCarthy, Independent Counsel and Consultant, which analyses the policy and politics underpinning the Victorian Government’s program of changes to sentencing laws. The paper reflects on key aspects of some of the reforms that are being introduced, and on the social and political setting in which they have arisen.

The core of McCarthy’s argument is that the reforms such as the abolition of suspended sentences and creation of mandatory minimum sentences, by restricting judicial discretion to consider each case and each offender on their merits, could force members of the judiciary to impose unjust sentences, and may thus be counter-productive and lead to a less just community.

Seeking cost effective approaches to building a safer Victoria

Click here for ‘Assessing cost-effectiveness in building a safer Victoria’, a paper recently prepared for Catholic Social Services Victoria by Gavin Kempen. CSSV has provided this paper to the Victorian Government, and has advocated that the Government undertake an inquiry into the benefits and costs of alternative approaches to crime prevention and rehabilitation, in order to underpin sustainable, long-term improvements in the safety of society and individuals within it. As the paper highlights, this is particularly important in light of the current $10 billion annual cost of crime to Victorians.

Click here for our Christmas 2011 News and Update. Contents include:

About us

Inviting Associate Membership of Catholic Social Services Victoria
CSSV planning
Welcome to Lucia Brick

Some current issues

Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking Humans (ACRATH)
Vulnerable children
Criminal Justice
Mental Health workshop
CSSV Mission Network
Media items- CatholicCare

Sector events and developments

Openings for volunteers on Christmas Day
Spirituality and personal growth
Catholic Social Teaching update
Resource material for inclusion of people with disability.
Events

December 3 is international day for people with disability. Click here for a CSSV reflection on that day, and it's challenges to us as individuals and communities. Click here for resource material from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on making parish communities more inclusive, and click on the icon at left to express support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Click here for a video to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disability 2011

Click here for our November 2011 update for members and friends. Contents include updates on:

CSSV Council, planning
* Policy & advocacy
* Member support and engagement
* Catholic ethos and identity
Sector events and developments
For your calendar
* 2012 CSSV AGM and Commissioning Mass - 14 March
* 2012 CSSV Annual Dinner – Friday 24 August

A special mention of our October conference on Mary MacKillop and her impact on Catholic social services - it went very well, and papers etc are now available on the conference website.

Australians are facing a housing affordability crisis. Homelessness is the stark and extreme end of the struggle experienced by many families and individuals to maintain a home. However, a chronic lack of affordable housing also means many households face housing stress and insecurity that may persist over many years. Click here for an initial CSSV reflection on this issue.

Anti poverty week, from 16 - 22 October, provided an opportunity to reflect on the reality and the causes of poverty, and on what more should be done to alleviate it. There were lots of events organised, and resources that are available.

Events during the week included Trading to address poverty, on Wednesday 19 October at the Cardinal Knox Centre - display and sales by the Good Shepherd Trading Circle group and others engaged in empowerment through trade.

The Social Questions Commission of the Victorian Council of Churches also organising a ecumenical theological reflection time to focus on poverty, which will be held on Monday 17th October - thanks to Jill Ruzbacky of the Uniting Church for organising the event, and to Pastor Berlin Guerrero, from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, who preached.

National Justice Symposium - What does a humane and effective justice system look like?
Congratulations to Jesuit Social Services on their National Justice Symposium on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 October – a timely and critical event. Facilitated by Frank Brenan SJ, this symposium brought together key sector leaders to discuss: what does a human and effective justice system look like? Click here for papers and follow up. Click on icon for the Social Justice statement that informed the Symposium.

St Mary MacKillop was a trail blazer in social services in Australia. She is now recognised as a Saint, so this invites us to go more deeply into her life and the work that she continues to inspire, to explore her influence today and beyond. On 13, 14 October 2011 this invitation was taken up by a conference that explored the influence of Mary MacKillop on Catholic social services in Australia.
Click for conference webpage, including papers and other links. Catholic Social Services and our partners in this venture - MacKillop Family Services, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, the Sisters of St Joseph and Australian Catholic University - would like to thank all our presenters and all who contributed to or participated in this very well-received event. Thanks too to our sponsors, and particularly Catholic Church Insurances.

Thanks to St Pius X parish, West Heidelberg, for their Mass on Wednesday 28 September 2011 to mark Mental Health Week - an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those suffering within our community, and to help raise awareness of mental health issues. Click here for a write up of this ground-breaking occasion.

