Social Policy Connections & the Yarra Institute for Religion & Social Policy: an historical sketch.

Compiled by Bruce Duncan.

June 2021.

Social Policy Connections emerged out of discussions in June 2002 at the convent of the Missionary Sisters of Service in Brunswick among supporters of the Melbourne Catholic Commission for Justice, Development, & Peace, who wished to develop an independent but ecumenical advocacy network.

To broaden the conversation, more than 100 people met at the Dan O’Connell pub in Fitzroy on 24 November 2002. There was strong support for the idea of developing a new ecumenical justice network with a clear voice on social policy and advocacy. A follow-up meeting on 29 January 2003 chaired by Josh Puls and with Peter Whiting as secretary began the process of consulting more widely with other groups and networks, clarifying initial goals and working out how to develop such a voice on public policies.

The project took more formal shape from April 2004 with regular meetings through 2005 and 2006, aiming to broaden the conversation on social matters ecumenically, and to provide a platform with public forums, newsletters and publications. Sr Adele Howard from Fraynework Multimedia of the Sisters of Mercy helped guide us into the new digital media world of websites and communications. Others worked on business plans and efforts at fundraising.

The establishment committee consisted of Revd Dr Stephen Ames, Dr Bruce Duncan, Mr Peter Evans, Ms Suzanne McManus, Mr Jamie Pearce, Dr Paul Rule, Mr Frank Webber (treasurer) and Mr Peter Whiting as president. SPC was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 in March 2005.

SPC did not claim to speak for the churches, but in its own name as an independent organisation inviting serious collaboration among people inspired by Gospel values. SPC drew from the traditions of social activism in the churches, including the writings and experience in Catholic social traditions, along with the advocacy and commitment of the Anglican, Methodist and non-conformist traditions.

After advice from Sir Gus Nossal that we would need a strong institutional foundation, SPC in early 2006 also initiated conversations with Sr Kathleen Williams RSM, Dean of the Yarra Theological Union, Dr Gregg Brett, president of YTU, along with Dr Paul Beirne and Dr Charles Sherlock from the Melbourne College of Divinity, about the need for an institute for research and teaching, initially under the name the ‘Institute for Religion and Social Policy’.

SPC’s public events 2006-2007

SPC’s first public event was to host a forum in November 2006 with Professor John Langmore and The Age economics editor, Mr Tim Colebatch, evaluating the recent G-20 meeting in Melbourne. At the invitation of Fr Peter Norden SJ SPCin January 2007moved into an office behind St Ignatius Church in Richmond. We were greatly assisted by Ms Joanne Rawson who organised our office, network and communications.

With some initial funding from a number of Catholic religious orders and elsewhere, the establishment committee of SPC developed a paid membership and expanded its networking. The Redemptorist Congregation, MacKillop Family Services, the Brigidine Sisters, the Bathurst Sisters of Mercy and the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary were particularly supportive, while Mr Graham McKern from MacKillop gave us invaluable advice about fundraising.

During 2007, SPC organised a series of five public forums with :

• Prof Imad Moosa and Dr Scott Burchill, speaking on End Game in Iraq: Scenarios for Peace.
• Prof Rob Watts and Matthew Ricketson from The Age, on Truth-telling in politics.
• Prof Brian Howe and Prof Tony Coady on religion and politics.
• Fr Charles Rue and Ms Penny Evans (with the Stop Global Warming Group) on spirituality and climate change.
• Fr Peter Norden SJ and Dr Ray Cleary speaking on Fairness in Australia.

SPC held its first AGM on 1 December 2007 and elected its Board of Directors: Dr Stephen Ames, Dr Bruce Duncan, Mr Peter Evans, Ms Suzanne McManus, Mr Jamie Pearce, Dr Paul Rule, Mr Frank Webber (treasurer), and Mr Peter Whiting as chair.

2008

During 2008, the Yarra Institute for Religion & Social Policy also took shape, with Dr Bruce Duncan nominated as Director, and an eminent Board consisting of Dr Stephen Ames, Dr Rowan Ireland, Dr Paul Rule, Dr Robyn Reynolds and Drs Therese and Jim D’Orsa. Dr Wes Campbell joined in August 2008, and Dr Peter Price later in the year. After Jo Rawson left to establish her own business, Ms Emmy Silvius stepped into the role of office manager in March 2008. YTU and the Yarra Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 26 November 2008.

The SPC website at www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au finally went live in June 2008. We were particularly grateful to MacKillop Family Services for their assistance and for finance from the Brigidine Sisters in making the site possible.

On 8 August 2008, SPC moved from the St Ignatius Centre in Richmond into new facilities at Yarra Theological Union in Box Hill, Melbourne. The new Study Centre at YTU provided wonderful facilities for public events, with an auditorium and a large break-out room for drinks and conversations.

SPC resumed its public events in 2008, with :

• Rev Joel Edwards, incoming head of Micah Challenge International, speaking on 16 October on the Millennium Development Goals.
• Dr Hilary Martin OP on 11 November speaking on the federal intervention in the Northern Territory.

Mr Bill Frilay wrote policy statements for SPC on Australia’s Overseas Aid and Development Strategy.

There was also a change in SPC Board membership. Changes in work commitments led Mr Peter Evans to resign in July 2008 and Ms Suzanne McManus in October.

The office bearers for 2009 appointed at the AGM on 29 November 2008 were Peter Whiting (chair and public officer), Jamie Pearce (vice chair). Frank Webber (treasurer) Bruce Duncan (secretary) and Paul Rule also on the Board.

2009

As the Victorian firestorms raged, the global financial crisis continued to wreak havoc. Our newsletters monitored the progress of the GFC. SPC welcomed to its Board Ms Judy Benson and Mark Walsh in August, and Dr Arthur Gibbs, an economist, in November. At the AGM in November, Mr Frank Webber retired as Board member and Treasurer, after shepherding SPC and the Yarra Institute competently through its early years.

