Keywords: Social Exclusion
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AUSTRALIA
- Erica Cervini
- 05 February 2025
In 1940s Australia, neighbourhoods pulsed with neighborly connection — a stark contrast to today’s soaring rates of loneliness. As societies grow increasingly fragmented and isolation deepens, can that bygone era offer any lessons on healing our contemporary disconnection?
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AUSTRALIA
- Binoy Kampmark
- 04 February 2025
Smartphones dictate access to commerce, communication, and even education, and face-to-face transactions have all but disappeared. Have we willingly surrendered choice for convenience? As digital payments become the norm, are those choosing to live without a smartphone excluded from modern society?
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INTERNATIONAL
- Andrew Hamilton
- 30 January 2025
The United States' recent shift in immigration policy towards exclusions and deportations is a modern moral reckoning. It underscores the tension between a society’s right to regulate its borders and its responsibility to uphold the dignity of those who already call it home.
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 23 January 2025
Australia's national day remains a divisive symbol, rooted in colonial history. As the country grapples with issues of war, inequality, and climate change, the call for a more inclusive, meaningful celebration grows. How can a national day honour both the complexity of our history and the dignity of all Australians?
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RELIGION
- Justin Glyn
- 30 November 2024
2 Comments
The Synod on Synodality has quietly rewritten the Church’s relationship with disability, shifting from a legacy of marginalisation to a vision of equality and dignity. This historic move acknowledges past failings while championing the rights of disabled people as full participants in faith and society. But does the rhetoric match reality?
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 25 November 2024
4 Comments
Social Inclusion Week invites reflection on our shared humanity amidst deep divides. From childhood cliques to culture wars, the tension between inclusion and exclusion is a paradox rooted in belonging. Can we overcome fear and forge connections across difference, or will anxiety keep us apart? The answer shapes our society’s future.
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AUSTRALIA
- Barry Gittins
- 30 October 2024
5 Comments
In 1968, Peter Norman won Olympic silver, but his lasting legacy was a stance for justice on the podium alongside Tommie Smith and John Carlos, where he wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in solidarity. Yet his quiet protest led to lifelong exclusion at home, recognition arriving only posthumously.
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 05 September 2024
1 Comment
Electric scooters have become a flashpoint in Australian cities, pitting residents against local councils. While some embrace scooters as convenient and eco-friendly, others raise valid concerns about safety and regulation. As cities grapple with these issues, the broader question is, how can we effectively balance individual freedoms with community wellbeing?
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EDUCATION
- Jacinta Collins
- 20 August 2024
11 Comments
As the discourse surrounding religious freedom in Australia becomes increasingly contentious, especially in the context of schooling, we must address the growing perception that holding religious beliefs and values — and making choices based on them — is somehow discriminatory or at odds with modern society.
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AUSTRALIA
- Kerry Murphy
- 05 July 2024
There is no doubt that laws for determining refugee status and onshore protection are complex. The cases of NZYQ and ASF17 demonstrate that when laws regarding asylum and protection intersect with laws regarding character and protection of the community, the results can be extremely messy.
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael McVeigh
- 01 July 2024
1 Comment
Last month, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released a pastoral statement on religion and sport. And while commending sport’s ability to promote growth in individuals and foster healthy communities, if sport is to be a field of mission, it should be more willing to dive into those places where the 'bruises' occur.
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 13 June 2024
5 Comments
The wonder of Khin Myint's Fragile Creature: A Memoir lies in his calm and magnanimous reflection on his experiences and in his attempt to understand those who treated him poorly. It also provides a lens for reflecting on the dynamic at work in public debates that touch identity.
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