CATHOLIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA PUTS SOCIAL JUSTICE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Social justice advocacy on behalf of Australia’s poorest, most vulnerable and marginalised people is the focus of a new push spearheaded by Catholic Health Australia.
CHA represents Australia’s largest non-government grouping of health and aged-care providers, and its new Social Justice Committee will provide direction, guidance, and intelligence to shape the organisation’s social services justice policy and advocacy agenda.
The new committee will give voice to a number of key organisations that already have a powerful presence in these areas. They include St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, CatholicCare, St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, MercyCare, Centacare, and St Vincent’s Health Australia.
CHA’s Director, Strategy & Mission, Rebecca Burdick Davies says most CHA members already have a significant philanthropic role and voice in seeking justice and inclusion for society’s most vulnerable.
“The Social Justice Committee will form the cornerstone of Catholic Health Australia’s refreshed approach on social justice advocacy,” Ms Burdick Davies says.
“It will set in place the structure we need to achieve our Mission goal of serving as a prophetic voice for the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.
“A significant aspect of this work will be to advocate for better social services for the poor and vulnerable. We will advocate on issues that support the services of our members, their workers and those they care for.
“The committee reflects our strong commitment to Catholic social teaching on the need to prioritise the poor, work for the common good, and the inherent dignity of the human person, no matter their social or health status.”
The Social Justice Committee will bring together chief executives and senior managers involved in social services delivery, all who have an interest in social justice and who are involved in the social inclusion works of their organisations.
Through the committee they will provide direction, guidance, and intelligence to shape CHA’s policy and agenda. The committee meets this month for the first time.