Mr Bill Frilay and Dr Brian Lewis became regular contributors to our website with their articles. On behalf of SPC, Bill Frilay prepared a submission and in April joined an NGO delegation to Canberra to present to the Inquiry into Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. Mr Joe Annetts contributed valuable assistance with the SPC office and website.

We were particularly indebted to Mr Matthew Howard, the Redemptorist IT person, for his advice and web support, particularly filming and posting our events on YouTube and as podcasts. Our SPC website had begun hosted by MacKillop Family Services site, but on advice from Graham McKern, Matthew established the new Yarra Institute website as a stand-alone, and began constructing it during mid-2009.

SPC continued with its public forums, hosting :

• US tax specialist Professor John Fox on 18 March, spoke on Making taxation more equitable.
• Geoff Lacey and Stephen Ames on 1 April suggested A response to global warming.
• Professor John Langmore on 9 September addressed the Global Financial Crisis.
• Professor Brian Johnstone CSsR on 23 July considered moral aspects of the war in Iraq.
• Dr Hugh Jackson on 25 November reflected on Australians and the Personal God.

On 19 November, SPC and the Yarra Institute sponsored a forum on Pope Benedict’s new social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, with Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier, Dr Rufus Black Master of Ormond College, and Ms Julie Edwards CEO of Jesuit Social Services. An edited version of this event was broadcast on ABC Radio National in March 2010.

Board members elected for 2010 were Jamie Pearce, Peter Whiting, Bruce Duncan, Arthur Gibbs, Judy Benson, Paul Rule and Mark Walsh.

2010

With federal and Victorian elections both due in 2010, SPC consulted with members and supporters and organised a number of workshops for people wishing to speak with their local members of parliament. Mr Barney Cooney offered valuable suggestions from his earlier experience as a Labor Senator. Peter Whiting, Bruce Duncan, Bill Frilay and Audra Kunciunas later met with Senator Jacinta Collins in her office at Box Hill.

The work of SPC took a step forward when Audra Kunciunas became the first Executive Officer (part-time) on 28 August 2010. Her background in publishing and theology brought significant expertise to our operation.

Mr Bill Frilay on 15 February 2010 delivered a paper at a workshop of ICAN (International Campaign against Nuclear Weapons). And SPC held a consultation with members and supporters about election priorities for State and Federal elections.

Our public forums in the YTU Study Centre in 2010 featured :

• Revd Dr Andre Karamaga, on 17 April New hope for Africa.
• Dr Thomas Bartlett and Dr Paul Rule on 26 May discussing The Australia-China relationship.
• Dr Stephen Ames on 23 June speaking about God and the natural sciences.
• Prof. John Warhurst on 4 August tackling Religion, politics, & social issues in the 2010 election.
• Ms Caz Coleman, Director of the Hotham Mission Asylum Seekers Project,on 12 August examining What now for asylum seekers?
• Phil Glendenning (Edmund Rice Centre, Sydney) on 4 November speaking on Releasing children from detention.
• Hon Alastair Nicholson on 1 December talking on Human Rights & the NT Intervention.

The AGM on 4 December 2010 welcomed three new members to the Board: Livia Carusi, Michaela Guthridge and Madeleine Marson. Work commitments were pressing Judy Benson to resign from the Board, along with Mark Walsh who was going to the Philippines, and Dr Paul Rule, who will concentrate his energies on the Yarra Institute Board. Peter Whiting continued as chair of SPC, with Jamie Pearce, Arthur Gibbs and Bruce Duncan remaining on the SPC Board.

2011

Our SPC priorities in 2011 focused particularly on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers; the threat from climate change; Australian overseas aid and the Millennium Development Goals; and our Indigenous peoples.

The year began with the launch of the redeveloped SPC website, thanks to the work by Matthew Howard. None of this would have been possible but for the support and encouragement of many people, for their pro bono contributions, and for financial support, especially by the Redemptorist Community, MacKillop Family Services, and  the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

SPC supported other public events, as well as its own :

• Prof. Tilman Ruff and Revd Harry Kerr spoke at the YTU Study Centre on Nuclear disarmament: the great challenge. What can NGOs do? on 29 March 2011.
• Prof. Jennifer Burn, Christine Carolan, and Michaela Guthridge addressed Human trafficking in Australia and internationally on 30 June.

SPC organised a full day conference on 19 July at the Abbotsford Convent on The churches and public policy, with key speakers Robert Fitzgerald AM and Dr John Falzon. Other speakers included Denis Fitzgerald, Marilyn Webster, Major Brad Halse, Kasy Chambers, Mark Zirnsak, Tony Nicolson, Sr Carol Hogan, and Gavin Dufty.

• Marc Purcell, Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) spoke on 16 August to an SPC forum on ‘Australia, Aid and Global Development’ at Box Hill.
• Dr Paul Mees launched Geoff Lacey’s Sufficient for the Day: Towards a
  Sustainable Cultureon 15 September at Dymocks, Melbourne.
• SPC worked closely with the Yarra Institute in the launch by Revd. Alastair Macrae, President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church of Australia, at St Brigid’s Church, Fitzroy on 12 October of the report Long-term health costs of extended mandatory detention of asylum seekers by Dr Tony Ward and Ms Caz Coleman. It was widely reported in the media.
• SPC collaborated with St Vincent de Paul and the Public Interest Law Clearing House in a forum on Poverty and Human Rights, with Cassandra Goldie (president of ACOSS) and respondents Michaela Guthridge (Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand) and Lucy Adams (PILCH). Some 55 people attended the event on 21 October at the St Vincent de Paul offices in Box Hill.
• Geoff Lacey on 24 November spoke at the YTU Study Centre on ‘Morality and Climate Change: a Response to Cardinal Pell’.

