Catholic sector worried about Cashless Debit Card extension
Media Release 10 November 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia has told a Senate Committee that plans to continue and extend the cashless debit card system are “stigmatising” and would disproportionately affect Indigenous Australians. The national peak body for dozens of Catholic social service agencies recently made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020. CSSA noted that it had previously expressed its opposition to the compulsory cashless debit card... read more
Francis Sullivan appointed Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia Ltd
Media Release 27 October 2020 Francis Sullivan has been elected the new chair of Catholic Social Services Australia Ltd during the first meeting of the entity since its recent consolidation. Mr Sullivan has held a number of significant roles within and beyond the Catholic Church, including as chief executive officer of Catholic Health Australia and as secretary general of the Australian Medical Association. As CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council, he led the Catholic Church’s engagement with the Royal Commission... read more
Friendship and solidarity key themes in Pope Francis’ letter
Media Release: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 4 October 2020 A world that looks beyond a global pandemic with no roadmap can find one in Pope Francis’ new encyclical, which Archbishop Mark Coleridge says “is not just for believers but for the entire human family”. Published this evening, the Pope’s third encyclical is entitled Fratelli Tutti (Brothers and Sisters All) – words taken from St Francis of Assisi, who the Pope says has inspired what he writes. “It is a vision of the dignity... read more
Budget leaves many asking ‘what hope for me?’
Media Release 6 October 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia says while the 2020-21 Commonwealth Budget delivers a financial boost for some, the country’s most vulnerable will again find themselves asking “What hope for me?” “With hundreds of thousands of Australians struggling to find work or not able to access enough hours of work, they’ll be left to ponder how they will walk their individual path through the pandemic’s aftermath,” said CSSA chief executive officer Ursula Stephens. “Billions of dollars in tax cuts will... read more
CSSA News October 2020
CSSA Ltd has stepped into its new entity from 1 October, 2020 so thank you to our members for your support in this endeavour and the vote of confidence at the Annual General Meeting. read more
October Budget rides on collective confidence
Article by CSSA's former Deputy CEO, Joe Zabar, first published Eureka Street, 25 September 2020 The latest National Accounts figures show that Australia is officially in recession, with a massive 7 per cent decline in GDP for the June quarter. While not exactly surprising, it has the Morrison Government rightly concerned. The havoc COVID-19 has wreaked on our economy has been less damaging than for some other countries. While international comparisons may help us feel better about our circumstances, the reality... read more
Australian children and families need greater certainty
Media Release 8 September 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia is calling on the Australian Government to ensure the needs of children and vulnerable families are priorities in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. CSSA comprises 60 member organisations providing social services in more than 650 communities across Australia. The network supports some of the country’s most vulnerable people. It is concerned that the Government’s failure to provide certainty to providers of its Families and Communities Programme (FCP) is damaging the long-term planning... read more
The ‘second wave’ and the Australian economy
Failing to address the unemployment and underemployment challenges facing the nation will have significant impacts on the social and economic wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people for many years, writes Joe Zabar. Article by CSSA's former Deputy CEO, Joe Zabar, first published Pro Bono News Australia, 16 July 2020 The recent spike in COVID-19 cases that has led to the shutdown of Melbourne has us pondering an important question: What will this “second wave” do to Australia’s economic recovery? The OECD’s... read more
Disadvantage not all about the hip pocket
Originally published in CathNews 4 July 2020 The research found Australia’s most disadvantaged electorate was Hinkler in regional Queensland. (Pixabay) New research on disadvantage in Australia has found that it’s not just income that matters when calculating disadvantage, but other factors such as health and education. Source: The Conversation. The research, conducted by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods and commissioned by Catholic Social Services Australia, (CSSA), found the gap between rich and poor is very wide in Sydney, while much... read more
Being part of “Our Place” has helped the refugee community maintain zero covid-19 cases locally.
