Peter Comensoli doesn’t like the phrase social distancing. The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne understands that physically, we need to keep our distance to slow the spread of the virus. He also believes that, as a community, this is a time to draw closer to those in need. “If you are socially distancing, it leads to...
18 May 2020 As published by the ACBC Media Blog and Cath News Catholic Emergency Relief Australia (CERA) has opened an initial grant application round to support those continuing the long process of recovery from the summer’s catastrophic bushfire season. CERA chair Susan Pascoe said while the country “is largely – and understandably – focused on the...
Media Release Monday 23 March 2020 People across Australia are experiencing persistent disadvantage but are being forgotten because of the fallacy of average levels of advantage, a new Catholic Social Services Australia report has revealed. Mapping the Potential, a partnership between CSSA, 21 of its members and the Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research Methods, goes beyond the usual analysis of...
Media Release March 13, 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia says governments and other key institutions have a duty to respond to the coronavirus challenge with a focus on pursuing the common good. “At a time of social and economic uncertainty, we need concrete measures that support our economy,” CSSA chief executive officer Ursula Stephens said. “The targeted $750...
18 February 2020 Article by Joe Zabar The Tune review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme should have the government very concerned, not just about the NDIS, but about its collective capacity to deliver government services more broadly. The release of the NDIS review during one of the government's largest mobilisations of support to bushfire-affected communities and businesses may...
CSSA is proud to be leading this whole-of-Church initiative to help people and communities recover from the current bushfire crisis will set the blueprint for how the Catholic Church responds to domestic natural disasters in the future
5 January 2020 Homily, Fr Frank Brennan SJ In this 2020 season of great joy, our country is on fire. Devastation is everywhere. Lives and property are being lost. We are powerless to withstand the forces of nature. Where is the good news in any of this? What space or moment is there for hope? Isaiah 60:1-6Ephesians...
31 December 2019 As Australia’s bushfire crisis continues, firefighters have been injured, lost their homes and, tragically, lost their lives. Many people are wondering how best to help and donate to the fire-fighting and recovery effort. Catholic Social Services across Australia are providing support in local communities. From emergency relief funding to counselling and support...
Some of the many people supported by Cabrini Outreach are Asylum seekers in Melbourne. 350 people are receiving free primary care and/or specialist mental health care at the Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub. The vast majority have either no access to Medicare or Medicare but no income. Our psychiatrists, general practitioners...
22 November 2019 As published at CatholicCare Tasmania In 2018, Archbishop Julian Porteous issued a call to the Tasmanian Catholic community to look at how they could work together to address homelessness. The South Hobart Catholic Parish, CatholicCare Tasmania and Centacare Evolve Housing answered the Archbishop's call. Utilising an existing building at the back of St Xavier's Catholic...
