eNewsletter-7 December 2022

From the National President

What a momentous year this has been, both in Australia, where our government changed after the May election, and on the international front, where the news has been dominated by the terrible events in Ukraine.

At home the impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt and so many families are struggling to have secure accommodation and to meet the ever-rising price of essentials such as food, power bills, school costs and more. As I write, a report says that one-in-six Australians cannot afford to put meals on the table three times a day; many of these people have young children.

Yet Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, priding itself on being the country of the ‘fair go’. The reality is that the Society is seeing a huge spike in the number of people asking for assistance - many are coming to us for the first time as the spiralling cost of everyday essentials pushes them into disadvantage and poverty.

Low-income earners are carrying the burden of hurt. The government’s JobSeeker payment, at a brutally low $48 a day, condemns around 830,000 Australians to live an increasingly desperate life. Isolation and loneliness impacts on many people, especially the elderly and those with disability.

In this regard, the Society welcomed the recent news that following negotiations with Senator David Pocock the Albanese Government will create an Economic Inclusion Advisory Panel to review and publish advice to government before each federal budget on ways to increase economic inclusion and the adequacy of income support payments.

This is a significant step forward and will give hope to many of those on Australia’s brutally low-income support rates that entrench poverty and disadvantage so many Australians.

As we see in the media, it is easy to dwell on the bad news but let us be mindful that we are approaching Christmas, ‘the season to be merry’, the time to celebrate the birth of the Christ child and the reminder it provides to us that our Catholic faith is founded on concepts of simplicity, humility, hospitality and inclusion.

Christmas is a wonderful break as we gather with family members and friends in a spirit of conviviality, sharing meals and memories of the year and times past. I look forward to the holiday season, and wish all our Members, Volunteers, Staff and Vinnies supporters a joyful Christmas period.

My thoughts also turn to the many people for whom Christmas will not be a time of joy and relaxation, but one of stress: people forced to work in low-paid and insecure jobs, people trying to exist on inadequate income support payments who cannot afford festive food or gifts for loved ones, and people experiencing loneliness and isolation.

This causes me, as I’m sure it does you, great sadness, although I know that our Members around Australia will again be striving to bring joy into the homes and hearts of people struggling to get by.

A key Christmas tradition for many Vincentians is the preparation and delivery of food hampers and gifts, and I am grateful to the members, volunteers and staff who take time out of their family celebrations and social schedules to do this important work, and to the donors and supporters who help make this possible.  Your generosity makes all the difference to the people we serve in the footsteps of the Society’s other founders, inspired by the example of Jesus.

As I near the end of my time as National President I extend my thanks to all who have provided such wonderful support over the past four years – my confrères on National Council; members of all State and Territory Councils, Central and Regional Councils and Conferences throughout Australia and the staff who support them; and Volunteers in our Special Works and vast retail network.

You are the heart and soul of the Society, and I wish you a well-deserved break over the festive season.

This week we celebrated International Volunteer Day, a UN backed event - estimates place the number of volunteers worldwide at 970 million - which had the theme of 'Solidarity through volunteering’.

This is particularly relevant to the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia and provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the connection between volunteerism, faith and Catholic Social Teaching. My sincere thanks to everyone who continues to support our good works, whether through conferences, councils and committees, special works or our shops.

I wish you a safe and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year 2023.

(Our next Good Works newsletter will be published in late January 2023).

Non-perishable food items and children's toys are being sorted and packed by Conferences around Australia for distribution to families in need this Christmas.

SVDP Tasmania welcomes new State President 

The St Vincent de Paul Society Tasmania has elected Mr Corey McGrath (pictured) as the Society’s next State President.

Mr McGrath is based in Ulverstone, on the state’s northern coast. He brings more than 25 years of experience working with and assuming leadership roles, including the Chair of the Launceston Tornadoes, an independent board member of NOSS Tasmania Inc (formerly Northern Occupational Support Service), and a board member of Scouts Australia.

Mr McGrath joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2016 and has served as a member of the State Council since 2019.

He will succeed retiring State President, Mr Mark Gaetani, who will assume the role of National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in March 2023.