CENTACARE FNQ PRESS RELEASE 13 July 2020 Since 2018, Centacare FNQ has been facilitating Our Place - a federally funded, assets based and community driven project which aims to build on the strength and resilience of community. The project is based in the Cairns West suburbs of Manoora, Manunda and Mooroobool, a community rich in cultural diversity comprising Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander as well as settled and emerging migrant and refugee background communities. Over the past two years, the Our Place project has... read more
JobKeeper, JobSeeker decisions a test for Morrison Government
Media Release 14 July 2020 The Morrison Government’s decision on the future of the Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments must deliver an outcome that adequately supports those who are vulnerable, Catholic Social Services Australia says. Ursula Stephens, the CEO of the organisation representing dozens of Catholic social service agencies that support hundreds of thousands of Australians each year, says next week’s economic update gives the Government the chance to reset one of the country’s key safety nets. “With some 1.4 million people on... read more
Where are the most disadvantaged parts of Australia? New research shows it’s not just income that matters
This article first appeared in The Conversation 13 July 2020 New research on disadvantage in Australia has found the gap between rich and poor is very wide in Sydney, while much of Queensland struggles with educational disadvantage and regional NSW and Victoria are both more disadvantaged when it comes to health. Previous research on poverty has placed a heavy emphasis on income and economic outcomes at a given point in time. But disadvantage often goes beyond just economic factors. It’s also... read more
It’s official: Fr Mick is a Queensland Great
Article as published CathNews 10 June 2020 An outback priest has been recognised for his dedication to his local community and the Church by being named a Queensland Great in the state's annual awards. Source: Townsville Diocese. Mt Isa parish priest Fr Mick Lowcock was one of nine Queenslanders to be recognised in the Queensland Greats awards, which celebrates extraordinary achievements and lifetime contributions by Queenslanders to the state. Fr Mick Lowcock (Townsville Diocese) North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services... read more
Grant applications opened for ongoing bushfire recovery
As published ACBC Media Blog and Cath News 18 May 2020 Catholic Emergency Relief Australia 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 COVID-19 pandemic”, challenges like social isolation and financial hardship are exacerbating some problems the bushfires caused. “Some of the people who were deployed to offer material, physical, emotional... read more
A way forward to COVID-19 economic recovery
• As published Eureka Street 5 May 2020By Joe Zabar Deputy CEO, Catholic Social Services Australia When a global pandemic cast a mighty shadow across Australia, the Prime Minister, premiers and chief ministers rightly recognised that their duty was to prioritise the health and safety of their people. But as some of the health concerns ease and our national, state and territory leaders begin to turn their minds to easing isolation measures, the focus will soon shift to the challenges of... read more
JobKeeper Package Vital to the Charitable Sector
Media Release April 2, 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia supports the government’s JobKeeper announcement, but says amendments will be necessary to protect thousands of jobs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Charitable organisations that receive funding through government grant programs will find it difficult to demonstrate the required loss of overall turnover to qualify for the JobKeeper activities if those funds are counted as part of the organisation’s turnover,” CSSA chief executive officer Ursula Stephens explained. “Many of our organisations have multiple funding streams.... read more
Coronavirus: Australia’s pockets of chronic disadvantaged most vulnerable to consequences of pandemic
They are potentially among the most vulnerable to the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic — the thousands of Australians already captive to persistent disadvantage. 23 March 2020, As published news.com.au By Malcolm Farr | news.com.au They have been short-changed on health care, education, economic capacity and social cohesion, according to a ground-breaking national survey released today. The survey, commissioned by Catholic Social Services Australia, identifies significant pockets of chronic disadvantaged which often are overlooked because of neighbouring areas of prosperity.And there is a... read more
Tailoring innovation and investment to tackle persistent disadvantage
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 advantage and disadvantage. “Countless studies have been carried out that look at the important issue of economic disadvantage, but that only tells part of the story,” said CSSA... read more
Charity sector must be supported through crisis
The Federal Government’s move to assist small business and protect jobs during the coronavirus crisis must be broadened to include the charity sector, Catholic Social Services Australia says. CSSA chief executive officer Ursula Stephens said the charity sector remains vulnerable to a slowing economy. “Giving charities and social services access to cashflow support will provide greater certainty around their business continuity at a time when many regional and rural communities continue to be affected by drought and bushfires,” Dr Stephens said. “CSSA... read more
Catholic Social Services Backs Stimulus, But Urges Prudence
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 cash payment to families and those on pensions and allowances such as Newstart is an important step in injecting vital cash into the economy.” However, the Federal... read more
CatholicCare Wollongong – 40th Anniversary
A special thanks to the Illawarra Mercury for creating a wonderful tribute to CatholicCare Wollongong, marking their 40th Anniversary ? The article honour the special people who built the foundations of this organisation, namely Roger Austin and Kath McCormack, while looking at the evolution of social services over time. CatholicCare's mission remains the same, existing to bring joy to those we serve by enabling growth, healing and hope, regardless of cultural or religious background. read more
NDIS users pay the price when systems serve the bureaucracy
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 prove to be a mistake if the public witnesses further evidence of a bureaucracy lacking agility and lacking a person-centred focus in the delivery of essential services. Government programs, state or federal, are all too often maligned... read more
CERA – Catholic Emergency Response Australia
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 read more
Catholic Church Plans National Response to Bushfire Crisis
Australia is facing an unprecedented calamity as fire engulfs the land in many places. We have all seen the apocalyptic images, even if we are not in the areas most affected. Lives have been lost, homes and towns have been destroyed, smoke has shrouded large swathes of our country ... Read the full statement and access prayer resources at catholic.org.au/bushfires. read more
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES NETWORK PRIORITISES BUSHFIRE VICTIMS
Supporting families and communities through the trauma and lasting impact of the bushfire devastation in New South Wales and Victoria is a national priority for Catholic Social Services Australia and its members. With staff and volunteers working in some of the most bushfire-affected areas of the country, the national network of Catholic social service agencies is mobilising to help communities recover and rebuild from the current crisis. Ursula Stephens, CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia, said CSSA members operate... read more
Bushfire emergencies: how you can help
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 for famiies who have lost everything. Everyone can make a difference in this time of climate crisis. Here’s what some of the organisations on the front line recommend. Read... read more
Do you celebrate your staff’s achievements like Catholic Care NT?
