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Catholic Social Services Victoria council plans the way forward

The council members of Catholic Social Services Victoria met on Friday 6 April at Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria's office in Thornbury. As the peak body for Catholic community services in Victoria, Catholic Social Services Victoria supports and e nhances the work of service and justice of our member organisations. CSSV Council Members are in the privileged position of representing the interests of all member organisations while at the same time bringing insights, wisdom, skills and experience of their own particular organisations to the Council’s considerations. For a full list of Council members, and more information, click here.

Catholic Social Services Victoria supports Catholic parishes as centres of service, mission and outreach. Our latest newsletter (March 2018) highlights how Catholic parishes are at the coal face of providing services and support to the wider community. They are often the living sign of the Gospel at work. It includes latest news related to parishes and services, and upcoming events. View newsletter, here.

At the recent Hearing Healing Hope conference, a workshop to garner the thoughts of delegates from around the country was held on one of Australia’s most vexing issues: how should we support asylum seekers? Parishioners and representatives from Catholic service agencies from Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory attended the workshop. Presentations were given by Sr Brigid Arthur csb (Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project) and Tracey Cabrie (Centre Manager - Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub).

In this interview with Fatima Measham (of Eureka Street's ChatterSquare), Labor MP Clare O'Neil discusses the persistent gap between the rich and the poor, which has left many people disillusioned about how the economy and governments function, along with the questions: What does growth mean under these circumstances and is it still useful to talk about a working class? Clare presented at the Economics for a Flourishing Society forum, together with Joe Zabar and John Roskam at the recent national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, held in Melbourne between 21-23 February.

Hearing Healing Hope Photo Galleries

Throughout the national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, our in-house photographer, Fiona Basile, was taking photographs to capture the energy, spirit and colour of the three days. Below are links to the various web pages that feature photo galleries. If you'd like to receive a copy of any photos, please email our office.

The recent national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, from 21-23 February in Melbourne, included an array of eminent and highly qualified keynote speakers and workshop presenters. Presentations in audio and PDF formats are available. Video presentations are being uploaded as they come to hand.

Hearing Healing Hope - Media Articles

In the lead up to, throughout, and following the national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, held in Melbourne between 21-23 February, a range of media articles were produced which provide a wide coverage of the issues addressed at the conference. They are listed on this page.

Find out more about the Australian Catholic Housing Alliance in this video interview at the recent #HearHealHope national Catholic social services conference in Melbourne, with Peter Selwood, Executive Director of CentaCare Brisbane and Chris Hall, CEO of MercyCare WA, both of who've worked in the Catholic social services sector for some time and were founding members of the alliance.

As part of the Hearing Healing Hope three-day conference in Melbourne last week, one of the most significant challenges Catholic Social Services Victoria wanted to explore was concerned with parishes. Parishes play an important role in being at the coal face of providing services and support to the wider community; they are often the living sign of the Gospel at work. Dr Bob Dixon, who has recently retired from his position as Director of the Pastoral Research Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, hosted the workshop ‘Love thy neighbour: The challenge for parishes’, which looked at the ways parishes contribute to Catholic social action.

Economics for a flourishing society

"We are not all born equal. Circumstances not of our own making factor heavily in the opportunity and quality of life we lead" argued Joe Zabar, Director of Strategic Operations and Economic Policy at Catholic Social Services Australia. Joe led a discussion at the recent national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, held in Melbourne from 21-23 February on the topic 'Economics for a Flourishing Society'.