Mr McGrath said his agenda for the Society over his four-year term as State President includes furthering the organisation’s vision to engage with and mentor young Tasmanians, particularly disadvantaged young people.

‘I am honoured to be elected as the 12th State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Tasmania. I am looking forward to supporting young people and the most vulnerable in our community to share in everything Tasmania has to offer,' he said.  ‘Disadvantaged people and families face numerous challenges that most of us take in our stride. Vinnies’ goal is to dismantle the systemic barriers of inequality by offering a hand up to those in need. 

‘My personal goal is to build on the foundation established by the immediate past State President, Mark Gaetani; including advocating for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, working with government and the community to assist those in need, and continuing our programs, such as Vinnies and Loui’s Vans, supporting our state-wide Special Works, and building more accommodation where it is most needed, as demonstrated by social housing shortages,’ Mr McGrath added.

His term as Tasmanian State President starts in January 2023 and runs until January 2027.

Supporting demands for permanent refugee visas                                   

Representatives of St Vincent de Paul Society’s social justice advocacy group in Canberra/Goulburn joined members of the Vincentian Refugee Network and National CEO Toby oConnor (front, left) at the rally outside Parliament House on 29 November to demand permanent visas for refugees and people seeking asylum. 

A crowd numbering around a thousand attended the Canberra rally to highlight the suffering of 31,000 refugees and people seeking asylum who have been surviving for nine or more years on temporary protection (TPVs, SHEVs) or bridging visas.

Ethnic communities' representatives, including from Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, were joined by supportive organisations working in this field. These included the Vincentian Refugee Network, Catholics for Refugees and the Uniting Church.

Saajeda, an Afghan refugee, co-chairing the rally, asked, ‘Why must we keep begging the Australian Government to give us safety and permanent protection? It is very clear that refugees from Afghanistan, and other places like Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Iran cannot return to live safely.’

Attendees also travelled from Sydney and Melbourne to what was one of the largest rallies to support refugees this year.

Another speaker, Zahra, said, ‘The refugees sent to Nauru and Manus have been punished for a decade for seeking Australia’s protection. Offshore refugees have been denied protection just because of the date we arrived. Some people who arrived after 19 July 2013 weren’t sent offshore and will soon get permanent visas.’

‘Nine years is enough torture and uncertainty,’ said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

‘Cruel, heartless and hypocritical refugee policies have to end. Labor said no one would be left behind, but six months after the election thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are still waiting.'

The Society continues to call on the Government to do quickly do four things, all of which are consistent with Labor election and platform commitments:  

• Implement permanent protection for all refugees on temporary visas, including access to family reunion.  
• Implement a fairer process for all affected by the unjust fast-track process and provide an adequate safety net for all asylum seekers.  
• Resettle all people still subject to offshore processing and move people held offshore to Australia while they await resettlement. 
• Make detention a last resort and improve the living conditions of those that must be detained for security reasons. 

The same week saw the release of the UN Committee Against Torture report highlighting the ill treatment of people held in immigration detention and breaches of international law. The Committee found Australia maintains legal responsibility for those detained offshore because they remain under its effective control as they were transferred by Australia 'to centres run with its financial aid and with the involvement of private contractors of its choice'. It urged the Australian Government to end offshore processing and transfer all people to Australia. 

Refugee Council of Australia comments and UN report

Economic Inclusion Advisory Panel welcomed

The St Vincent de Paul Society has welcomed news that following negotiations with Senator David Pocock the Albanese Labor Government will create an Economic Inclusion Advisory Panel.

‘The Society commends the Albanese Government and Senator Pocock for the historic agreement to establish an independent, legislated panel to review and publish advice to government before each federal budget on ways to increase economic inclusion and the adequacy of income support payments,’ National President Claire Victory said.

‘The incorporation of independent advice on economic inclusion and income support payments into the budgetary process is a significant step forward and will give hope to many of those on Australia’s brutally low income support rates that entrench poverty and disadvantage almost a million Australians.

