Policy and advocacy

Standing up for people's rights since 1977.

Jesuit Social Services works to build a just society by advocating for social change and promoting the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged people, families and communities. Our service has its origins in work with disadvantaged young people involved with the youth and adult justice systems in Victoria.

We do this by intervening directly to address disadvantage and by influencing hearts and minds for social change. We strengthen and build respectful, constructive relationships for:

Effective services - by partnering with people most in need and those who support them to address disadvantage
Education – by providing access to life-long learning and development
Capacity building – by refining and evaluating our practice and sharing and partnering for greater impact
Advocacy – by building awareness of injustice and advocating for social change based on grounded experience and research.
Leadership development – by partnering across sectors to build expertise and commitment for justice

Since 1977 we have been standing up for people’s rights. Today we continue to work in some of the most difficult and demanding areas of human service:

criminal justice
substance abuse
mental illness
homelessness

suicide bereavement
long-term unemployment
entrenched social disadvantage
refugees and new arrivals settlement.

We work with people without supports who have had a history of abuse, neglect, trauma and isolation. We look for the gaps.

Our Policy Unit

Drawing on our experience of engaging with disadvantaged people, families and communities through our services and programs, the Jesuit Social Services Policy Unit has two key functions:

1. Research, policy and advocacy: identifying areas of unmet need, conducting research and using our findings to advocate for change in keeping with our vision of 'building a just society'. For more details see our Resources section.

2. Evaluation of Jesuit Social Services program activities and services: utilising knowledge gained from our programs and services to promote models of good practice in assisting disadvantaged people, families and communities.

Jesuit Social Services policy unit regularly responds to issues and produces a number of papers and publications each year.

Contact us

Julie Boffa Policy Manager Jesuit Social Services 371 Church Street PO Box 271 Richmond VIC 3121 Tel: 03 9427 7388 Fax: 03 9427 1819 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	John Appleton Policy Officer Jesuit Social Services 371 Church Street PO Box 271 Richmond VIC 3121 Tel: 03 9427 7388 Fax: 03 9427 1819 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Delia O'Donohue Manager of Learning & Practice Development Jesuit Social Services 1 Langridge Street PO Box 1141 Collingwood VIC 3066 Tel: 03 9415 8700 Fax: 03 9415 7733 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Linda Rose Project Officer Improved Services Initiative Jesuit Social Services 1 Langridge Street PO Box 1141 Collingwood VIC 3066 Tel: 03 9415 8700 Fax: 03 9415 7733 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it