Dear Friends,

As we welcome the new financial year and embrace the fresh opportunities it brings, I wanted to take a moment to connect with you all amidst what I know continues to be a demanding period for our member organisations across Australia.

The past few weeks have reinforced for me the remarkable resilience and innovation that characterises our network. In my conversations with many of you, I've been struck by your unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable Australians despite the increasing complexities in the social services landscape.

What stands out most powerfully is how our Catholic identity continues to shape and distinguish our approach to service. Through your work, I witness daily how the recognition of human dignity transforms ordinary assistance into meaningful accompaniment—where we truly walk alongside those we serve as fellow travellers on life's journey.

It was my privilege to attend the launch of the Australian Catholic Bishops' 2025-2026 Social Justice Statement, "Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving People Living in Homelessness and Mental Ill-Health." This timely statement addresses two of the most pressing challenges facing vulnerable Australians today.

I extend warm congratulations to Bishop Timothy Harris on his appointment as Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, and offer our sincere gratitude to Bishop Vincent Long for his dedicated leadership and prophetic voice during his tenure as Chair.

The statement's call to notice, know, and serve those experiencing homelessness and mental ill-health resonates deeply with our collective mission. At a time when housing affordability and mental health services are under unprecedented strain, this pastoral guidance reminds us of our fundamental obligation to recognise the divine dignity in every person we encounter. I will share more reflections on this important statement later in this update.

I am excited to share that CSSA continues to grow in strength and capacity. We warmly welcome Neha Shetty as our new Communications Officer, Carmel Sefian as our new Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Katie Walsh-Smith as our new Director of Strategic Relations. These new additions will strengthen our capacity significantly and enable us to better support our member organisations in their vital work across Australia.

We bid farewell to Anne Aziz-Parker. Anne's last day with CSSA was Monday 4 August 2025. Anne has been a valued member of our team over the past three years however, following an internal restructure, Anne's position has become redundant and Anne has decided to pursue opportunities outside of CSSA.

We wish Anne the best.

In this update, I'm delighted to introduce a new section celebrating the extraordinary work happening across our network. We begin with a spotlight on our dear friends at Centacare Family Services in Geraldton, WA, whose innovative approach to community support exemplifies the best of Catholic social services.

My sincere thanks to all members who have renewed their CSSA membership for the coming year. Your continued commitment to our collective mission is deeply appreciated. For those yet to renew, I offer a gentle reminder that your membership supports our shared advocacy and strengthens our collective voice. Details on how to renew your membership can be found below in this update.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference's 2025–26 Social Justice Statement, Signs of Hope on the Edge, speaks to the heart of our work across the CSSA network. Each year, around 280,000 Australians access homelessness services, with one-third experiencing mental health challenges. This statement calls us beyond impersonal charity to genuine accompaniment, reminding us that "Everyone has a name. Everyone has a story. The heart that is at one with Jesus' heart yearns to know the names and stories of those who know the loneliness of the street."

Through the personal testimonies of Michael, Sally, and Carol, we see the real human faces behind the statistics. The statement affirms the vital work of frontline organisations and challenges all Catholics to notice, know, and serve those on the margins of society. I encourage you to share this resource widely within your communities and consider how its threefold call to notice, know and serve might further inspire your work.

It is with great pride and hope that I introduce a new regular feature in our updates - celebrating the extraordinary work happening across our CSSA network. For our inaugural spotlight, I want to highlight the deeply moving "Journeys of Belonging" initiative from Centacare Family Services in Geraldton, Western Australia.

During my visit to Geraldton earlier this year, I had the privilege of witnessing this powerful project taking shape under the thoughtful leadership of CEO David Power, Housing First Manager, Mel Wharekawa, and their dedicated team. "Journeys of Belonging" captures the unique stories and experiences of community members through compelling personal narratives and striking photography.

What makes this initiative so remarkable is how it honors the dignity of each person by truly seeing them and their experiences. The individual stories and photographs I previewed were profoundly moving, each one revealing the resilience, strength and humanity of people navigating complex life circumstances. The beautiful photograph above is of Robert, who wanted to share his story for the exhibition. He is currently sleeping rough and working toward the day he receives that call to say he has a housing offer.

Reflecting on his past, Robert shared: “My mum passed when I was 8 years old. I was living with my dad then, but he had serious mental illness and epilepsy. I tried to help him, but I couldn’t. My family said I had to live with another family.”

This project exemplifies what makes Catholic social services distinct—the ability to recognise and celebrate the inherent worth of each person while building community connections that foster belonging and hope. By sharing these journeys, Centacare Geraldton isn't just providing services; they're strengthening the social fabric of their community and challenging stereotypes that often surround vulnerable populations.

The "Journeys of Belonging" initiative represents the heart of our collective mission—to walk alongside those we serve, to recognise their divine dignity, and to help amplify their voices in ways that transform both individual lives and broader communities. The engagement this project has already received—with over 43,000 views—speaks to its resonance and importance.

We are pleased to share that CSSA recently submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Australian Government's Economic Reform Roundtable 2025. This high-level forum brings together key economic stakeholders to address Australia's productivity challenges, strengthen economic resilience, and ensure long-term budget sustainability.

