Pope Francis has designated 8th February, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, as the World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking, following a request from Talitha Kum, the worldwide Network of Consecrated Life Against Human Trafficking. Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) has prepared a number of resources to mark this important event and invites everyone to use them to participate, and so help to bring about an end to human trafficking and slavery.

In light of Australia’s unprecedented and devastating bushfire season, Jesuit Social Services’ Ecological Justice Hub and Moreland City Council will present a series of thought-provoking discussion forums drawing connections between consumer consumption and its relation to climate change. The first event, Our Wast STUFF, will be held on Thursday 27 February 2020 as part of the Sustainable Living Festival, 6pm – 8.30pm at Brunswick Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Buy tickets, here.

CatholicCare Greater Melbourne Geelong Gippsland is celebrating 85 years throughout 2020; 86 years of supporting vulnerable families and individuals across Victoria, 85 years of strengthening relationships, and 85 years of breaking down the barriers to social inclusion! CatholicCare's story started with Norma Parker and Connie Moffit - the first professionally qualified social workers in Australia. Today, CatholicCare continues their mission by providing compassion, support and hope to those who find themselves on the fringes of society. Throughout February 2020, CatholicCare has a range of programs to provide support to families and couples, and those looking after children. 

The 27th annual Heartbeat Cabrini Golf Day is set to tee-off on Monday 30 March 2020, 7:15am - 3:00pm, at the Keysborough Golf Club, 55 Hutton Road, Braeside, Victoria. The day includes 18 holes, lunch, raffles and a live auction, with all proceeds going towards the Cabrini Gandel Wing Acute Cardiac Service. Register as a team of four, or as an individual. For more information or to book tickets for Heartbeat Cabrini Golf Day, click here.

Internationally renowned classical pianist Alan Kogosowski will perform a one-off intimate concert at the Cabrini Malvern Chapel, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, on Saturday 14 March 2020, at 7:30pm, as a way to thank the hospital’s staff for the care he recently received. Tickets are $75 and all money raised will go towards Cabrini’s oncology services. Click here to book your ticket. 

In view of recent tragic events surrounding the bushfires, Assisi Aged Care is eager to do its part in aiding the recovery mission. It is organising an afternoon sausage sizzle and cake bake sale, to be held on the Assisi grounds, 230 Rosanna Road, Rosanna on Sunday, 2nd February 2020, from 1pm to 4pm. All are welcome. Feel free to circulate this flyer.

Congratulations to our friends and colleagues who were recognised, among hundreds, in the 2020 Australia Day honours: Jocelyn Bignold, CEO of McAuley Community Services for Women and Catholic Social Services Victoria Council member; Dr Anne Astin, another of our Council members; Sr Monica Cavanagh rsj, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph and former President of Australian Catholic Religious; and Jesuit Social Services' Paul Stewart.

The Victorian Government must set public targets to reduce the number of young people in detention, on remand and who re-offend after exiting the youth justice system, in light of a new report that shows an almost doubling of spending on youth detention services over the last four years, says Jesuit Social Services. The annual Report on Government Services shows that Victorian Government spending on youth detention services increased by 98 per cent, to a total of $121.9 million, between 2014/15 and 2018/19.

The first issue of Stop Trafficking! for 2020, which is shared by Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), highlights the intersection between migration and trafficking. Articles include Trafficking Risks for Refugees, the Global Compact on Migration, Statement by the United Nations Network on Migration, Gridlock: Labour, Migration and Human Trafficking in Dubai and Migrants and Trafficking: the Vulnerability of Movement.