The Board was sorry to see Audra Kunciunas finish at SPC in July 2011 after two busy years with us, when she relocated to country Victoria.

Board members elected at the AGM 2011 were Peter Whiting, Jamie Pearce, Eddie Chapman, Arthur Gibbs, Livia Carusi, Michaela Guthridge, Madeleine Marson and Bruce Duncan.

2012

SPC was delighted when Anne Tuohey became the new part-time Executive Officer. She had 20 years’ experience working in numbers of social service organisations, including Catholic Social Services Victoria, Jesuit Social Services, VincentCare, the Victorian Council of Social Services and the Victorian Office of Housing.

SPC Board member, economist Arthur Gibbs published Towards a better World, critiquing neoliberal policies that were exacerbating poverty. And Garratt Publishing printed Bruce Duncan’s Social Justice: Fuller life in a fairer world.

SPC organised public forums with

• Mr Brian Lawrence, Chair of ACCER, speaking at the YTU Study Centre on ‘Working families, social inclusion and fair wages: moving beyond rhetoric’ on 14 March 2012;
• Gabriela Byrne on ‘The pokies ten years on: addiction – personal and governmental’, on 1 May 2012 and
• Kevin Peoples introducing his new book, Santamaria’s Salesman, on 20 June 2012.
• Dr Race Matthews spoke on ‘Cooperatives, social equity and participation’ on 25 July 2021;
• Dr Philip Mendes on ‘Australia’s income security system & the abandonment of equity’ on 22 August;
• Friar Joseph Rozansky, ‘Peace with people, peace with our planet: a Franciscan perspective’, on 31 August 2012;
• Prof. Kevin O’Connor, ‘Critical planning issues facing our city and the future liveability of Melbourne’, on 24 October 2012; and
• Bruce Duncan spoke on ‘Faith, values & public policy’, on 21 November 2012.

The President of SPC reported to the AGM on 21 November that the website had doubled its traffic, with over 30,000 unique visitors, opening 400,000 pages over the year. Susy Herlihy took over office coordination, copy editing articles, producing newsletters for publication on three platforms, and managing membership subscriptions.

Board members elected in November 2012 were Eddie Chapman, Bruce Duncan, Jamie Pearce and Peter Whiting. The SPC President thanked members who were not seeking re-election, Arthur Gibbs, Livia Carusi, Michaela Guthridge and Maddie Marson for their contributions over this time.

2013

SPC had a full range of speakers and events during 2013.

• Bishop Vincent Long launched Bruce Duncan’s Social Justice: Fuller Life in a Fairer World on 1 March 2013 at the Cardinal Knox Centre in Melbourne.
• Bishop Emeritus Pat Power on 17 Aprilspoke of ‘What I have learned about churches and public policy’.
• ACTU President Ged Kearney and Prof. Brian Howe on 28 Mayconsidered the ‘Future of Work’.
• Caz Coleman and Misha Coleman on 7 August spoke on ‘What now for asylum seekers?’
• Denis Fitzgerald on 25 Septemberaddressed ‘Reducing poverty in Australia’.
• In collaboration with the Yarra Institute, St Vincent de Paul and others, SPC jointly convened a day-long conference on 8 November for Anti-Poverty Week. Fr Frank Brennan SJ spoke on ‘Key challenges & responsibilities of the churches in the current social and cultural context’,along with prominent speakers from the various churches.
• Prof. Brian Costar on 14 Novemberspoke of ‘Electoral reform and social justice’.

Traffic to our SPC continued to double in 2013, with over 1,400,000 pages opened and more than 65,000 unique visitors. Matthew Howard continued to help us manage and improve the website.

Board members elected on 14 November 2013 were Revd Brendan Byrne, Bruce Duncan, Mr Tony French, Mr Michael Liddy, Jamie Pearce and Peter Whiting.

2014

SPC staff and volunteers continued to put a lot of energy into helping develop the Yarra Institute. We were delighted that the newly formed University of Divinity indicated it was moving to incorporate the Yarra Institute as a Research Centre of the University.

The Yarra Institute produced several books in 2014. Professor Peter Sherlock at the University of Divinity Staff Day on 5 November launched Social Justice and the Churches: Challenges and Responsibilities, with representatives from seven churches outlining their particular traditions of social concern. It gathered papers presented at a conference in November 2013, and highlights one of the key aims of SPC, to bring the Christian social traditions into closer conversation about issues of social advocacy. Dr John Henley on 20 June launched the new book of the Yarra Institute, A World United or a World Exploited, on Christian responses to globalisation.

SPC organised several public forums during 2014:

• Our local federal parliamentarian (for Chisholm), Mrs Anna Burke, on 19 August 2009 spoke at the YTU Study Centre on treatment of asylum seekers, attracting an overflowing crowd of perhaps 150 people.
• SPC organised a pub forum on 22 August at the Skinny Dog Hotel, Kew, on Pope Francis as leader for the 21^st century, with speakers from different faith traditions.
• Bruce Duncan and Susan Day Dirgam on 6 November discussed Islam, terrorism and the conflicts in the Middle East.
• Professor Paul Smyth on 27 November spoke on ‘Harnessing the Economy to the Good Society: a political strategy for church and community activists 2015’.

Up to late November 2014 the SPC website attracted over 52,000 unique visitors, making a total of 210,000 visits and opening nearly 790,000 pages.

With help from Tony French, SPC had become a registered charity, and was working to obtain DGR tax deductibility status for donations to SPC. Siobhan Foster helped with our book sales and Anne Doyle gave immense help proofreading articles and publications.

