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Welcome to the website for the Social Justice Commission for the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba.
Our Commission was established in 2002 as a key direction in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan – “embracing action for Social Justice”. Five aspects to our work are: spirituality, education, leadership, solidarity and research. In partnership with those affected by injustice the Commission works to analyse issues and reflectively advocate for action. The Commission is grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. Our current priorities are: justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, caring for the environment and support and advocacy for refugees. We work to promote human rights and our actions are informed by the dignity of the human person.
The "I am not who you think I am" ad campaign was commissioned in early 2013 by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, aiming to counter negative community reactions to asylum seekers. The ad, created by a Brisbane based company, shows a real Afghan asylum seeker (who has since become an Australian citizen) and attempts to challenge a number of stereotypes and counter the negative rhetoric commonly used in the political debate. The ad tackles the fear held by many Australians that asylum seekers are "terrorists" and "queue jumper" and challenges readers to think about asylum seekers in a more empathetic a way -
"I am a loving and protective father...I am a brother, a father, a son...I am a Freedom Seeker. Hope Seeker, Security Seeker. Life Seeker."
More than 90 per cent of asylum seekers who arrived by boat were found to be genuine refugees in the March quarter, figures to be released on Monday show. But those who arrived by plane - despite being eligible for release into the community and not having to face years of detention on Nauru or Manus Island - were almost twice as likely to be rejected as refugees
Read full article here
No Free Lunch!
Reconciliation and Learning Workshop to discuss changing the Constitution to recognise Australia's First Peoples.
Thursday, 30 May - 8:45am-2pm
For more information click here
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has expressed deep concern over the proposed detention of children and families in remote immigration facilities.
To read the full statement, click here
‘It is time for Government to lift the level of payment for hundreds of thousands who are seeking work but forced to rely on income support allowances that drive individuals and families into poverty’, said Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.
Issuing the annual Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker (1 May), Bishops Saunders said, ‘Over 800,000 Australians struggle to survive on employment-related payments. The majority receive the Newstart Allowance, which at the single rate is less than $250 per week, or $35 a day.’
To read the full statement, click here
For more information on Asylum Seekers and Refugees click here
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