eNewsletter-10 January 2023

I hope readers had a joyous Christmas season and were able to enjoy being with loved ones at this quieter time in the annual calendar. No doubt 2023 will be another busy and challenging year, both for the Society and the Australian community at large as we move into what the pundits suggest could be a significant recession.

Already, countless families and individuals across the country are experiencing great financial pressures because of the rising costs of rents and mortgage payments, food and energy bills, and other essentials. This is causing households to make intolerable decisions - in the UK they call it the choice between 'eating or heating'. 

The stress of deciding how to stretch limited incomes to cover costs also impacts on family harmony and causes ill health, both physical and mental. 

As I write, river communities within my state (SA) have had a particularly anxious summer awaiting flooding of their homes and businesses. Amidst the fear and despair is hope, in the form of fellow Aussies visiting the impacted communities to actively support local businesses. Similarly, Vincentians around Australia have likely seen the best of their local and parish communities over the festive season as people have supported Vinnies with donations of food, money and gifts for companions doing it tough.

As in every year since the Society was established in Australia, our dedicated members will spend 2023 meeting with people in need, listening to their concerns, working out how best to provide material and emotional support, and maintaining contact with those requiring ongoing assistance.

I thank all members for their commitment to the Society's mission - you are our heart and soul. National Council also extends appreciation to our retail volunteers who provide such wonderful service in Vinnies shops throughout the land. The funds raised are vital for our work, while the environmental benefits of diverting clothing and other goods from landfill are so important.

The Society's advocacy work, including our media activity, will continue apace in 2023. We will maintain close links with like-minded charities and other organisations, and continue to make representations to politicians at both the Federal and State/Territory levels.

The political landscape has changed markedly, and there are clear signs that our case for a fairer society is not only being heard but increasingly being acted upon. Key policy areas include income support and secure jobs, affordable housing, justice for refugees and asylum seekers, and the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

Much remains to be done in terms of supporting those in our community experiencing poverty and the powerlessness that comes with it.

Recently the Standing Council of Attorneys-General issued a draft report calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be increased. Children as young as 10 years of age across Australia continue to be detained, kept in solitary confinement and disciplined with physical restraints due to the failure of governments to take action on this straightforward reform. 

One struggles to understand why we do not recognise the evidence that criminalising the behaviour of young people traps them in the criminal justice system. It continues a cycle of punishment for our young people who in many instances are victims of entrenched social and economic disadvantage.

Children belong in schools and playgrounds, not behind bars or being forced into locked isolation. The entry of children into the youth justice system disproportionately impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children.

Medical and scientific evidence shows that children under the age of 14 do not have the capacity to understand the consequences of their actions or the maturity required for criminal responsibility. It is heartbreaking that governments of all political persuasion continue to demonstrate a complete ignorance of the disastrous impact of policies that continue to steal the childhood of our younger generation.

The St Vincent de Paul Society is calling on the Federal and State and Territory Governments to work together to lift the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years of age across Australia.

DRAFT FINAL REPORT - Age of Criminal Responsibility Working Group

Big donation from small school

In the leadup to Christmas 2022 National President Claire Victory met online with years 3-7 students at St Columba's Memorial School in Yorketown, S.A. to thank them for their donation to the Society.

The students created small businesses such as car washing, jewellery making and sausage sizzles. Their entrepreneurship paid off, with more than $1000 raised. 

WA partnership delivered Christmas hampers

Waroona Family Support Services’ Lena Look (centre) with St Vincent de Paul Society Waroona's Kathy Gurr, Barb Wood and Renae Lund. 

A group of Waroona volunteers made Christmas a bit better for those less fortunate. Waroona St Vincent de Paul and Waroona Family Support Service came together once again for the 2022 Christmas hamper appeal.

Waroona president Kathy Gurr said the need for the service was increasing every year.

'About 20 years ago when Vinnies started doing this the local volunteers would assemble a small amount of hampers in their own homes, probably no more than 10 were distributed,' she said.

'Last year (2021) we had about 120 families register to receive a hamper and we ended up doing over 150.'

As part of preparations for the appeal, St Vincent de Paul members had been collecting banana boxes from Waroona IGA each day since October. The boxes were held in storage before being transported to the Waroona Memorial Hall where they became the base for the hampers.

A crew of community volunteers filled the boxes with items including fresh produce, pantry goods and children's Christmas gifts.

A significant portion of the hamper fillers came from donations collected from across the town.

'St Joseph’s School always donate an enormous amount as a whole school event,' Ms Gurr said.

'Plus, the people of Waroona have been very generous with donations left in bins at the IGA and Waroona Library.'

Anyone interested in helping out this year is asked to get in touch with Waroona Family Support Service on (08) 9733 2902.

Society to run new women's refuge in Sydney

The NSW Government is building a new women's refuge for women fleeing domestic violence in Sutherland Shire.

