Policy submissions

Here you’ll find a wide selection of policy papers and submissions we’ve published. Each paper draws on our experience working with disadvantaged youth, families and communities.

Submission to the NSW Select Committee on Youth Justice
- 31 March 2026
Despite years of reviews and Royal Commissions, governments have failed to act — and the number of children in NSW youth detention continues to rise. The NSW Government must shift from punitive approaches to therapeutic responses grounded in children's needs. Our submission sets out a path to address the causes of harmful behaviour, support healing,…
Submission to the inquiry into the Defence Amendment (Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention and Response Commission) Bill 2025
- 19 March 2026
Jesuit Social Services supports the intent of the Defence Amendment (Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention and Response Commission) Bill 2025 to eliminate sexual assault in the Australian Defence Force, and recognises the importance of a strong government commitment to achieve this.
Submission to Inquiry into Offshore Processing
- 13 February 2026
Jesuit Social Services outlines our grave concerns about Australia’s offshore processing and resettlement arrangements in our submission to a senate inquiry. We call on the Government to use its strength in parliament to initiate a fair, humane and principled reset of Australia’s treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Response to the inquiry into the relationship between domestic family and sexual violence and suicide
- 3 February 2026
The deaths of women, children and young people by suicide in the context of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) victimisation is an important but often overlooked dimension of gender-based violence. There is evidence that DFSV contributes significantly to the burden of mental health issues leading to self-harm and suicide among victims in Australia. Women,…
Northern Territory Gender Equity Strategy
- 13 January 2026
Jesuit Social Services’ feedback on the Northern Territory Gender Equality Strategy draws on our research and practice expertise in primary prevention and early intervention of gender-based violence and domestic, family and sexual violence, and our specific expertise on engaging boys and men.
Submission to the Inquiry into Australia's youth justice and incarceration system.
- 9 January 2026
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee's Inquiry into Australia's youth justice and incarceration system. This submission complements Jesuit Social Services' previous submission to the first iteration of this Inquiry, opened under the former Government.
2026-27 Victorian Pre-Budget Submission
- 23 December 2025
Our 2026-27 Victorian Pre-Budget Submission highlights opportunities for the Government to invest in evidence-based prevention and early intervention to break cycles of entrenched disadvantage, prevent violence and harm, and reduce social and economic costs.
Federal Pre-budget Submission 2026-27
- 22 December 2025
This submission, provided in advance of the 2026-27 Federal Budget, provides a number of system-level recommendations that will support efforts to intervene earlier and break cycles of disadvantage, and recommendations for specific initiatives which can help move the needle for those in our society experiencing acute disadvantage.
Response to Department of Social Services consultation - A new approach to programs for families and children
- 5 December 2025
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Department of Social Services’ proposed changes to programs supporting families and children. If developed through a genuine partnership with the community sector, these reforms offer a meaningful opportunity to reshape how government and community services work together to ensure children and young people are…
Climate Justice Alliance - NT temperature projections resource
- 2 December 2025
The Climate Justice Alliance, facilitated by Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places, has released a new temperature projection resource to support communities across the Northern Territory to understand the scale of future heat risk.