While we report on program outcomes and impact, it is easy to overlook the importance of celebrating the achievements of staff who continue with their professional development and strengthen our services. Congratulations to the team at Catholic Care NT for your wonderful work in 2019. You can read more about them here read more
Looking Forward to 2020 Catholic Social Services Conference
Following the success of previous biennial conferences, Catholic Social Services Victoria and Catholic Social Services Australia are again partnering to present Serving Our Communities with Courage and Compassion. The conference will be held at the Catholic Leadership Centre, Victoria Parade, East Melbourne on 26-28 February 2020. A significant element of the conference will be the opening plenary session on the evening of 26 February which will focus on the Indigenous voice and reconciliation. This forum, titled Beyond Surviving to Truthfully Thriving: Continuing... read more
Catholic social services team up to battle disadvantage
More than 20 Catholic social service providers from across Australia have joined with researchers from the Australian National University to commission new research into entrenched disadvantage. Today marks the commencement of research activity for the Identifying Locational Drivers of Entrenched Disadvantage project. “This project is a significant coming together across the national Catholic social services network,” said Catholic Social Services Australia CEO Ursula Stephens, who launched the project earlier today. The aim of the research is to identify what drives and entrenches... read more
Statement on the 6th Anniversary of Australia’s Mandatory and Indefinite Offshore Detention Policy
From the Catholic Outlook. This weekend marks the sixth anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s announcement that no person seeking asylum by boat would ever be resettled in Australia. Every single person arriving after that date was to be subjected to indefinite detention on Manus Island, PNG, or in the Republic of Nauru, under ‘processing’ arrangements between the Australian Government and those Pacific states. Six years on, roughly 800 refugees and people seeking asylum still remain trapped on Manus Island and... read more
New Catholic social services CEO plans on working closely with government
Former Labor candidate for Goulburn, Parliamentary Secretary and Senator, Dr Ursula Stephens is again back in a leadership role as the new CEO for Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA), the Catholic Church’s peak national body for social services in the country. Dr Stephens spoke with Region media about “filling the large shoes” of retiring CEO Jesuit priest Fr Frank Brennan who has been a long-time advocate for human rights and social justice in Australia, and the CSSA’s advocacy and research agendas. Read more... read more
Dr Ursula Stephens accepts the baton
The clichéd comment to make to someone about to take over from someone else who is well-known and highly regarded is to say they have big shoes to fill. In taking over from Fr Frank Brennan as the new CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia on July 1, Dr Ursula Stephens comes to the position with very sizeable shoes of her own. At least metaphorically, even if her actual feet lean towards the daintier end of the spectrum. Read more at... read more
Long-time CSSA employee gets papal honour
Mary Clare Jamieson, CSSA’s director of corporate services, was bestowed the symbol of honour of the Exalted Cross – Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (for services to the Church and to the Pope), which is instituted for persons distinguished for outstanding service and zeal. A long-time Catholic Social Services Australia employee has been awarded a papal honour for her services to the Church and to the Pope. Read more at Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Media Blog read more
Ursula Stephens to lead Catholic Social Services Australia
Catholic Social Services Australia Chair Dr Maria Harries says she is delighted to announce that Dr Ursula Stephens will take up the role as CSSA’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective from July 1. “The CSSA Board was fortunate to receive a number of high-calibre applications for this significant appointment, which is a testament to the work that Catholic social services providers carry out each day across the country,” Dr Harries said. “The appointment of Dr Stephens promises to enable CSSA to... read more
CSSA’s 2019 Federal Election Statement
Catholic Social Services Australia has just published its Federal Election Statement. CSSA is calling on the Parliament and the incoming government to commit to: Providing low-income and vulnerable families access to adequate income and social services when and where they need them; A full employment economy through the establishment of a Job Guarantee Program; Supporting the empowerment and self-determination of our First Nation peoples by working collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in progressing constitutional recognition; Resettling all... read more
CSSA’s 2019 Federal Election Statement
Catholic Social Services Australia has just published its Federal Election Statement. CSSA is calling on the Parliament and the incoming government to commit to: Providing low-income and vulnerable families access to adequate income and social services when and where they need them; A full employment economy through the establishment of a Job Guarantee Program; Supporting the empowerment and self-determination of our First Nation peoples by working collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in progressing constitutional recognition; Resettling all... read more