‘The Society has long called for the establishment of an independent body to advise the government on the income support system. ‘Our members are witness to the daily challenges faced by income support recipients as they struggle to cover the basics of housing, food and bills, which has been made all the more impossible by the current cost-of-living crisis.’

Urgent need to address the abuse of women

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia strongly endorsed the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

‘One in six women aged 18 or over has experienced physical or sexual abuse before the age of 15, however, the true prevalence of physical and sexual violence against women is likely to be higher as we know that many incidents go unreported,’ National President Ms Claire Victory said.

‘The home should be a safe place but one in four Australian women has experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15 and the most common location where these incidents occur is in the home. Indigenous women are up to 33 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family violence than non-Indigenous women.

‘This is deeply distressing for the women affected and harmful long-term for the children who witness these acts. Indeed, of women who had children in their care when they experienced violence from an ex-partner, 68 per cent reported that the children had seen or heard the violence.’

The Society welcomes the release of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and the development of a stand-alone National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and their Children.

Full Story

Buy Now Pay Later consultation underway

The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has welcomed the Australian Government’s release of a consultation paper setting out regulatory options for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products.

National President Claire Victory said the lack of regulation is causing serious harm to vulnerable Australians struggling to cope with crippling inflation.

‘Buy Now Pay Later products must be fully regulated as conventional credit, with the same lending rules as other credit products,’ Ms Victory said.

‘This is the only option that will adequately protect consumers from Buy Now Pay Later products, which are having a devastating impact on a growing number of financially vulnerable Australians. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, our members are reporting a sharp increase in people seeking help after using one or several Buy Now Pay Later products to pay for essentials such as food and clothing.

‘This can have devastating consequences, as people miss other payments or go without essentials in order to service their Buy Now Pay Later account, and are pushed further into disadvantage,’ Ms Victory said.

The consultation paper is available on The Treasury website, with submissions due by 23 December 2022.

Share the burden of lowering inflation

Low-income workers and income support recipients should not be expected to carry the burden of lowering inflation by living in increasing poverty while company profits and executive salaries move ever higher.

This was the view expressed by the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia following comments by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe that seemingly argued against wage increases for workers to help them cope with the surging cost-of-living.

National President Claire Victory said, ‘Australians are experiencing a collapse in real wages and income payments at a time of unprecedented inflation. Far too many Australians are finding it impossible to make ends meet as the spiralling cost of everyday essentials—such as housing, food and fuel—push them into disadvantage and poverty.

‘Our members are reporting a spike in the number of people asking for assistance—many are coming to us for the first time, and a growing number of working Australians are seeking urgent help to survive as their wages fail to keep pace with inflation,’ Ms Victory said.

‘It is unfair to expect Australian workers and income support recipients to carry the burden of lowering inflation by living increasingly impoverished lives, particularly as company profits, which make a much more sizeable contribution to inflation, soar and higher executive salaries—including that of the Reserve Bank of Australia Governor—affront our sense of fairness and equality.’

Healthy supplies for West Tamar schools

St Vincent de Paul Society volunteer and project coordinator, Eric Welsh, and Exeter High School principal Benjamin Frerk, with other charity representatives.

St Vincent de Paul Society Tasmania, via a grant from Presbyterian Care, West Tamar Lions and West Tamar Rotary Club, have combined forces to make a real difference to children in need along the West Tamar.
The combined support of nearly $8,000 enabled the purchase of items for students at Exeter High School, Exeter Primary School, and Beaconsfield Primary School. The donations covered the costs of sun hats and mouth-guards for sporting activities.

The donation also helped pay for school clothing (shown above) distributed to disadvantaged families on a needs basis.

The goal is to help level the academic, social, and sporting playing fields for students in Exeter and Beaconsfield.

The Record

The Record will be out soon... the Summer 2022/23 issue of the Society's quarterly magazine has a wide range of stories about our people, activities and programs Australia-wide. From the new community garden in Canberra to our next National President, from SVDP NSW's centenary of retail to our social justice advocacy on behalf of Australians struggling with the rising cost of living. There's lots to interest and inspire readers - and subscribing is free.