BD met with the federal member for Chisholm, Anna Burke, on 10 December 2014, who agreed to try to secure for SPC DGR tax status through the process of an act of parliament.

Board members elected on 27 November 2014 were Major Jenny Begent, Revd Brendan Byrne, Livia Carusi, Bruce Duncan, Tony French, Danusia Kaska, Chris Mulherin, Jamie Pearce and Peter Whiting.

2015

During 2015 SPC collaborated with other groups :

• With the Victorian Council of Churches, Pax Christi and St Paul’s Cathedral, we helped prepare a service of remembrance and regret on Anzac Day, 25 April.
• With the Victorian Council of Churches, Pax Christi and others, SPC helped plan and organise the three-day conference on “Pope Francis & Prophetic Voices: reshaping he public sphere” on 16-18 September;
• SPC was involved with the conference “Ecological aspects of war: religious perspectives from Australia”, 28 September, at Trinity College Theological School.

SPC also organised a number of its own forums :

• Phil Glendenning, President of the Refugee Council of Australia and CEO of Edmund Rice Centre in Sydney, on 19 February spoke on Australia’s refugee Crisis: what now?.
• Dr Angela Reed RSM on 22 April recounted her experience with trafficked women in the Philippines.
• In response to Laudato Si’, the new social encyclical of Pope Francis, Dr Joe Camilleri and Dr Mick Pope talked on“Pope Francis on catastrophic climate change, world poverty and social equity”, at the Salvation Army Hall in Bourke Street on 9 July.
• Former Age economics editor, Tim Colebatch on 21 October canvassed tax reform options.
• Climate specialist Dr Augustine Doronila spoke about the Paris climate conference and the influence of Pope Francis on 2 December 2015.

The SPC newsletter gave special attention to the social encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ and its international impact.

SPC’s website traffic dropped during 2015, with 40,000 unique visitors opening over 400,000 pages.

Board members elected at the AGM on 2 December 2015 were Jenny Begent, Brendan Byrne, Livia Carusi, Bruce Duncan, Tony French, Danusia Kaska, Chris Mulherin, Jamie Pearce and Mr Michael Walter.

Our sister organisation, the Yarra Institute, continued with its research. Drs Jim and Therese D’Orsa completed their memoir of Bishop Hilton Deakin and submitted it for publication. On 16 April the Yarra Institute published an important project on the impact on clergy, pastoral workers and others of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, Working with Disaster: Clergy and Bushfires, by Dr Lisa Jacobson. It was launched by Craig Lapsley, Emergency Management Commissioner for Victoria.

2016

SPC continued to publish its monthly newsletter with a wide range of articles. Speakers at our public forums in 2016 included

• Peter Mares on 19 October talking on ‘Challenges in Australia’s shift to temporary migration’;
• Herman Roborgh on 7 September on Islam in our world today;
• and Josh Cullinan on 30 November on ‘Returning penalty rates to the lowest paid’.

The SPC website attracted 30,000 unique visitors opening 220,000 pages during 2016. SPC was surprised its website traffic had fallen.

Meanwhile SPC’s hopes for the Yarra Institute were realised when it was finally transformed into the Centre for Research in Religion and Social Policy of the University of Divinity. The Centre commenced operations with Dr Gordon Preece appointed as interim Centre Director. Meanwhile the Yarra Institute continued in caretaker mode while some projects were completed before closing.

At the AGM on 30 November 2016 the following SPC Board members were elected: Jenny Begent, Brendan Byrne, Bruce Duncan, Tony French, Danusia Kaska, Chris Mulherin, Jamie Pearce, Michael Walter and during the year we co-opted David Leary OFM, but who shortly afterwards was posted by his Franciscan Order to other duties in Sydney.

2017

Speakers at our public forums in 2017 included :

• Bill Armstrong AO on 22 February speaking on ‘Aid/Welfare cannot be a proxy for development’,
• Race Mathews and Paul Smyth on 16 May on Race’s new book, Of Labour & Liberty: Distributism in Victoria 1891-1966
• Louise Byrne and Revd. Peter Woods on 2 August on ‘What future for West Papua?’
• Lawrence Chong on 23 August speaking on ‘Towards an Economy of Communion’, the Focolare Movement’s proposal for a new business model
• Bruce Duncan and Paul Smyth on 19 October on‘50 years of Integral Human Development’, at Catholic Social Services Vic. gathering.
• and Professor Paul Smyth on 5 December on ‘Wiring social justice into the economy.Towards inclusive & sustainable development. New directions for social policy after the collapse of the neoliberal framework’.

SPC also helped organise the launch of two projects of the Yarra Institute for Religion & Social Policy :

• The important new biography of Bishop Hilton Deakin by Drs Jim and Therese D’Orsa, Bonded through Tragedy, United in Hope: the Catholic Church and East Timor’s Struggle for Independence (Garratt Publishing) was launched by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Cap on 1 June before an enthusiastic crowd of 200 people, including a Timor L’Este ceremonial dance.
• Russell Broadbent MP launched Tony Ward’s Bridging Troubled Waters: Australia & Asylum Seekers on 17 August at St Kilda Town Hall.

Another research project, a memoir by Anne Tuohey of Fr Kevin Mogg AO and the founding of Catholic Social Services in Victoria, was nearly completed.

The AGM on 5 December 2017 elected to its Board: Jenny Begent, Bruce Duncan, Tony French, Danusia Kaska, Chris Mulherin and Jamie Pearce. 

In November 2017, Bruce Duncan and Peter Whiting met with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Divinity, Professor Peter Sherlock, Dr Gordon Preece, Research Director of the new Centre for Research on Religion and Social Policy, and Professor Gabrielle McMullen (Chair of the Board of the new Centre) about developing closer links between our organisations.

