Towards a Just and Compassionate Australia

Every day, the Society sees the impact of poverty, inequality and exclusion in communities across Australia.

Our Members, volunteers and staff assist our Companions facing housing insecurity, financial hardship, unemployment, energy stress, social isolation and other forms of disadvantage. These experiences also inform our advocacy.

Towards a Just and Compassionate Australia brings together the Society’s national policy papers on the key social and economic challenges facing Australia today. Grounded in evidence, lived experience and Catholic Social Teaching, these papers outline practical reforms to reduce disadvantage and build a fairer society.

The series includes policy papers on:

• building a robust safety net
• providing fair, secure and full employment for all
• implementing a fairer taxation and welfare system
• combatting homelessness and increasing affordable housing
• upholding the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum
• empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• giving children the best start and opportunities in life
• making energy accessible to all
• ending gambling harm

The Society’s policy positions are approved by National Council and informed by the voices of the people we assist, our members and volunteers, and engagement with community organisations, researchers and policy experts.