While discussions about economic reform often focus on taxation, industrial relations, and business regulation, CSSA has taken a different approach. Our submission positions the financial sustainability of the social services sector as a critical economic reform issue rather than merely a sectoral concern.

Drawing on our "Real Costs, Real Impacts" research conducted by the Centre for Public Value at the University of Western Australia, our submission demonstrates how current government funding and indexation policies create significant economic inefficiencies that ultimately undermine Australia's broader economic performance.

Our recommendations focus on evidence-based contracting processes, appropriate indexation methodologies, capital funding mechanisms, and better data assets to map community service needs and gaps.

By engaging with the Economic Reform Roundtable, we are working to ensure that the critical role of social services in Australia's economic infrastructure is properly recognised and valued. True economic reform must acknowledge that a sustainable social services sector is essential to Australia's productivity, economic resilience, and fiscal health.

The full submission is available on our website, and I welcome your thoughts on how we can collectively continue to advocate for sustainable funding models that truly serve the common good.

I am delighted to share that CSSA has recently expanded our team with three exceptional professionals who bring impressive experience and expertise to our organisation. These strategic appointments will significantly enhance our capacity to support our member organisations and advocate effectively for those we collectively serve.

The calibre of these appointments reflects CSSA's growing influence and the importance of our mission. Each of these talented professionals could have chosen many career paths, yet they have committed their skills and experience to advancing the work of Catholic Social Services in Australia.

Their diverse expertise in strategic relationships, policy development, and communications will strengthen our capacity to support our members and advocate for the vulnerable communities you serve. I look forward to introducing Katie, Carmel, and Neha to you in the coming months as they engage with our network.

SAVE THE DATE

1) Agency Heads Meeting and Advocacy Event 2025

CSSA's Annual Agency Heads Meeting is coming up in October.  This will 

Date: 28-29 October 2025

Where: Canberra

More details to come.

2) CSSA 2025 Annual General Meeting

Date: 21 November 2025 - 11am to 12pm

1) CEO Jerry Nockles gave two interviews recently.  

- The first was a lengthy piece for Eureka Street - Healing Polarisation must start with the Common Good.

- The second was with Catholic Voice as part of their "Fast Five" series. Catholic Voice is the very good publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn. 

2) We have recently distributed the following media releases.

Centacare Geraldton’s Community Impact Draws National Attention

Three Key Principles from Catholic Social Teaching to Guide the 48th Australian Parliament

1) Senior Administration Officer

Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (NSW)

Application close date: 5 September 2025

Apply now

2) Director of Student Wellbeing

MacKillop College (VIC)

Application close date: 1 September 2025

Apply now

3) Independent Non-Executive Director

CEnet (NSW)

Application close date: 29 August 2025

Apply now

4) Safeguarding Coordinator

Catholic Diocese of Ballarat (VIC)

Application close date: 10 September 2025

Apply now

5) Officer – National Centre for Evangelisation (Young People; Formation)

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACT)

Application close date: 29 August 2025

Apply now

6) Resource Specialist

Caritas Australia (NSW or VIC)

Application close date: 29 August 2025

Apply now

7) Support Services Officer

Mercy Partners (QLD)

Application close date: 27 August 2025

Apply now

1) The Specialist Dementia Care Program

The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is an Australian Government initiative providing transitional care for individuals exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. The program offers specialised residential care to stabilise symptoms and facilitate a transition to less intensive settings. For more information or to apply, click here.

2) The Information, Advice and Referral Program 2025-26

The Information, Advice and Referral Program 2025-26 provides funding to selected organisations to deliver trusted, high-quality information and advice for people with disability and their families, helping them access services, supports, and their rights. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and funding opportunity here.

Forecast opportunities:

Multicultural Grassroots Initiatives – Round 2

Alcohol and Drug Information Network

Membership Renewals: Thank You and Gentle Reminder

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all members who have already renewed their CSSA membership for the 2025-2026 financial year. Your response demonstrates your commitment to our shared vision of "a fairer, more inclusive Australian society that reflects and supports the dignity, equality and participation of all people."

For those who have not yet had the opportunity to renew, we warmly welcome your continued membership. The renewal process remains open and is straightforward:

1. Access the self-calculation proforma through the member portal on our website
2. Complete the form based on your organisation's details
3. Submit payment according to the instructions provided

Should you require any assistance with the renewal process, please do not hesitate to contact Tania Ladyzhynsky at our National Office on (02) 6285 1366 or via email at [email protected].

Your membership strengthens our collective voice and amplifies our impact for vulnerable communities across Australia. When we stand together, we can advocate more effectively with government and stakeholders, creating meaningful change that none of us could achieve alone.

Thank you for your continued solidarity with CSSA and with each other.

Feel free to share this newsletter with your network, and if you haven’t subscribed yet, sign up now to receive regular updates, news, and insights from CSSA. Follow us on our social channels to stay connected, share your voice, and amplify our collective impact. We would love your support in expanding our online community!