The $2.5 million, purpose-built accommodation will be operated by St Vincent de Paul Society who will also provide 'wrap around support services' to help women get back on their feet. The refuge is at the eastern end of the shire, but the location is not disclosed for the security of future residents.

Premier Dominic Perrottet inspected progress on the project on 16 December with Cronulla MP and Attorney-General Mark Speakman and Miranda MP Eleni Petinos.

The refuge will have six units for women, with shared facilities. Vinnies operates other refuges, which also accommodate children.

Mr Perrottet said the accommodation would be 'homely and comfortable' which is 'incredibly important.'

The Premier noted that across Australia every 10 days a woman is killed in domestic and family violence.

'That's unacceptable, it's terrible and it has to stop. We need to provide as much care and support as we can,and building homes like this will make a real difference.

'It will give women confidence to leave those violent environments, but also to have those wrap-around services that Vinnies provides, which will make an enormous difference in getting them back on their feet.'

Mr Perrottet said the government and Vinnies worked together to choose sites, based on demand.

NSW A-G Mark Speakman said there were at least three other refuges in the shire, two of which were run by Vinnies with government funding and Platform Nine, operated by Kingsway Community Church.

'There is a huge demand for this kind of accommodation and that's why, across the state, we are rolling out about 75 new refuges,' he said.

Mr Speakman said women fleeing domestic violence not only needed somewhere to escape to, they also needed somewhere to rebuild their lives.

'This is more than bricks and mortar, this is also about providing wrap-around services. The clients who come here will have complex needs. They may have mental health issues, other family issues, employment issues, other general health issues.'

Ms Petinos said, 'It's really important we understand no community is exempt from domestic violence. A few years ago I had one of our community members come into my office not knowing where to go or where to find support.

'Facilities like this give women like those I have met, and those who have written to me, confidence to get out of their situations.

'The woman I saw that day was absolutely terrified - she didn't know how to start her journey and didn't know where to go.'

New inner-Sydney Vinnies opens

Not long after marking the centenary of retail activities in the state, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW has opened the first new inner-Sydney Vinnies Shop in 10 years.

Kicking off the New Year in style, the shop at 547 Crown Street, Surry Hills highlighted a curated collection of premium brands.

'This is a really exciting time to be a fan of vintage clothing and part of the hunt for treasure Vinnies Shops customers engage in every time they come through our doors,' NSW Acting CEO, Yolanda Saiz, said.

The Crown Street shop joins more than 220 other shops throughout NSW. It will also specialise in selling furniture and books.

'As always, customers making purchases in Vinnies Shops will be raising money to help people experiencing disadvantage and re-using items that would likely otherwise end up in landfill,' Ms Saiz said.

'Every day our logistics team transports more than 14 tonnes of goods, mostly clothing, from donation points to our sorting facilities and on to our shops and services.

NSW State Council President, Paul Burton, added, 'Every day, our members are able to provide help to people experiencing hardship because of the funds raised by Vinnies Shops.

New Vinnies Shop opens in Sydney

Indonesian Priest wins Muslim award

An independent body co-founded by a priest in Indonesia’s predominantly Catholic East Nusa Tenggara province has received an award from a major Islamic cultural institute for reducing maternal mortality rates.

The Regional Health Advisory Body (BPKD), which was initiated in 2008 by Divine Word Father Marcelinus Agot and several public figures in West Manggarai district and officially established in 2013, received this year’s Maarif Award..

The award was in recognition of the organisation’s social work in helping to reduce maternal mortality rates through maternal care houses built in the complex of community health centers, known as Puskesmas.

BPKD was among three recipients — two organizations and one individual — that received the award named after the late Ahmad Syafi’i Maarif, former head of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia.

'Saving people regardless of their religious background is what matters to us.'

Father Agot told UCA News that the award it was a surprise 'because we always work for humanity in silence... Saving people regardless of their religious background is what matters to us.'

In collaboration with the local government’s health service, his team went from one Puskesmas to another in the district to help improve them and to supply medicines. Another initiative was building a maternal care house in 17 of the 22 Puskesmas complexes.

'The house is prepared for pregnant mothers, particularly those from remote villages. They can stay free of charge in the facility... about two days before giving birth. Thus, they can give birth in a Puskesmas with help from a midwife,” Fr Agot said.

Based on a story by Katharina R. Lestari in Jakarta for Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA).

Read the full story

A vote to Parliament - free online course

This free online course explores the first of the proposed reforms, enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution, developed in May 2017 by over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the Australian people.

In the course, you'll discover what is meant by Indigenous Constitutional Recognition through a Voice – and what a Voice to Parliament is and is not. You will also learn why a Referendum is required to make it happen. 

This experience takes only 15 – 20 minutes and is highly recommended.