2018

Peter Whiting generally wrote most of the editorials for the monthly newsletters while Bruce Duncan requested or collected articles and edited them, loaded them on to the computer when Susy Herlihy then posted photos and Mailchimp, and finalised the SPC homepage. She then prepared a two-page hardcopy for noticeboards. Susy usually was employed one day a month for SPC, except when we needed to communicate about SPC events and subscription renewals.

SPC organised a number of events during 2018:

• Prof. Allan Patience on 14 Marchspoke on ‘The Future of Australian foreign Policy’, drawing from his recent book, Australian Foreign Policy in Asia: Middle Power or Awkward Partner?
• Mr Caesar D’Mello on 21 June talked about Church priorities on peacemaking and conflict resolution: ‘Is it time for a Just Peace framework?’
• Mr Bernie Geary OAM spoke on 30 August from his extensive experience of young people and mental health on the topic ‘Is Victoria still a “dreadful parent” for the hundreds of children in state care or confinement?’
• Sr Brigid Arthur from the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project on 5 December talked on ‘Refugees and their traumatised children: a tale of smoke and mirrors’.

Bruce Duncan with RASP, Ethos, Pax Christi and others planned the Remembrance Day Peace Conference, ‘A World at Peace with itself: elusive Dream of achievable Goal?’ on 11 November, with speakers Prof. Allan Patience, Mr Mohamed Mohideen of the Islamic Council of Victoria, Prof. John Wiseman of the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute and Emeritus Prof. Joe Camilleri.

In late 2018 SPC published the memoir by Anne Tuohey, An Enabling Life: Father Kevin Mogg, who played a major role in parish and prison ministry and in founding Catholic Social Services Victoria.

Danusia Kaska arranged a meeting with Lucy Menting (St Vincent de Paul fundraiser) with Peter Whiting, Bruce Duncan and Michael Yore on 9 November.

The Treasurer reported that the Yarra Institute had been closed and the remaining funds of $750 transferred into the SPC account, to help cover existing commitments for the Mogg and torture projects.

During the previous twelve months SPC had 69,500 unique visitors to the site, making 122,186 visits and opening more than 618,000 pages.

Board members elected on 5 December 2018 were Jenny Begent, Bruce Duncan, Tony French, Danusia Kaska and Chris Mulherin and Peter Whiting. 

2019

The SPC Board, in consultation also with Mr Michael Yore, determined to revamp SPC. Jenny Begent arranged for Amity Cartwright, head of marketing and fundraising at the Salvation Army to assess our SPC website, and also invited the Army’s fundraising to join our SPC meeting. Meanwhile Bruce Duncan and Peter Whiting wrote new drafts of the ‘case for support’ for church groups, and another for business people. Bruce Duncan in early March met with the University Vice-Chancellor, Peter Sherlock who wished to keep working with SPC in promoting public engagement of the University.

On 4 June 2019, Bruce Duncan and Peter Whiting met with Peter Sherlock and Gabrielle McMullen (Acting Vice-Chancellor when Peter Sherlock was overseas), and reported that SPC was contacting various agencies (Brotherhood of St Lawrence, St Vincent de Paul, MacKillop Youth & Family Services and others), about promoting a new public voice in association with the University. Subsequently SPC intended to approach religious and philanthropic organisations to secure funding support for the venture.

Amity Cartwright from the Salvation Army had an initial meeting with SPC in mid-May 2019, and Peter Whiting on 21 May supplied her with material SPC had been using. Amity Cartwright responded on 2 August with detailed suggestions about developing the website and social media, engaging in the public forum, fundraising and marketing. Members of the Board began revising their approach in line with these suggestions.

Public events :

• Sr Pat Fox, a Sion Sister expelled from the Philippines, spoke on 5 March on the ‘Increasing resistance to Church and social justice movements in the Philippines.’
• Dr John D’Arcy May on 17 September talked on the topic: ‘World religions: a force for war or global peace?’ expanding on his new book, Pluralism & Peace: the Religions in Global Civil Society.
• Bruce Duncan on 11 December examined ‘Pope Francis’s advocacy on inequality and the climate change emergency. Is it proper: Is it enough?’
• With Prof Joe Camilleri and others, SPC co-sponsored a Melbourne conference  ‘Earth@Peace: A just and ecologically sustainable peace’ with international speakers over 23-24 April 2019. The conference papers were later published by Palgrave Macmillan, including a chapter ‘Pope Francis’s moral compass for climate change and global justice’ by Bruce Duncan and another by Anne Elvey, ‘Reimagining Decolonising Praxis for a just and Ecologically Sustainable Peace in an Australian Context’.
• Bruce Duncan also spoke on 23 November at the Catholic Social Ministry Conference about ‘Cardijn, the Lay Apostolate and the Social Mission of the Church’, with special reference to Pope Francis and Synodality.

On 31 January 2019, Judge Michael McInerney launchedAn Enabling Life. Fr Kevin Mogg, A collection of Reminiscences, with 160 people present. Largely written and edited by Anne Tuohey, the book captured the major social and cultural shifts since the Second Vatican Council. It outlined Kevin’s involvement in Catholic youth networks, prison ministry and networks he fostered through Catholic Social Services Victoria.

Matthew Howard had given the SPC website a new skin in June, but the number of visitors curiously fell in July by 40%. During 2019, SPC had 58,400 unique visitors to the website, making 119,455 visits, and opening more than 797,590 pages. Its Facebook page and YouTube clips had a slow but steady response.

The SPC Committee of Social Policy Connections worked in 2019 to determine the way forward. We considered that continuing as a member-based organisation working virtually wholly as a volunteer operation was no longer sustainable. On 11 September 2019 SPC resolved to approach the Salvation Army to work with SPC to develop a proposal to engage the University in collaboration with the church and social agencies to build a fresh voice in public policy areas.   