Gathering of Religious in social services: Thanks to our presenter Michael Yore and to all who participated in this third annual gathering on Tuesday 20 September. Feedback was very positive. A date for 2012 will be set soon. Enquiries to Terry O'Shannassy on tel 9287 5570.

Breakfast Briefing: Patricia Faulkner AO on The social equity dimension of a carbon tax. It's not everyone's cup of tea to engage in such fare at 7.30am, but Patricia's deft touch made the material presented on Thursday 22 September quite digestible, and Gavin Dufty's response rounded out a very informative session. It's clear that there will be a higher relative impact on lower-income households, and that this is an issue where continued support is needed for advocates for those who are most exposed. Thanks to Patricia for a briefing that left us more able to play our part in support of those who are most vulnerable.

Justice: a lunchtime dialogue - thanks to Rev Jonathan Chambers, Senior Chaplain, Anglicare Criminal Justice Ministry for leading a lunchtime dialogue on Wednesday 24 August on The Victorian Criminal Justice System: A chaplain's perspective, in light of the restorative justice of God in Luke's Gospel. Jonathan's insight into the current Victorian system, and to options for improved outcomes through a Gospel-inspired restorative justice approach, were appreciated by all. Click here for a copy of the paper on which Jonathan's presentation was based.

CSSV Annual Dinner: Thanks to all who contributed to our successful Annual Dinner on 19 August: Speaker the Hon Mary Wooldridge MP, CSSV members and guests. Congratulations to Fr Kevin Mogg AM on his life membership of CSSV. Click here for a report and photos and here for remarks at the dinner from Executive Director, Denis Fitzgerald.

With a special thank you to our 2011 Dinner sponsors:

Click here for our August 2011 update on CSSV and sector developments. Items include:

News & Developments:

Breakfast Briefing, ‘A contemporary reflection on the case against euthanasia’ (see item below for report on this item)
Criminal justice advocacy
Churches and Public Policy
Mission network meeting
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (see item below on this too)

Sector developments

Ballarat’s Bishop Connors celebrates 50 years as a priest

Sector events

Tuesday 9 August 2011: Discovering a Sense of the Sacred, Bishop Bill Morris
Wednesday 17 August: Griefline Briefing on ‘Supporting and working with the family’
Friday 26 August, Good Samaritan Inn Dinner Dance,
16-22 October, Anti-poverty week

----------

Thank you to Professor Margaret Somerville from McGill University for her Breakfast Briefing on Wednesday 6 July 2011:A contemporary reflection on the case against euthanasia - well worth braving the Melbourne winter morning. Click here for the text of her Australian lectures, and click here for a video interview immediately following the Breakfast, in which Margaret summarises her key points. With thanks to co-sponsors Catholic Health Australia, and the Ambrose Centre for Religious Freedom.

The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities is currently under review. Catholic social services are among the many parts of the Church with a keen interest in its outcome, to ensure that justice for all is advanced through the “recognition and respect for the legitimate rights of individuals and peoples” (as Pope Benedict XVI highlighted in his 2009 Encyclical Charity in Truth). Click here for an introduction to the central role that human rights play in Catholic social teaching, and here for the submission to the review from CSSV.

Submissions from organisations that are members of CSSV focused on a number of specific themes: the focus of the submission by Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services was around gender equality and the rights of women, the MacKillop Family Services submission was heavily focussed on putting the case forward for increased rights for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and the Jesuit Social Services focus was very deliberately on the rights of young people particularly those involved in the youth justice.

CSSV was involved in other submissions, including one from the Victorian Council of Churches that focused on freedom of religion. Click here for the VCC submission, and here for a note on the VCC's presentation to the Committee.

Input or comment on any of these ongoing matters would be welcome: contact Denis Fitzgerald, tel 9287 5569.

----------------------------

Click here for our June update, which includes

News & Developments:

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
Criminal justice advocacy
Problem Gambling
Farewell and thanks to Emmy Silvius
Recent CSSV events

Sector initiatives:

14th July, Jesuit Social Services ‘Just Leadership’ Breakfast
19 July, Churches and Social Policy Conference
Briefing from Griefline
16-22 October, Anti-poverty week
etc

---------------------

19-26 June was World Refugee Week. The UNHCR reports that 43.7 million people are now displaced worldwide. Within this total are 15.4 million refugees, 27.5 million people displaced within their own country by conflict, and nearly 850,000 asylum-seekers.