Easter Sky News interview with Fr Frank Brennan SJ, CSSA’s CEO
A broad-ranging interview including Newstart; NDIS; energy policy; asylum seekers and refugees; and the ongoing leadership and inspiration of Pope Francis. Listen to the interview here. read more
The NDIS: another important choice at this Federal Election
As published CathNews, 17 April 2018 BY BRENTON PROSSER PHD, DIRECTOR RESEARCH, CSSA Federal Budget week was another significant one for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It was a central feature in the speeches of both the Treasurer and the Opposition Leader. Public debate centred on $1.6 billion of allocated (but unspent) funding going back into the Government’s projected $7.1 billion surplus. The Budget also allocated over $527 million for a Royal Commission into the mistreatment of people with a disability. But the question that remains with many of us is:... read more
Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health
Submission to the Productivity Commission The Productivity Commission is holding an Inquiry to examine the effect of mental health on people's ability to participate in and prosper in the community and workplace, and the effets it has more generally on our economy and productivity. Improved mental health of Australians has been a national priority for over 25 years. Over that time, there has been increased government effort to support health and suicide prevention services. Despite these efforts, many people are still not receiving... read more
Church calls for living wage for Australian families
The Church has made submissions on the minimum wage since 2003 with a focus on low-paid workers and their families, arguing for a decent standard of living for wage-dependent families. Megan Kavanagh, a member of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Employment Relations Reference Group, said there has been a tradition in Australia – dating back to the Harvester decision in 1907 – that people in full-time work with dependants should not live in poverty. Read more at the Australian Catholic Bishops... read more
Christian charity must start with God: Lismore Bishop
The first call for those working in social services is to see the need of others through the eyes of God, Lismore Bishop Greg Homeming OCD has told Catholic social service leaders from across the country. On a day when tributes to the late Fr Leo Donnelly featured prominently, Bishop Homeming issued his challenge – and invitation – at the Catholic Social Services Australia national conference. Read more at Catholic Outlook, News from the Diocese of Parramatta read more
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference – Statement on Refugees and Asylum Seekers
STATEMENT FROM THE ACBC PRESIDENT ARCHBISHOP MARK COLERIDGE Our elected representatives have returned home for Christmas without resolving the offshore detention crisis that confronts our country. It would seem that a majority in both houses of our Parliament favour laws and policies that will bring to an end the five-year saga of refugees and asylum-seekers who have had to put their lives on hold on Nauru and Manus Island. A wealthy country with a robust rule of law and multicultural tolerance,... read more
October Budget rides on collective confidence
Article by CSSA's former Deputy CEO, Joe Zabar, first published Eureka Street, 25 September 2020 The latest National Accounts figures... read more
The ‘second wave’ and the Australian economy
Failing to address the unemployment and underemployment challenges facing the nation will have significant impacts on the social and... read more
JobKeeper, JobSeeker decisions a test for Morrison Government
Media Release 14 July 2020 The Morrison Government’s decision on the future of the Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments must deliver... read more
A way forward to COVID-19 economic recovery
• As published Eureka Street 5 May 2020By Joe Zabar Deputy CEO, Catholic Social Services Australia When a global pandemic... read more
JobKeeper Package Vital to the Charitable Sector
Media Release April 2, 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia supports the government’s JobKeeper announcement, but says amendments will be necessary to... read more
Coronavirus: Australia’s pockets of chronic disadvantaged most vulnerable to consequences of pandemic
They are potentially among the most vulnerable to the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic — the thousands of Australians... read more
Charity sector must be supported through crisis
The Federal Government’s move to assist small business and protect jobs during the coronavirus crisis must be broadened to... read more
Catholic Social Services Backs Stimulus, But Urges Prudence
March 13, 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia says governments and other key institutions have a duty to respond to the... read more
CatholicCare Wollongong – 40th Anniversary
A special thanks to the Illawarra Mercury for creating a wonderful tribute to CatholicCare Wollongong, marking their 40th Anniversary ? The article... read more
NDIS users pay the price when systems serve the bureaucracy
Joe Zabar The Tune review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme should have the government very concerned, not just about the NDIS,... read more