Board members elected in 11 December 2019 were Jenny Begent, Bruce Duncan, Danusia Kaska and Chris Mulherin and Peter Whiting. 

2020

As it did for many others, the Covid-19 crisis hit efforts to develop SPC, particularly our conversations with key church social agencies about forging a stronger public voice on social issues. All the agencies faced acute difficulties and focused their energies on preserving their resources and serving their clientele. It became very difficult to pursue the SPC agenda in the circumstances as personal contact was very limited and SPC’s public forums had to be suspended.

However, SPC did join with the Young Christian Workers Movement to host a zoom meeting on 22 October 2020 in response to Pope Francis’s new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. Danusia Kaska was respondent to the talk by Bruce Duncan, with Dr Stefan Gigacz managing the webinar. Like previous forums, it was posted on the SPC YouTube site.

The SPC newsletter usually carried six or seven substantial articles exploring pertinent social concerns. Since 2005, SPC published over 1000 articles prepared by both our own members and prominent writers.

Visitor numbers to the SPC website unexpectedly dropped to between three and four thousand a month, making 38,620 visitors over twelve months to the end of September, totaling 91,450 separate visits and opening more than 256,000 pages. Our Facebook page posted new content regularly and the number of ‘friends’ continued to climb slowly. Various YouTube videos of talks have attracted some hundreds of downloads.

The AGM on 28 October 2020 elected Jenny Begent, Bruce Duncan, Danusia Kaska and Peter Whiting to the Board. Chris Mulherin was unable to continue on the Board.

2021

The Covid crisis had induced deferral of meetings during 2020/21 until the SPC Board convened on 26 April 2021 to consider the future of SPC following email correspondence between Board members as to whether SPC should close down its operations.

The Board recognised that during all of 2020 SPC had nearly 40,000 unique visitors to its website, opening 267,000 pages. In 2021 from January to 26 April, the site attracted between 3 and 4,000 unique visitors, opening 90,000 pages.

The Board determined to place SPC in a ‘care and maintenance’ mode while new opportunities for the way forward were explored.

However after further consultations, the SPC Board met by zoom on 20 November 2021 and voted to close Social Policy Connections and to transfer remaining surplus assets to a registered charity with similar objects. The Board was disbanded, and the Peter Whiting and Bruce Duncan were asked to manage the cancellation process, including hopefully keeping the website alive as an ongoing resource.

The President of SPC, Peter Whiting, warmly thanked all our friends and supporters:

“The Covid-19 lockdowns have proven fatal to Social Policy Connections (SPC) and the decision has been taken to seek voluntary cancellation of the organisation. For the best part of 17 years SPC has striven to maintain an ecumenical approach to informing and advocating on social justice matters of importance to us here in Australia as well as globally.

“Over those 17 years SPC as a largely volunteer based organisation has relied on support from many members, supporters and collaborators for finance, governance and the conduct of its activities and projects. We have tried to acknowledge many of these people in this brief history of SPC. We are especially grateful to Yarra Theological Union for providing SPC a home in such a vibrant academic community.

“The SPC Committee would like warmly to thank all those who have so generously and consistently supported SPC. We can all take great satisfaction from knowing that over those years SPC has been a valued presence in the social justice arena. We hope most fervently that each of us will continue in our commitment to building a better and fairer world.”

The Yarra Institute for Religion & Social Policy (YIRSP) in August 2008 found a home in the recently opened YTU Study Centre at Box Hill, along with the Redemptorist Social Justice Library. The Yarra Institute was formally endorsed by the Council of Yarra Theological Union on 24 October 2008, with the encouragement of Dr Larry Nemer SVD, President of YTU, Dr Catherine Cahill as Dean, and the former Dean, Dr Kathleen Williams RSM, along with Dr Chris Monaghan CP, incoming president of YTU.  YIRSP was registered as an Incorporated Association on 9 December 2008. Since the Study Centre had not been formally opened, the Yarra Institute was not officially launched by Professor Brian Howe until 23 April 2009.

The Establishment Committee for the Yarra Institute consisted of Dr Rowan Ireland, Professor Therese D’Orsa (Vice-chair) and Jim D’Orsa (Secretary), Dr Robyn Reynolds OLSH, along with former members of the SPC Board, Dr Stephen Ames (chair) and Dr Paul Rule. Dr Bruce Duncan has been appointed Director. The YIRSP Committee was shortly elected as the Board of Directors. Also joining the Board of Directors was Dr Wes Campbell and later Dr Peter Price (Treasurer). Mr Frank Webber generously acted as book-keeper. Emmy Silvius replaced Jo Rawson as office manager in March 2008.In later years further members of the Board included Mathew Beckman OFM, Dr John Bottomley, Professor John McDowell and Capt. Genevieve Peterson.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Brian Howe on 23 April 2009 launched the ecumenical Yarra Institute in the new Study Centre at Box Hill in Melbourne, with an address ‘Church and Social Policy: past and future’. As Patron of the Yarra Institute, he welcomed the founding of the Yarra Institute to increase interaction among the churches on social policy, developing research on making a difference in central concerns. The new Institute was sited at Yarra Theological Union, next to Social Policy Connections.

The Board undertook its first projects, with :

• Mrs Joan Daw researching the relationship between religious faith and social commitment.
• Dr Cal Ledsham working on the morality of torture.
• Dr Kirsty Sangster writing on church involvement in refugee resettlement.
• An enquiry with Prof Brian Howe into the churches role in the development of social policy in Victoria.
• The Catholic Church’s role in East Timor.
• In conjunction with SPC, and the Yarra Institute arranged a public forum on 19 November 2009 on Pope Benedict’s new social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, with Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier, Dr Rufus Black Master of Ormond College, and Ms Julie Edwards CEO of Jesuit Social Services. An edited version of this event was broadcast on ABC Encounter program on Radio National in March 2010.