Refugee Week, from June 19 to 25, is an opportunity to reflect on our own response to this continuing tragedy: as an individual, as a supporter of programs and agencies working to support refugees and asylum seekers, as a participant in the Australian political system.

Congratulations to the many CSSV members and supporters who are active in service and advocacy for these vulnerable members of our community, including the recent initiatives for asylum seeker support led by MacKillop Family Services and by CatholicCare. (Adrian Foley, adrian.j.foley@optusnet.com.au, is a contact point for anyone interested in contributing, or in further information.)
---------------------------------------------------

Attached is a media release issued 20 June 2011 by the Australian Catholic Bishops commending the Commonwealth Government’s initiatives to address problem poker machine gambling by introducing a mandatory pre-commitment scheme. Of particular relevance in NSW, ACT etc, it calls "upon clubs associated with the Church to lead the way in addressing problem poker machine gambling by giving careful consideration to the Government’s proposed legislation." This support is most welcome, because of the size of the problem to be addressed, and because of the opposition to current proposals. A recent CSSV article in Kairos - ‘Pokies: Protecting the vulnerable’ – outlined some of the key issues involved.

Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Victoria Denis Fitzgerald was one of many who joined the Vinnies 'CEO Sleepout' held in Melbourne and capital cities across Australia on Thursday 16 June, to help raise money and awareness of homeless people. Click here to find out more about the sleepout, which has raised close to $4 million. Thanks to the many who contributed through sponsorship and encouragement.

Thanks to Robyn Rose, Manager of ACCESS Employee Assistance Program, for her Breakfast Briefing on Thursday 9 June. Robyn's presentation on Keeping Faith with our workers in faith based organisations was well received, in an environment that more than compensated for the Melbourne morning outside. Robyn would be happy to follow up with others who are interested.

Click here for flyer Catholic social teaching underlies advocacy for a higher minimum wage for families. Click here for a paper by Brian Lawrence, Chair of Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations, on this topic. The paper draws on Catholic social teaching to underpin the ACCER's submission to the current Fair Work Australia national wage case. Click here for a CSSV media piece summarising the principles and the issues. Click here for a response by Brian Lawrence to the national wage case outcome.

------------------

Retreat for Women in the Social Services Sector - REST FOR YOUR SOUL
Thanks to Emmy Silvius and facilitator Carol Dyer for a successful retreat on 27, 28 May. Feedback was positive - the attached write up gives a strong sense of this. Thanks too to the Janssen Spirituality Centre for the venue and support.

"We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love" - Mother Teresa

-------------------

Click here for the CSSV response to the Draft Report from the Productivity Commission on Disability Care and Support. See also a short summary of CSSV involvement with the various stages of the Commission's enquiry. While welcoming the Commission's support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, there is more work to do in a number of areas, including impacting on community attitudes, support for service providers within a client-directed service environment, and support for families and carers. Comments, and suggestions for further CSSV action, would be welcome. Thanks to Helen Burt and to member organisations for their input and work on the Response.

-----------

Thanks to Judge Michael McInerney, Chair of the Board of Sacred Heart Mission, for a presention at a 13 April Breakfast Briefing on "Governance for Mission: Opportunities and Challenges for Boards". The large group of attendees, including Board members from a range of member organisations, were not disappointed by Judge McInerney's throughtful reflections and insightful pointers to Board effectiveness in a faith-based community service agency.

---------------

Leaders from Catholic social services organisations across Victoria gathered on Thursday 24 March for an Annual Commissioning Mass, and to re-affirm their shared mission to the building of a more compassionate and just society. Bishop Les Tomlinson was the principal celebrant at the Mass, where Fr Tony Kerin preached on the gospel of the day: the failure of the rich man to respond to the poor man at his gate - click here for a copy of the homily.

Professor Ruth Webber of the Australian Catholic University (pictured) spoke at the Annual General Meeting that followed, on 'Rebuilding Communities after Natural Disasters - Lessons from responses to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires'. Her message was one of congratulations to the Catholic organisations who are still engaged in this work, and of encouragement to respond more systematically to such disasters in the future – Ruth’s findings have also been shared with agencies in Queensland and beyond, who have faced more recent tragic emergencies.

Click here for the 2010 Annual Report that was considered by the meeting.

St Mary's House of Welcome provided a venue for a convivial supper.

Click here for a photo coverage of these events.

