A word from our Executive Director

June 10, 2024

I am penning this article just a few days out from the Federal budget. The lead up to budgets are usually busy times for CEOs in the social and community service sector as we make submissions to Government in the hope of securing additional funding for the benefit of the clients and communities we serve.

It hasn’t been any different on this occasion, as I and some of my executive colleagues at CatholicCare, have joined with numerous executives from other for-purpose organisations in calling for increased investments in social housing, homelessness services, domestic violence services and JobSeeker payments, amongst other things.

What does seem a little different in the lead up to this year’s budget though is the number and diversity of other voices calling out for these and similar reforms. For the first time in a long time, we have business groups and unions, almost all mainstream media outlets, and both right and left-leaning think tanks united in their call for the Government to do more to resolve housing affordability, homelessness, and domestic violence issues. And along with general cost-of-living pressures, these topics now feature prominently in day-to-day conversations amongst typical Australians.

It appears the Federal Government has been listening with Prime Minister Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers announcing some significant new investments in homelessness and domestic violence services following National Cabinet meetings. We will need to wait some months after the budget is released for the details of these new funding measures, but we are hopeful that CatholicCare might obtain additional funding to support more individuals and families across our Diocese through our family and domestic violence and homelessness services.

Whilst looking to our Governments to increase the level of support they provide to people in need, we must realise they cannot solve all our social problems. There is more we can be doing as individuals, families and as a Church.

Take the example of domestic violence mentioned. The pernicious nature of domestic violence is such that it often goes unnoticed within a family or relationship for a long time. But there are usually signs that a well informed and alert friend, extended family member or even acquaintance can pick up.

Are you alive to the possibility that domestic violence could be happening in a family member or friend’s home? Do you know what the signs of domestic violence are? And do you know how to respond if you think you might be seeing these signs? If you are unsure of these things, then I encourage you to read a useful resource recently compiled by the Safeguarding Team within our Diocese. The resource is called “A Catholic Response to Domestic Violence” here.

You are also welcome to speak with a member of CatholicCare’s Domestic & Family Violence team by calling 1800 324 924 if you would like to obtain information, advice or support for yourself or someone else. More information about these services is available here.

And likewise with the homelessness problem. Whilst it’s true that it will take a massive direct investment from Federal and State Governments and courageous taxation policy reform to “fix” Australia’s completely broken housing market, there are things many of us can do as individuals to assist.

You could consider donating funds to CatholicCare’s homelessness programs as many parishioners and other community members and businesses currently do. We utilise these funds to operate Mary Mac’s, Dom’s Place, and provide housing and support to women and children fleeing domestic violence. With additional funding we could open another homeless drop-in and support centre in the Diocese and provide subsidised housing and support services to more vulnerable women and children.

Further if you have spare room in your house you could provide perhaps the most practical, meaningful and sustainable kind of support to someone experiencing homelessness – a home. Australia’s housing market is so dysfunctional that it is not just people with chronic mental illness and/or alcohol or drug dependencies who are homeless. We now have many thousands of working people, university and TAFE students living in their cars or couch-surfing. Could you consider accommodating someone in your home? If this is something you would be interested in finding more information out about, including how CatholicCare could assist in matching you with a suitable tenant, boarder or guest, then please contact our team on 1800 324 924 or email info@catholiccaredbb.org.au.

Best regards, Tim Curran