Catholic social services conference to ‘imagine our place within a broader mission’

With only two weeks to go until the start of the national Catholic social services conference—Commons Commonality Common Good—representatives from the vast array of ministries within the Catholic Church and all people of goodwill are encouraged to attend.

Hosted by Catholic Social Services Australia and Catholic Social Services Victoria, this key event, running from 21 to 23 February 2024 in Melbourne, will provide an opportunity to come together, exchange ideas and collaborate on practical ways to address the challenges of our times.

‘This Conference aims to strengthen and advance our shared work in Catholic social services as part of the social mission of the Church,’ says CSSV executive director Joshua Lourensz. ‘Connecting with colleagues across social services, health, parishes and education, the conference provides a moment to share expertise and pause to think and imagine our place within a broader mission.

‘You might be a youth worker, an executive director, a volunteer, a pastoral associate, a graduate social worker, a retired religious, a governance professional or a seasoned veteran of social justice. Whoever you are and whatever role you play, this gathering will provide an opportunity to be inspired, challenged, and part of a values-driven sector committed to nothing less than positive social transformation.’

We’re all held, nurtured and sustained in a web of relationships—that spiritual, social, cultural, economic, physical world—and it’s all gift.

The Conference boasts an exceptional line-up of speakers, including a keynote from Dr Julie Edwards, chief executive officer of Jesuit Social Services, addressing the topic, ‘The role of social services and their work on the commons’. Dr Edwards says, ‘We’re all held, nurtured and sustained in a web of relationships—that spiritual, social, cultural, economic, physical world—and it’s all gift.

‘That’s an expression of the commons—the broad set of resources we live within, [are] nurtured by and share. They belong to us all, and they belong to none of us. It’s this mutuality, the understanding that it’s gift, that we’re not to possess but rather we are to cherish, nurture and protect them, to help them regenerate, and to strengthen them, to heal them. And that it is something that we all take responsibility for.’

Complimenting the keynote speakers are an array of panel sessions over the three days, with speakers including Ms Marcelle Mogg, chief executive officer of Mental Health Victoria; Mr Matthew Cassin, chief executive officer of Catholic Development Fund; Ms Anita Veivers, executive director of Centacare FNQ; the Hon Graham West, chief executive officer of Amelie Housing; and Ms Stella Avrampoulos, chief executive officer of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand.

Attendees can expect robust discussions on critical issues facing our society and exploring innovative solutions focused on the common good. On the second day, there will also be a range of interactive workshops designed to wrestle with the challenges of our time and ignite discussion on how we can collectively respond.