Thanks to Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the
Brotherhood of St Laurence, for an inspiring presenation and discussion at our Breakfast Briefing on Thursday 3 March.

Tony outlined the financial, social policy and relational dimensions of GoodStart, the social enterprise consortium that has successfully taken over the running of 660 child care centres from the failed ABC Learning enterprise. Through his presentation and in discussion Tony presented a picture of an innovative and bold response to an area where the social return can be so great, and where the not-for-profit sector would seem to have much to offer in ensuring that this social return is not swamped by a focus on profit.

The Victorian Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce, of which CSSV is a member, on 8 February urged the Victorian Government to proceed cautiously on sentencing reform, in order to achieve just outcomes.

This is particularly important in light of the Sentencing Further Amendment Bill 2010, which is currently before the Victorian Parliament, and which would extend the recent abolition of suspended sentences to a wider range of offences when they are heard in the higher courts. It is argued that, unless such changes are introduced gradually, so that effective sentencing alternatives are in place, and unless these alternatives are both tested for effectiveness and properly resourced, then there is a strong risk that the abolition of suspended sentences will unduly restrict judicial discretion, and that injustices will result. Click here for a summary or the full comments.

Thanks to CSSV members and supporters who commented on the Bill and contributed to the comments released today by the Taskforce. The input from people engaged in various aspects of the criminal justice system makes it possible to develop with confidence a response on issues of the day, such as the currently proposed changes in sentencing options.

---------------

Click here for the January 2011 edition of our regular update, Mini Micah, which includes updates on:

Support following floods
Vale Bishop Grech
CSSV Planning for 2011
Criminal Justice Activity
Accommodating asylum seekers in the community
Further action to minimise problem gambling

Click here for previous editions of Mini Micah

---------------

Thanks to Micaela Cronin of MacKillop Family Services for an informative and challenging Breakfast Briefing on 14 December on the topic of protecting vulnerable children. The wealth of experience among those present added to the occasion. Micaela’s challenge to us as a community to give a higher priority to care for this most vulnerable group is one that everyone took away with them.

Your Vote, Your Values is a Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Victoria to assist voters engage on key issues for the 2010 Victorian election. There are many issues at stake in the election that affect the wellbeing of Victorians, and Your Vote, Your Values challenges us to engage with candidates for election on these issues. Click here for the statement, and for notes on its relevance to Catholic social services.

The Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce has also just released a brochure to consider issues of criminal justice from a broad Christian perspective – click here for a copy. Practical recommendations are made to assist victims and families caught up in the justice system. Ideas are also canvassed in relation to such areas as education, mental health, decent employment, accommodation so as to assist offenders to live a crime free life. For more information contact Denis Fitzgerald, Chair of the Taskforce, on 9287 5569, or dfitzgerald@css.org.au.

Putting Pokies on the Agenda: On Tuesday 23 November the Minister for Gaming, the Shadow Minister for Gaming, and several other MP's and candidates with a particular interest in the harm caused by poker machines, took questions from a crowd of more than 100 concerned Victorians. The occasion was a public forum on gamlbing policy. The forum was organised by activist Gabi Byrne, and supported by Catholic Social Services Victoria.

The panel was left in no doubt about the harm that is caused, and the extent of citizen concern about that. They all had proposals to alleviate the situation, but there was a strong sense in the room, including from some of the minor party and independent candidates, that the current policies of the major parties were not strong enough to reduce harm to acceptable levels.

Lunchtime Dialogue, Tuesday 23 November: thanks to Fr Mark O'Brien for his lecture and discussion on "The ties that bind: Exploring the relationship between justice & mercy in the Old Testament". The session was greatly appreciated by a good sized gathering. The recent public debate on 'law and order' in the run-up to the Victorian election added currency to the discussion. Click here for a copy of Fr Mark's talk.

"Recruitment for Mission" - a practical workshop on how our Catholic identity and ethos can impact on recruiting our staff, volunteers, etc. Led by Robyn Roberts and Julie McQueen from Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services, this workshop on Monday 8 November engaged a range of representatives from member and related organisations. It focused on the practicalities of mission integration, in light of the broader issues that provide the context to this. Follow up is being planned. Enquires would be welcome: dfitzgerald@css.org.au, tel 9287 5569.

Workshop for Religious working in the social services
Thanks to the members of Religious congregations and others who gathered on 21 September to celebrate and reflect on their involvement in Catholic social services.

