Social Justice Beyond Our Borders in This Issue
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Volume 4 No 2. Spring 2008 Good NEWSLETTER OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD YOUTH AN D FAMILYPolicy SERVICE SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH UNIT ABN 61 354 551 576 ISSN: 1833-1130 Social Justice Beyond our Borders IN THIS ISSUE A recent gathering in Malaysia of contribution to state and national public policy Social Justice Good Shepherd people, those who debates. Beyond our Borders 1 work for or identify closely with In particular we might mention the already Addressing Transport Good Shepherd organisations and strong determination of this Agency to work Disadvantage and for change at the points where poverty, Social Exclusion works, made a strong commitment in Victoria 2 violence against women and lack of access to to organising for social justice affordable credit and financial services intersect Young and Homeless 5 across the Asia-Pacific region. both here in Australia and throughout Asia. Knowing from experience that poverty impacts Partnerships >> Delegates from 18 countries recognised the Volunteering and potential impact for change that such a diverse, most deeply and painfully upon women and Inclusion at Good international group sharing the same mission, children, Good Shepherd has an international Shepherd St Kilda 6 spirit, tradition and values might have on major network tracking and combating trafficking of Partnerships issues such as human rights, poverty and women as well as an international network of microcredit, microsavings and microenterprise for Inclusion >> the impact of climate change on the region, Promoting the especially upon its poor. projects focussed on women in poverty. Wellbeing of Women 8 These concerns and projects are mirrored Good Shepherd is not so pretentious as to here in Australia. A more sophisticated system NEWS >> 11 believe that it has the resources, influence or of communication, exchange and resource Respite Care Project 11 power, even internationally, to effect major sharing can only enhance the effectiveness change in such areas as human rights, climate of the continuing battle against poverty and Standpoint Project 11 change and global poverty. Nevertheless, as violence towards women here and in the Asia- Women and Financial readers of Good Policy would have perceived, Pacific region. Capability Project 11 we make our own the attitude of Mahatma Gandhi that each contribution to social change, The Prime Minister has pledged to make ‘Which Way Home? no matter how small, is indispensable to the Australia “the most Asia-literate country in the A New Approach to Homelessness’ 11 impact of the whole and that the greatest English speaking world” (interview 12th August tragedy is the belief that our contribution 2008). We endorse this strong affiliation with Submissions 12 cannot make a difference. Asia and its concerns. We also pledge Good Youth Services Project 12 Shepherd resources to not just be conscious Over the next five years, the more clearly of the issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region, ‘Spirit in the Pub’: focussed organising of Asia-Pacific Good but in so far as we can, to work tirelessly with Youth and Transport Shepherd resources to address the growing our Asian Good Shepherd partners for social in the West 12 needs of the region will draw Good Shepherd justice beyond our borders. Youth and Family Service more deeply into contributing to issues identified as important Michael Yore to the region, as well as continuing our EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ‘We are Good Shepherd. Our mission is shaped by our inheritance of the vision, courage and audacity of Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier and the Good Shepherd tradition she began. Ours is a vision for promoting a world of justice and peaceful co-existence. Ours is the courage to embrace wholeheartedly innovative and creative ways of enabling people of all cultural, religious and social backgrounds to enjoy the fullness of life, which is the right of every human being. Ours is the inheritance to boldly challenge those structures and beliefs that diminish human dignity. We work to ensure the value of every human being, the communities that enable us all to thrive and the integrity of the environment that guarantees both.’ 02 | Good Policy Addressing Transport Disadvantage and Social Exclusion in Victoria Jess Fritze Transport and Disadvantage Policy Officer, Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) Transport disadvantage – Addressing disadvantage and infrastructure. By contrast, communities what’s the problem? promoting social inclusion on the urban fringe of Melbourne and major regional centres such as Geelong, Social exclusion has three major Ballarat and Bendigo struggle with a “If you can’t afford transport, dimensions: social disengagement; lack of social and transport infrastructure you can’t do anything can ya.” service exclusion; and economic as well as relatively long distances from Sam, Coburg – participant in VCOSS’ exclusion.4 The availability of affordable services and retail outlets. Rural and Social Mapping Project1 and accessible transport plays a critical regional communities have even less role in addressing all three by linking access to public and active transport people to employment, social networks, People who experience transport alternatives and often have to travel education, health and other services. disadvantage cannot get to where long distances to access increasingly they need to go or cannot do Victoria’s transport system should aim centralised services in regional centres so easily, safely or affordably. to provide equity of opportunity to all or Melbourne. The small population Increasingly, people need to travel Victorians – the opportunity to meet base and low population density of rural further and more often to meet basic their basic needs, access services and communities also creates challenges needs and participate in community participate in employment, education for transport provision – whether public life. Where people are ‘transport and community life. Equity of opportunity transport, community transport or disadvantaged’, they are at risk of relies on transport policy which provides country taxis. social exclusion and by extension, both horizontal and vertical equity. As affordable housing options are poverty. The relationship between Horizontal equity supports an equal increasingly only available in outer ‘transport disadvantage’ and social distribution of transport resources and suburban, regional and rural areas, more exclusion was established by the UK costs across the whole community. people who are likely to experience Social Exclusion Unit in their 2003 Vertical equity ensures that the transport 2 transport disadvantage are located in report Making the Connections . needs of community members who these areas. This has resulted in areas at are disadvantaged in terms of income, An individual or community’s level of high risk of entrenched social exclusion. transport disadvantage is affected by: socio-economic status or mobility are met.5 A growing and aging population » availability of transport options – Victoria’s population access to a car or public transport Figure 1: Equity in transport services which connect to desired is predicted to grow destinations; substantially with much of » affordability – cost of car ownership, Equity of opportunity this growth occurring in petrol or public transport fares relative transport disadvantaged 6 to income; outer metropolitan areas. Victoria’s population » personal mobility – people with is also aging, and a disabilities, the elderly, people with Horizontal equity e.g. minimum public Vertical equity disproportionate number health issues and young children may e.g. transport concessions transport service standards of older people live in require assistance or be unable to areas with poor transport use transport options available due to access such as rural and physical or cognitive constraints; and 7 Locational disadvantage: outer suburban areas. » useability – ability to safely travel, transport, land use perceptions of risk and quality of This has significant implications for and service planning demands for transport alternatives information available on transport The post-war development of car options. to the private car as a significant based transport and land use planning proportion of older people are largely Nine per cent of Victorian households have created an unequal distribution dependent on door-to-door transport have no motor vehicle and within single of transport infrastructure and services for their independent mobility. As rates vehicle households, access to a car may across Victoria. of disability, as well as frailty, increase 3 be limited. People who are transport Inner-city Melbourne has high quality and with an aging population, accessible, disadvantaged tend to rely on public relatively frequent public transport, as supported and flexible transport options transport, taxis and lifts to get around. well as growing cycling and pedestrian will need to become a more integral part of the transport system. Good Policy | 03 Addressing Transport Disadvantage and Social Exclusion in Victoria What are the solutions? maximum useability, including effective young people are also more likely In consultation with members and and easily accessible transport to use public transport to access stakeholders, VCOSS has developed information. An accessible transport essential services such as Centrelink the following principles for Victoria’s system meets needs not just of people and medical appointments, and to transport system. with disabilities, older people