Keywords: Vic O'callaghan
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RELIGION
- Vic O'Callaghan
- 17 November 2014
15 Comments
Total focus on designing the right professional standards policy could be creating a hole, where all that is heard is a droning 'let's move on' message. Where are the stories of people gathering to help mend and heal themselves and the victims of this horrific episode in our history?
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael Mullins
- 31 March 2014
5 Comments
The Federal Government is moving to abolish the body set up to protect and regulate the non-profit sector. Vinnies CEO John Falzon describes the action as 'ideological', while Melbourne Catholic education chief Stephen Elder sees it as an opportunity to spend more time raising money and delivering services. The Government must explain the policy imperatives driving it to dismantle such an extensively considered piece of legislation.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 26 November 2013
32 Comments
The Catholic Church hierarchy now seems more prepared to admit institutional and personal failures prior to 1996. They are yet to admit the pervasive, closed clericalist culture which infected the Church until at least 1996, but that will come. Let's hope that the Victorian police can also now move forward admitting past mistakes without manufacturing excuses which do not withstand the contemporary spotlight.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 03 October 2013
18 Comments
'What a pope; what a man! ... The credibility of the Catholic Church has been enhanced with this new pope. We see in him many of the finest aspects of the presently battered and ageing Church.' Frank Brennan's presentation for Spirituality in the Pub, Pumphouse Hotel, Fitzroy, Vic. on 2 October 2013.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 04 September 2013
2 Comments
'The Towards Healing protocol is not a substitute for criminal prosecution of sex abusers. Nor is it a cheap alternative to civil liability for damages. It is a procedure available by choice to victims in addition to criminal prosecution of perpetrators or pursuit of civil damages for negligence by church authorities.' Full text from Frank Brennan's address to the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand 47th Annual Conference, 4 September 2013 at Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Hindley.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 03 September 2013
8 Comments
Being born in Australia is a huge advantage. And having parents with money, a good education and connections always helps. Some of us have an advantage before we've even started school. But like the players in American psychologist Paul Piff's 'rigged Monopoly' experiments, those of us who do well tend to think we've earned our good fortune through hard work, talent and creativity.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 07 November 2012
2 Comments
Last week, the Federal Government streamlined bureaucracy when it legislated for a single body to regulate charities and not for profits. But it is also pursuing a new charity tax under the guise of cracking down on abuse of the current system, by 'better targeting of tax concessions'. This could force agencies to downsize programs that support disadvantaged Australians.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 08 May 2012
11 Comments
When budgets are tight, governments seek savings by moving people from an expensive payment to cheaper payment categories. By moving a larger number of single parents from parenting payment to the cheaper Newstart allowance the Government will effectively remove $686 million out of the hands of low income families.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 30 November 2011
7 Comments
If you walked into a public service office in the early 1980s, you'd see typing pools, mailrooms and whole floors full of people doing routine clerical work. People with disabilities were disproportionately employed in low level positions. Today, most of those positions have gone.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 07 July 2011
8 Comments
Two creative housing researchers argue for a 'housing first' approach, that offers permanent housing to homeless people without first putting conditions on their behaviour. The concept flies in the face of politicians and welfare agencies in Australia.
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AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 11 May 2011
7 Comments
The Budget contains a number of positive measures to promote mental health, employment and training. But without greater investment in individualised support for job seekers and those on disability support pensions to assist their transition to work, we are not likely to see major change.
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EDUCATION
- Vic O'Callaghan
- 01 February 2010
4 Comments
Brian was in tears. A sheen of skin had been removed from his right
knee and his left hand was grazed. Michael was into his mantra
of accidental cause — 'He tripped over my foot' — while Sam stuttered in astonishment: he'd seen Michael deliberately push
Brian off the handball line.
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