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UnitingCare Centre for Social Justice |
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 NAIDOC stands for the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.
Today, NAIDOC is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields. Activities take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week in the first full week of July. All Australians are encouraged to participate. Theme for 2009
The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2009 is Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. The theme encourages our communities to acknowledge the status of our Elders as leaders and role models for our youth. Warning
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this web site may contain images of deceased people.
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 Every Thursday people around the world are invited to wear black. This campaign focuses on rape and violence in our community; wearing black on Thursdays "demonstrates a desire for a community where we can all walk safely without fear of being beaten up, verbally abused, raped, or being discriminated against due to your sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender or ethnicity. It shows you want to be free."
Thursdays in Black campaign protests began in the 1970s by Argentinean women. These women began wearing black sashes in honour of their friends and family members who were disappearing, being raped, and abused. Their ultimate goal was to raise the government’s awareness to these acts of violence happening in their homeland. Little did they know the Thursdays in Black campaign would later evolve into an international campaign. Every Thursday, many Australians wear black and/or ribbons and badges to recognize the rape and violence suffered by Aboriginal people for over 200 years and to silently protest for a world without violence. If you want to help demonstrate a desire for a community where people of all sexual, political, gender and ethnic orientations can be safe, consider wearing black on Thursdays. Thursday the 30th July is the National Day of Action for Thursdays in Black. |
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 Dr Heather Douglas and Dr Tamara Walsh invite you to the Report launch of
Mothers and the child protection system. When: 12-1pm Thursday 9th July 2009
Where: TC Beirne School of Law
Common Room, Level 3, Forgan Smith Building
The University of Queensland Karen Walsh, President of QCOSS and Co-ordinator of Micah projects will launch the report. Please RSVP to Helen Braatvedt
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ph 3365 2361 by 6 July for catering purposes. Please view the invite for more information. |
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 Issue 3 of socialJUSTICE People at the Heart of Service COMING SOON!
The Centre for Social Justice launched their newsletter socialJUSTICE at the launch of Anti-Poverty Week 2008. The first issue looked at Criminal Justice and Poverty. Issue 2 focused on person-centred practice and looked at justice within UnitingCare services and human services in general. Issue 3 continues on the theme of person-centred practice placing people at the heart of service. To view socialJUSTICE click here Issue 3: People at the Heart of Service is due out in mid July. To recieve the FREE socialJUSTICE e-newsletter click the subscribe tab to the left or email
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with your postal address for a hard copy. socialJUSTICE is released three times a year. |
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Visit www.antipovertyweek.org.au or email
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for more information. Please download the Anti-Poverty Week Resource kit to start organising your event. |
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5th International Conference |
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2, 3 & 4 September 2009 - Mercure Hotel - Brisbane, Australia Sisters Inside Inc. would like to extend a special invitation for you to attend this important conference "Is Prison Obsolete" which addresses the crucial issues relating to the criminalisation of women, their experience of prison and post release. The 5th International Conference of its kind focuses on the criminalisation of women and imprisonment will be held in Brisbane. The conference themes include: - Service Provision
- Advocacy
- Alternatives to Prisons
For more information visit the Sisters Inside Inc. website www.sistersinside.com.au or click here for a registration form. |
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Criminal Justice Network launch |
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 Are you interested in Criminal Justice?
Do you want to get involved and get your voice heard?
Is there an issue with the police, court system or prisons that you want to pursue further?
The Criminal Justice Network is being launched shortly and is informed by the voices of people with lived experience in the criminal justice system. The Network exists to link individuals and groups committed to pursuing the rights of people marginalised by the criminal justice system. - sharing information
- networking
- creating coalitions on projects, and
- working together for change
The Criminal Justice Network will conduct three forums per year which alliances and projects then arise. Please contact the Centre for Social Justice if you are interested in getting involved
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 A man died. A UN representative is asking questions. Yet protests in Kalgoorlie and Perth haven't rated much of a mention. Have you heard of Mr Ward? In March of this year, the Coronial Court in Kalgoorlie heard evidence that Mr Ward, a 46 year old Warburton resident, died of heatstroke in custody after he was arrested for allegedly drink-driving. For four hours he was locked in the back of the van with no air-conditioning. Mr Ward was being slowly cooked alive. The trip was over 370 kilometres on a day when the temperature outside was 42 degrees. more.. |
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Housing and Homelessness Services Directory |
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  The Centre is working with the Synod’s Communication Services Unit to create a on-line Directory. It will be created for the use of individuals, congregations, and presbyteries. The Directory will provide access to information about housing and homelessness and related resources and services and will be locality oriented.
A September 2008 Housing and Homelessness Forum sponsored by the Synod Leadership Team explored ways in which the church might be able to respond to the major and pressing social issues of housing affordability and homelessness. This work arises out of the theological conviction that God calls us as a reconciled community in Jesus Christ to be community builders, and from the biblical emphasis that Christ is present amongst us through the broken, weak, vulnerable, and marginalized (Matthew 25:31-46). The gospel mandate to engage with the homeless and those who are experiencing significant financial stress as they endeavour to keep a roof over their heads is quite clear. The Forum resulted in a proposal to the 27th Synod of the Church. It seeks to raise awareness of the issues associated with housing affordability and homelessness, to suggest frameworks and strategies for the whole church (Congregations, Presbyteries, UnitingCare and Synod) to engage in these issues, and to encourage members of the church to engage with people in our neighbourhoods for whom these social issues are daily realities. The Resolution includes the action – item 7(j) – of creating a directory of services for use by local congregations. The launch of the Directory will be promoted in a near-future edition of Journey. Click here to view the Resolution A Place to Call Home |
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Scan of Disadvantage in Queensland |
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 The Centre has engaged Pam Bourke and colleagues to create an up-to-date 2009 version of the Scan of Disadvantage in Queensland 2006.
The 2006 report aimed to “identify the dimensions of spatial disadvantage in Queensland to inform future service delivery and research work undertaken by UnitingCare Queensland”. Using recent data (including SEIFA data and the Index of Relative Disadvantage) the new report will highlight the communities in Queensland with the most significant concentrations of disadvantaged people. The report will have a particular focus on the issues for older people as well as vulnerable children and families and people with disabilities.
The revision of this report comes at a critical time for Australian households and communities with the crisis in the global and national economy and a likely escalation of poverty including high levels of unemployment. The report will be relevant to these particular circumstances and take the opportunity to offer a positive contribution to addressing such challenges in partnership with government, business and other community organisations. Click here to view Scan of Disadvantage in Queensland 2006 |
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