14 April 2022 The decision by Labor not to review the JobSeeker payment ahead of its first budget if it wins the May federal election is disappointing, according to one of Australia's peak social services groups. Francis Sullivan, Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, said the decision is a real blow for 1.5 million people struggling...
Media Release 16 February 2021 Catholic Social Services Australia CEO Ursula Stephens says the failure to retain the higher Jobseeker rate provided during the pandemic will create financial pressure on families that could last for generations. “In a matter of weeks, people forced to rely on unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 crisis will be plunged into poverty...
Media Release 8 December 2020 Catholic Social Services Australia has urged the Government to heed the findings of experts and its own reports and reverse its decision to cut the JobSeeker allowance next month. A number of key social service agencies, peak bodies and industry associations have recently published analysis of the likely outcomes if the Jobseeker...
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...
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...
17 January 2019 With its announcement of an overhaul of the Jobactive program, the Australian Labor Party last week made the first move of the year on employment policy. But with a federal election looming, we ought to prepare ourselves for a mantra of “jobs” and “the economy”. Read more at Pro Bono Australia.