Josephite Sr Joan Healy inspired the gathering with a presentation on calling and vision in an environment that has changed enormously since most of those there had entered religious life. Joan included a reflection on her own work in Australia and then in Cambodia, and each participant added to the richness of the reflection. Sunrise, not sunset, was the prevailing optimistic spirit.

This gathering built on a similar meeting held 12 months ago. There was a strong recognition that it was the current and future leaders of our organisations who need to be the focus of much of our work on Catholic ethos and identity, but that, supplementary to that, continued recognition of the work of individual Religious was valued.

------------

Seeking Social Inclusion: Equipping Organisations to respond to people experiencing mental illness. Thanks to everyone concerned for making this symposium on 9 September of great value for all participants. Click here for the slides used by participants. A report will be available soon. Enquires to Denis Fitzgerald: dfitzgerald@css.org.au.

-----------

Thanks to everyone who made the CSSV Annual Dinner on 20 August such a success, as around 200 members and supporters gathered to celebrate our work, and to strengthen the links between those who are active within our broad community of service. Click here for the text of the welcoming remarks.

Elizabeth Proust's presentation on 'Building a mission focused organisation' was appreciated by all. Reflecting on her experience in a number of organisations, she offered the following advice on mission development:
* Engage your people – they know
* Keep it simple
* Make it meaningful for internal and external stakeholders
* Senior people have to live the values
* You can’t outsource mission development

The atmosphere throughout the evening was a tribute to, as one participant put it: the very strong sense of community and being part of a big group of people committed to working together.

Thanks to our sponsors for their support on the evening - Australian Catholic University, Catholic Church Insurances, Catholic Development Fund, Teknocorp, CDM Communications, Church Resources, Fuji Xerox, Marketing Connecting Networking, Master Care - click here for graphics.

------------------

On 16 August 2010 CSSV lodged its submission on Disability Care and Support to the enquiry by the Productivity Commission into a proposal for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The submission was built on consultations with the Catholic social services community, including a workshop with carers. It strongly supported the concept of a national insurance scheme, with its key features of being consumer directed and responsive, that would address the needs of people with disabilities regardless of how their location or the cause of their disabilities, in the context of an efficient and viable framework for ongoing funding. The CSSV submission complements a submission to the enquiry by the Australian Bishops Conference.

Our response is based on a Gospel-inspired vision of integral human development that holds as fundamental the inherent dignity of all people, and from a focus on the common good – that no part of society can flourish if other parts of society are unable to achieve their potential. It is fully aligned with the urgings of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

One of the points of emphasis of the CSSV submission is that reform needs to be underpinned by a strategy to enhance community attitudes toward the right to inclusion and support of people with disabilities and their families. In support of this, we will continue to work with stakeholders in this area to better inform ourselves, member organisations and other parts of the Church of the issues at stake, and of the need for broad understanding and support for the full participation in our society of people with disabilities.

[Photo: Bruce Bonyhady addresses a CSSV breakfast gathering on 14 April 2010 on the topic of Why Australia needs a National Disability Scheme]

Community safety requires much more than prison sentences: On 6 August 2010, Victorian Church leaders sent an open letter on community safety to members of the Victorian Parliament. Click here for a copy of that letter. The Herald Sun ran an article on the letter on 10 August - click here to see the article.

The letter argues that, while prisons have their place, long term community safety will only be advanced if we intervent early to address the causes of crime, and if we work harder at rehabiliation, and re-engagement once people leave prison. This message is a counterbalance to the focus on imprisonment that features in much media and policy coverage of community safety.

CSSV currently chairs an Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce that will continue to work on these issues, and to advance them in the public arena as the Victorian election approaches. A network of Catholic agencies active in this area is also being re-established. Contact Denis on at dfitzgerald@css.org.au or tel 0418 136 372 to input, or for further information.

------------

Click here for the CSSV submission to the current Productivity Commission enquiry into Caring for Older Australians. The submission complements the analysis of Catholic Health Australia, and supports their objective, that all Australians, irrespective of socio-economic status, personal circumstances and location who are in need of aged care and support, have access to quality aged care services.

The focus of the submission is on the needs of people who have been homeless, or have other special needs. Current recurrent funding is not flexible enough to provide the care that is needed, and to fund the innovative services that are needed to reach out to these vulnerable groups. Additional capital funding is urgently needed, as is recognition in the funding process of those organisations who have expertise and experience in working with people who are homeless.

-------------------------------------

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

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.

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.

----------------

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.

-----------------

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.