None of this would have been possible without the financial support of the Redemptorist Congregation, the Dominican Fathers, the McLeod Family Foundation, Professor Therese D’Orsa and Dr Jim D’Orsa, Elizabeth Proust, Bernadette Reeders, and the Good Shepherd Foundation Australia New Zealand.

2010

YIRSP established its interactive website www.yarrainstitute.org.au with help from Mr Matthew Howard, the IT person for the Redemptorists, who filmed several events and helped with YouTube clips and podcasts.  Ms Audra Kunciunas (EO for SPC) was office manager. Dr Peter Price took over as Treasurer from Mr Frank Webber.

Various research projects took shape.

• With support from Dr Rowan Ireland, Dr Joan Daw’s project on faith and justice continued.
• The research on Refugee Resettlement Projects of Australian churches with Prof. Sandy Gifford at the La Trobe Centre for African Studies and by Dr Kirsty Sangster was completed and published online, with funding from the Good Shepherd Foundation in Melbourne.

2011

Research projects

• Dr Joan Daw prepared a draft which was edited by Sr Helen Anderson.
• Dr Cal Ledsham’s project on torture was delayed because of other commitments.
• With Dr Peter Price as editor, the Yarra Institute began work on the issue of globalisation, with Board members writing various chapters.
• Drs Jim and Therese D’Orsa continued working with Bishop Hilton Deakin and collecting material on the East Timor story.
• Mrs Anne Tuohey began interviewing Fr Kevin Mogg about the role of Catholic Social Services and his own life story.

Several research projects were completed during 2011. With funding from Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand, Dr Tony Ward, with initial research from Dr Erin Wilson (RMIT), completed the report Long-term health costs of extended mandatory detention of asylum seekers. Launched on 12 October by Revd. Alistair Macrae, President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church of Australia, at St Brigid’s Church, Fitzroy, the report received substantial media coverage in The Age, the ABC and religious press. Ms Caz Coleman, former director of Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project and a member of a government advisory committee, was very effective on radio, and continued to advise the Yarra Institute on continuing research.

Dr Wes Campbell retired from the Board for health reasons during the year, but Uniting Church minister, Dr John Bottomley joined the Board. We also farewelled Ms Audra Kunciunas, and welcomed Mrs Susy Herlihy who replaced her in support roles for YIRSP.

The Yarra Institute published Geoff  Lacey’s Sufficient for the Day: towards a Sustainable Culture which was launched by Dr Paul Mees at Dymocks in Collins Street on 15 September 2011, the first publication of the Yarra Institute Press.

2012

Board members published various publications during 2012: Drs Jim and Therese D’Orsa Catholic Curriculum: A Mission to the Heart of Young People, and also Explorers, Guides and Meaning-Makers: Mission Theology for Catholic Educators. Jim D’Orsa also co-edited Religion & Ethics in Pluralist Society, VCE Religion & Society. Bruce Duncan published Social Justice: Fuller Life in a fairer world. And Dr Stephen Ames published Finding the Way: a Theology of Aging, with Benetas Aged Care.

Dr Joan Daw’s project Young People, Faith, & Social Justice was prepared for publication by Ms Judy Benson and Bruce Duncan, with support from Paul Rule and Rowan Ireland. It was launched by Dr Kath Engebretson on 17 May 2013 at the Knox Centre in Melbourne.

During the year, the online Directory of Refugees & Asylum Seeker Support Services of the Australian Churches and Associated Organisations was extensively revised and updated by Susy Herlihy.

Other projects were making solid progress. The book for the ATF journal Interface edited by Dr Peter Price on globalisation was almost ready for publication. It carried chapters by Dr Paul Rule, Dr John D’Arcy May, Dr Robyn Reynolds, Dr Rowan Ireland, Dr Stephen Ames, Dr Wes Campbell, Professor Therese D’Orsa and Dr Bruce Duncan.

Drs James and Therese D’Orsa continued with their East Timor project, and Mrs Anne Tuohey continued working with the Kevin Mogg interviews.

Research collaboration within the Melbourne College of Divinity

The Board contacted Dr Mark Lindsay, Director of Research at MCD University about establishing a research unit within the University on social justice. To promote ecumenical collaboration, YIRSP began conversations with Prof Randall Prior (UFT) and Dr Ray Cleary (Trinity College Theological School).

The eminent scholar Dr John D’Arcy May joined the Board of Directors in December 2012, bringing his depth of international ecumenical contacts and scholarship.

2013-2014

In early 2013 Bruce Duncan and Stephen Ames visited all the heads of theological colleges inviting them into a closer working relationship with the Yarra Institute as a research institute of the University. We proposed a joint conference with the MCD University of Divinity, ‘Christian Social Thinking for Australia – Making a Difference?’ which was held at Newman College on 9 November 2013. Presentations followed from Anglicans, Catholics, Baptists, Churches of Christ, Copts, Salvation Army and the Uniting Church. Fr Frank Brennan SJ opened the conference, and Margaret Coffey from the ABC gave a concluding reflection.

On 26 November 2013, Dr Stephen Ames reported at the AGM that after thorough negotiations with the MCD University of Divinity, it appeared that our goal of becoming a research institute was to be officially confirmed.

However, unexpectedly in mid-2014 the Vice-Chancellor Peter Sherlock informed the Yarra Institute that it would not be authorised as a research unit of the University, as this would require changes to the Constitution of the University.

The Yarra Institute’s Board subsequently sought legal advice from Mr Tony French about gaining DGR tax status. He advised us to seek approval through the State Parliament, and after talking with her, Anna Burke, our local member, agreed to help with this, but a federal election soon after resulted in her loss of her seat.

