Dropping off the Edge
Dropping off the Edge 2021 shows clearly that complex and entrenched disadvantage is experienced by a small but persistent number of locations in each state and territory across Australia.
As a society we cannot, and should not, turn away from the challenge of persistent and entrenched locational disadvantage, no matter how difficult it may be to solve the problem.
We hold hope that the young people and future generations in these communities will have a better outlook and life opportunities than is currently available to them.
It is our belief that every Australian should have access to the opportunities in life that will enable them to flourish – to complete their education, to get a job, to access safe and affordable housing, to raise their children in safe communities and to see the next generation thrive.
Place-based work
The Centre is working with a range of cross-sectoral stakeholders to support and enable place-based approaches to social and ecological justice, and building on Jesuit Social Services’ long term place-based work in Western Sydney and the Northern Territory.
Amplifying lived experience
People who come into contact with the social, health and justice services have important knowledge about the system’s ability to meet their needs. Embedding the voices of lived experience in service design, integration and delivery can improve outcomes for people accessing these services.
Lived experience voice and workforce project (2021-2023)
Funded by Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victorian Government
This project
The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) engaged the Centre for Just Places to provide guidance and support for two leadership teams – Local Site Executive Committees – to develop processes to embed the voice of lived experience in practice across the social, health and justice service sector to contribute to Better Connected Care policy reform and improve client centred outcomes.
The project implemented a systemic inquiry process to increase understanding of current system conditions that impact on lived experience participation. This enabled local leadership teams to develop shared objectives and agree on the approach to include lived experience voice for better and more connected care across departments and agencies.
The impact
The project worked to increase understanding of what is needed to sustainably centre lived experience voices in place-based collaboration and provided recommendations for policy reform.
Contact Director of the Centre for Just Places, John Ryks, at john.ryks@jss.org.au to discuss this project.