Year 12 Religion: Social Justice Issues

Search issues, Publications, Factsheets and more about issues affecting people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

The Department ... "aspire[s] to be Australia’s pre-eminent social policy agency. [Their] mission is to improve the lifetime wellbeing of people and families in Australia."

"Homelessness Australia (HA) is the national peak body for homelessness in Australia. [They] provide systemic advocacy for the homelessness sector. Homelessness Australia works in collaboration with homelessness assistance services, state and national homelessness peak organisations, other peak organisations, government agencies and the broader community. Access fact sheets, research resources and more.

"The Australian Government via the Department of Social Services provides support to those in need of affordable housing and homelessness services through programmes and services."

Provides analysis of current domestic and international issues which impact us all; including, homelessness, asylum seekers and refugees, the impact on the proposed increase of GST on the disadvantaged.

Gain access to the various issues in Australia regarding Human Rights; including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, the Aged, Asylum Seekers and Refugees and Rights and Freedoms.

Search issues, Publications, Factsheets and more about issues affecting people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

Foodbank aims to eliminate hunger in Australia. Access case studies, facts about hunger in Australia and reports.

"The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week are to: strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia; and encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments."

"[Their] mission is to deliver relevant and translatable research evidence which drives policy and practice leading to a reduction in the levels of violence against women and their children."

"The Domestic Violence Prevention Centre ... works from a feminist perspective and framework. [They] uphold the belief that structural inequalities in society greatly disadvantage women and children and result in power differentials and violence in interpersonal relationships. This framework and practice ensures that all clients of the Centre are treated with respect, dignity and equity."

"The Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) is a statewide service in Melbourne, Victoria. [They] provide training, publications, research and other resources to those experiencing (or who have experienced) family violence, and practitioners and service organisations who work with family violence survivors."

Gain access to the various issues in Australia regarding Human Rights; including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, the Aged, Asylum Seekers and Refugees and Rights and Freedoms.

ACMRO's Mission Statement: "We, the staff of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, dedicate our efforts towards the acceptance and settlement of Refugees and Migrants into Australia. We do this especially by our efforts to influence Government policies in this area. We also seek to form Catholic Church policy in Australia for the Pastoral Care of Refugees and Migrants." Access information on Church Teaching, Policy, Resources etc

This link provides answers to the following questions: Who are asylum seekers and refugees? What are Australia’s human rights obligations in relation to asylum seekers and refugees? How many refugees does Australia grant permanent protection to each year? Why are asylum seekers and refugees in immigration detention? How are asylum seekers’ claims decided? What is the 'enhanced screening process'?

This site is produced by the Australian Jesuits. "Education, pastoral ministry, social services and policy advocacy, ministry to refugees and asylum seekers, work with Indigenous communities, media and communications, and in the field of spirituality are some of the areas in which the Australian Jesuits are currently involved."

"The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is the peak advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics."

"From this page you will find information about the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, the Indigenous Australians' Health Programme and Funded Activities."

"The AIHW Indigenous Observatory is a repository of information on the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Indigenous Observatory has two types of reports:
Overview reports provide a comprehensive picture of Indigenous health and welfare and draw on a wide range of data sources, in particular AIHW and ABS data collections. The latest overview report The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2015 was published in 2015.
Observatory papers provide more in-depth information on specific topics. These papers are release periodically and are available for download from the reports page."

"The crisis facing Indigenous health has a long and complex history. It continues largely as a result of decades of government inaction and a continuing lack of appropriate medical services." This site provides information, suggests strategies and programs necessary to close this gap.

This report published by Oxfam " ... provides solutions towards solving the health crisis facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders. It draws on published data and the expertise of the National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health
Organisation."

Download this Social Justice Report from 2005 by the Australian Human Rights Commission

This site provides access to Policy, Programs, Data, Links etc relevant to the government's Mental Health Policy.

Access information relevant to ageing, homelessness, families and children, Indigenous Australians and more.

"Mental health services in Australia provides a picture of the national response of the health and welfare service system to the mental health care needs of Australians." Access up-to-date information on the state of mental health in Australia, national policies and statistics.

This is an article appearing on the Eureka Street site which discusses the stories run by Australian Story and The 7:30 Report that highlighted the nation's poor mental health system, resulting too often in people reaching crisis point and taking their own lives. The stories were very human accounts of the dislocation and disorientation wreaked by mental illness.

"Stigma against people with mental disorders has been around even longer than the Catholic Church."

Read the society's submission ... "In April 2014, the St Vincent de Paul Society made submission to the Review. The Society plays a very large role in mental health around Australia. We do this, in part, because there is a gap that is left by public programs."

This is a link to the Archdiocese of Sydney's article. "Mental health disorders are the biggest contributor to disability in Australia today. Depression is now more widespread than the common cold, with more than half of us set to experience some form of mental ill health during our lifetime."

"The My Aged Care website has been established by the Australian Government to help [people] navigate the aged care system. My Aged Care is part of the Australian Government’s changes to the aged care system which have been designed to give people more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of aged care services.

"The Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) is Australia’s leading alcohol and drug search directory. Here you will find reliable information on alcohol, other drugs and mental health, with links to treatment services, research, statistics, guidelines, journals, policy, campaigns, events, curriculum, professional development opportunities and more."

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is an innovative Internet resource that aims to inform practice and policy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by making research and other knowledge readily accessible.

"The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is a world-renowned research, collections and publishing organisation. [It] promote[s] knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures, traditions, languages and stories, past and present."

Gain access to the various issues in Australia regarding Human Rights; including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, the Aged, Asylum Seekers and Refugees and Rights and Freedoms.

Access information about Australia's involvement in both Malaysia during the late 40s and 50s and Indonesia in the 60s.

"Data.gov.au provides an easy way to find, access and reuse public data."

The Department ... "aspire[s] to be Australia’s pre-eminent social policy agency. [Their] mission is to improve the lifetime wellbeing of people and families in Australia."

"The heart of global education is enabling young people to participate in shaping a better, shared future for the world. Global education emphasises the unity and interdependence of human society, developing a sense of self and appreciation of cultural diversity, affirmation of social justice and human rights, as well as building peace and actions for a sustainable future in different times and places."

"The National Landcare Programme [plays a key part] in managing our natural resources."

"RACISM. IT STOPS WITH ME" aims to ensure more Australians recognise that racism is unacceptable in our community, give more Australians the tools and resources to take practical action against racism and empower individuals and organisations to prevent and respond effectively to racism."

Access resources supplied for the education of students in Australian schools. Includes case studies and media reports.

Includes case studies and data sets on industries, statistics, media reports and analysis of legislation.

Mercy Health is a Catholic organisation grounded in a 2,000-year tradition of caring for others. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy ... Mercy Health employs people from many cultures and backgrounds who, irrespective of their beliefs, share a common bond to care for those in need."

"Giving witness to the healing ministry of Jesus lies at the heart of the mission of Catholic health and aged care. The vision guiding our services is based on the Gospel – to be a sign of the compassion of God reaching into every human experience and especially the experience of vulnerability and suffering."