Revd Dr John Henley on 20 June 2014 launched A World United or a World Exploited: Christian Perspectives on Globalisation, edited by Dr Peter Price on behalf of the Yarra Institute (Adelaide: ATF Press, but dated 2013).

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Divinity, Professor Peter Sherlock, launched Social Justice and the Churches: Challenges and Responsibilities, edited by John D’Arcy May (Adelaide: ATF Press, 2014) on 5 November. It gathered papers presented at the conference held on 9 November 2013.

Then, on 7 November 2014, the Vice-chancellor invited Stephen Ames and Bruce Duncan to meet the Governance Committee of the University at the Chancellor Graeme Blackman’s residence on Monday 17 November.

Stephen Ames and Bruce Duncan had earlier invited the heads of colleges or their nominees to a dinner at the Centre for Theology and Ministry on 13 November. Six Heads of College and three nominees did attend, helping create a receptive climate for forming closer research partnerships within the University.

The outcome of the meeting with the Governance Committee of the University was that discussions would continue towards YIRSP becoming a ‘centre’ of the University of Divinity, helping engage with the wider community on social or public issues, not speaking in the name of the University but with an independent voice from within the University.

As a result of earlier conversations, the Board in December 2014 welcomed Major Brad Halse from the Salvation Army on to the Board of YIRSP. Dr Anne Elvey was also elected to the Board in December 2014. The Board also included Stephen Ames, John Bottomley, Ross Fishburn, Jim D’Orsa, Therese D’Orsa, Rowan Ireland, John D’Arcy May, Paul Rule and Bruce Duncan.

2015

Purposeful detailed discussions continued with the University of Divinity about YIRSP becoming a centre of the University, and the various Colleges were involved in consultations. 

Founding members of the Yarra Institute, Professor Therese D’Orsa, and Dr Jim D’Orsa, completed their memoir of Bishop Hilton Deakin and submitted it for publication. They had also completed their book, Leading for Mission: Integrating Life, Culture and Faith in Catholic Education. Therese also proposed writing a 30,000-word book on the demise of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Sydney 30 years earlier.

John Bottomley’s report by Creative Ministries, Our System isn’t geared for Death, was launched on 16 April, followed by his book Hard work never killed anyone, and his project on widows.

Anne Elvey organised a conference on ‘Ecological Aspects of War – Religious  Perspective from Australia’ at Trinity College, and prospects emerged for two books along these lines.

Following advice for some readers, Dr Brian Johnstone CSsR offered in February 2015 to help fill out a moral theology perspective on Dr Cal Ledsham’s draft on torture.

Major Brad Halse was transferred to London and had to retire from the Board of Directors. He was replaced by Captain Genevieve Peterson as nominee of the Salvation Army. Other Board members were Stephen Ames, John Bottomley, Jim D’Orsa, Therese D’Orsa, Anne Elvey, Rowan Ireland, Paul Rule and Bruce Duncan. John McDowell joined the Board from September 2015.

2016

The Yarra Institute prepared to welcome the new University of Divinity Centre for Research in Religion and Social Policy (RASP), with Dr Gordon Preece Interim Director. An Anglican minster in the parish of Spotswood, with a long involvement editing and writing for Zadok Perspectives and other publications, he was in June confirmed as Research Director. The new Committee for the Centre consisted of Prof Gabrielle McMullen (chair), Prof John McDowell, Dr Matthew Beckmann OFM, Revd Dr John Bottomley and Dr Timothy Jones from Latrobe University.  Its web address was https://www.centrerasp.org.

The Yarra Institute formally celebrated this passing of the baton to the new Centre at an event on 16 November 2016 at the Study Centre at Yarra Theological Union.

2017

Bishop Vincent Long and Therese D’Orsa

Bishop Vincent Long launched the memoir of Bishop Hilton Deakin, written by Drs Jim and Therese D’Orsa, Bonded through Tragedy, United in Hope: the Catholic Church and East Timor’s Struggle for Independence (Garratt Publishing) at the Knox Centre to 200 people, opening with a ceremonial entry by Timor L’Este dancers on 1 June 2017.  

The well-known advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, Russell Broadbent MP, launched Tony Ward’s Bridging Troubled Wates: Australia & Asylum Seekers on 17 August 2017 at St Kilda Town Hall.

The memoir of Fr Kevin Mogg AO by Anne Tuohey was published in September 2018, An  Enabling Life: Fr Kevin Mogg, but because Fr Mogg was not well, the launch by Judge Michael McInerney was delayed till late 2018.

Anne Elvey also published Ecological Aspects of War: Engaging with Biblical Texts with Bloomsbury UK, and had prepared ‘Ecological Aspects of War: Religious Perspectives from Australia’.

Other Board members were Stephen Ames, John Bottomley, Jim D’Orsa, Therese D’Orsa, Anne Elvey, Rowan Ireland, John McDowell, Captain Genevieve Peterson, Paul Rule and Bruce Duncan.

2018

Dr Brian Johnstone withdrew from filling out Cal Ledsham’s draft on torture. Bruce Duncan offered to help bring the draft to print, to honour our obligations to Cal Ledsham and the sponsor, the Catholic Institute of Sydney,s Laurdel Research Foundation.

On 2 November 2018, the Yarra Institute was authorised to cancel the incorporation of YIRSP at the AGM, with Stephen Ames and Bruce Duncan the sole remaining Board members. Mr Peter Whiting transferred remaining funds to Social Policy Connections, and closed the Yarra Institute NAB accounts, but will still pay out of these funds for outstanding commitments, including for liability insurance and publications, through the SPC account.

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Photo Love and protect our earth. John Cameron. Unsplash.