Dear Friends,

As we approach Christmas, I am acutely aware of the profound duality this time of year holds for so many of us. We arrive here having journeyed through another demanding and, I hope, deeply rewarding year – one that has tested our resilience, stretched our compassion, and called us to show up, again and again, for the communities we serve. The challenges that this season can present to those we accompany are never far from our minds, and we hold them with tenderness and care.

Yet it is precisely in this moment that we are invited to pause and breathe. To allow ourselves to feel the genuine joy and magic that Christmas brings – the warmth of gathering with loved ones, the gift of time with family and friends, and perhaps, for some, the precious opportunity to simply rest and recharge our batteries.

This season whispers to us that renewal is possible, that hope is not naive, and that even in the midst of our most demanding work, there is space for wonder and peace.

So please allow yourself to truly embrace the magic of this time of year. Not as an escape from the work we do, but as a deepening of it. Because in understanding the profound spiritual significance of Christmas – the incarnation of hope, love, and redemption – we find renewed purpose and strength for the journey ahead.

In an online post earlier this week, I spoke of our shared heartbreak for those who lost their lives, for those injured and for all those affected by the senseless act of violence and hate at Bondi last Sunday. As we grieve, I hold close the beautiful words from the event flyer inviting people to celebrate Chanukah: "Come celebrate the light of Chanukah together with the community, bring your friends, bring the family, let's fill Bondi with joy and light." These words – a message of joy, community, and light – represent everything that is good in our society. They embody the values we hold dear: love, compassion, and the inherent dignity of every person.

We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and all Australians affected by this tragedy. We refuse to let hate take hold in our country. We choose light. We commit ourselves to honouring the memory of those lost by building a society rooted in respect, understanding, and genuine care for one another. In this moment of profound grief, we pray for healing, for justice, and for the courage to continue to choose unity over division, love over hate, and light over darkness.

Advocating with a distinctive Catholic voice for our Member Agencies providing services to those living in disadvantage and in poverty and vulnerability will continue to be CSSA’s top strategic priority into 2026 and beyond. We close out December in a strong position through:

• Participating as a valued voice as a member of the DSS-led Community Sector Advisory Group (CSAG). The CSAG membership, which last met on 9 December 2025, provides strategic advice to Government to support improvements to the sustainability of the community sector and delivery of community services, including through the Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint (NFP Blueprint) and
• Commencing discussions with Federal Treasury on critical housing and homelessness issues, particularly use of government land assets, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and social housing and youth homelessness (see News below).
• Supporting the views of members through CSSA’s recent submission to the DSS Families and Children Activity consultation: a new approach to programs for families and children (available to read on the CSSA website).
• Drafting CSSA’s 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission for circulation for member input from mid-January 2026.
• Enriching our connections with other faith-based services including UnitingCare, the Salvation Army and Anglicare to develop relationships and opportunities for collaborative advocacy heading into 2026.

With renewed energy and commitment, we look forward to launching CSSA’s Strategic Plan 2026-31 in the new year. The Plan will build on the momentum gained this year on key policy and advocacy issues but will also chart our course to continue to pursue long-term, systemic change on policy and advocacy issues that reflect the priorities of our members. We intend to confirm our understanding of those policy issues, sector challenges and member needs that are most important to you and your teams via a short member survey early in 2026. Stay tuned!

Save the date!!

CSSA 70^th Anniversary Advocacy Summit

Wednesday 12 August 2026 - Thursday 13 August 2026

Parliament House, Canberra

1) Chief Finance Officer

Catholic Diocese of Christchurch (NZ)

Application close date: 11 January 2026

Apply now

2) Parish Leadership Coach

Archdiocese of Brisbane (QLD)

Application close date: 12 January 2026

Apply now

3) Executive Officer

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACT)

Application close date: 19 January 2026

Apply now

4) Assistant Principal

Pedagogy and Learning, Townsville Catholic Education (QLD)

Application close date: 29 December 2025

Apply now

5) Board Director

Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst Limited (NSW)

Application close date: 25 December 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) Supporting Living Organ Donors Program

The Living Organ Donor Support Program provides financial assistance to individuals who choose to become living organ donors. Recognising that donation involves major surgery, extended recovery time, and extensive medical testing—which may require time off work and travel—the program reimburses donors for lost income, travel, and accommodation expenses. Its purpose is not to incentivise donation, but to ensure financial stress is not a barrier for those wishing to donate, while also encouraging employers to support employees undertaking this generous act. For more information or to apply, click here.

3) Inclusion Support Program Guidelines

The Inclusive Support Program (ISP) is designed to strengthen the capacity of eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services to provide high-quality, inclusive environments for children with additional needs. The program supports services to remove participation barriers so that all children can learn, play, and thrive alongside their typically developing peers, in line with Australia’s Approved Learning Frameworks.

ISP funding also helps services meet their obligations under the National Quality Framework (NQF), including the National Quality Standard (NQS), by promoting equitable, accessible, and developmentally appropriate practices. click here.

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!