"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'.

The final day of Hearing, Healing, Hope commenced early on the Friday (23 February) with a working breakfast to discuss Australia's upcoming Plenary 2020 Council with facilitator Lana Turvey Collins. This was followed by a plenary on responding to abuse, and ensuring safety and dedication to service led by Maria Harries AM, Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia's board, Robert Fitzgerald (who was one of the Commissioners on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for five years) and Sheree Limbrick, the recently appointed Chief Executive Office of Catholic Standards Ltd. To close, Frank Brennan SJ AO led a masterclass on Pope Francis and Human Rights: Moving Justice and Solidarity from the dictionary to the workshop of Catholic social services.

On the first full day of the national Catholic social services conference, Hearing Healing Hope, more than 200 participants joined in an afternoon series of workshops addressing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, governance issues, protection of vulnerable clients, preventing family violence, increasing support for asylum seekers and recently arrived communities, social housing, parish engagement, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander empowerment and effective advocacy of public policy. This was followed by the conference Mass and dinner, with eminent Australian broadcaster and journalist, Geraldine Doogue, presenting the Mary MacKillop Oration. In her address, Geraldine challenged and inspired us to reflect on how, and where we can find hope during difficult times.