Welcome to the Social Policy Connections audio podcast. The following podcast features a lecture delivered by Dr Bruce Duncan C.Ss.R on Faith, values, & social policy. The talk was presented to Social Policy Connections on Wednesday November 31 at the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. According to leading economists, the Global Financial Crisis stems from a crisis in values, undermining sound economics and public policies, with disastrous consequences for many millions of people. Moreover, climate change is bearing down on us as the world struggles to provide decent living stands for people in poorer countries, and global population is expected to grow by another two billion. In this talk Bruce address the role of values in shaping public policy, and the extra dimension that faith can bring to our sense of meaning and motivation in the struggle to enhance human dignity at this critical time. Bruce is one of the founders of Social Policy Connections, and is Director of the Yarra Institute for Religion & Social Policy. He has taught social justice studies at Yarra Theological Union at Box Hill since 1986, and has written widely on social issues. His most recent book is titled Social Justice: Fuller life in a fairer world. If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.org.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcasts regularly, free of charge. And now Dr Bruce Duncan… 

Social Policy Connections Podcasts

Faith, values, & social policy

Those who can work should, and those who cannot should be properly supported to achieve a full life. How does Australia fare in relation to this? Philip Mendes from Monash University promotes a better way, advocating for a participation income which incorporates activities to enhance wellbeing and connection. 

Australia’s income security system & the abandonment of equity.

In a lucid talk, Kevin Peoples spoke on his 2012 book about working as a fund-raiser for the National Catholic Rural Movement and his disillusionment with Bob Santamaria's use of its people and money. Strongly committed to the YCW emphasis on personal formation and independent social responsibility,  Kevin tells of the events that led up to the breach with Santamaria over his authoritarian control of the NCRM. The book captures the atmosphere of Catholic and rural life at the time, with delightful pen-pictures of characters he met along the way.For Bruce Duncan's address at the  launch of Kevin Peoples Santamaria’s Salesman: Working for the National Catholic Rural Movement 1959-1961 click HERE.Click HERE to listen to an audio podcast of the event. 

Santamaria’s Salesman: Kevin Peoples and the Catholic Rural Movement

Welcome to the Social Policy Connections audio podcast.The following podcast features a lecture delivered by Gabriela Byrne – founder of the Free Yourself Program, a resource for problem gamblers. The talk was presented to Social Policy Connections on May 1st 2012 at the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. Mrs Byrne has used her study of psychology, nutrition, exercise and meditation to create the Free Yourself Program. A program which has now successfully counselled 100’s of problem gamblers. Gabriela’s story from being “totally hooked” to “completely free”", has been published and talked about on National TV, Radio, “Women’s Weekly”, “New Idea” and “Good Medicine”. If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.socialpolicyconnections.org.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via our RSS feed. 

The pokies ten years on: addiction – personal & governmental”.

Talk given at Social Policy Connections’ Annual General Meeting24 November 2011By Geoff Lacey In October, Cardinal George Pell gave a lecture in Westminster Cathedral Hall, entitled, One Christian Perspective on Climate Change. Geoff Lacey addresses the question of how to develop an ethical response to the issue of climate change, in particular examining the science, the politics, the foundations of an ethical position, and what consistutes an adequate response, looking at where Cardinal Pell stands on each of these matters. CLICK HERE for the complete article. 

Morality & Global Warming: A Response to Cardinal Pell

The following podcast features a lecture delivered Robert Fitzgerald AM at Social Policy Connections ‘Churches & Public Policy Conference, held at the Abbotsford Convent on July 19th 2011. Robert Fitzgerald is a full-time Commissioner with the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission, where he leads the current inquiry into Caring for Older Australians and the commissioned study examining the workforce of the Early Childhood Development Sector. He is the convenor of the Indigenous Disadvantage Working Group of the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision which produces the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators report. 

Public policy and human wellbeing

Welcome to the Social Policy Connections audio podcast. The following podcast features a lecture delivered by Marc Purcell at Social Policy Connections ‘Australia, Aid, Global Development’ public forum held at the study centre of the Yarra Theological Union on August 17th 2011. Mark is the current Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development. The Australian Council for International Development represents 70 Australian not-for-profit aid and development organisations. Marc has been Advocacy Manager with Oxfam Australia 2004-2009, and previously Executive Officer with Melbourne’s Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace. He has been Country Program Manager for Africa for Australian Volunteers International covering 13 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. And now Marc Purcell … 

Australia, Aid, Global Development

This short audio podcast of this even was presented byMichaela Guthridge's at SPC's forum on Slavery. 

Slavery: the importance of victim centred terminology

Professor Tilman Ruff – Chair of the Australian Board of ICAN and Rev Harry Kerr – Chair of Pax Christi (Vic), addressed Social Policy Connections on March 29th 2011 on one of the world’s most pressing issues, nuclear disarmament. Professor Ruff outlined the catastrophic outcome for the planet if even a small amount of nuclear arms were detonated. He also focused on how NGO’s such as Social Policy Connections could contribute in creating a world free of nuclear arms. The Rev Harry Kerr ‘s address to the forum brought a Christian perspective on this issue of nuclear disarmament. Please click HERE to Listen to Professor Tilman Ruff’s talk. 

Nuclear disarmament: The great challenge

The following podcast features a lecture delivered by The Honourable Alastair Nicholson, titled “Human Rights & the NT Intervention”. The talk was presented to Social Policy Connections on Wednesday December 1st at the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.org.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcasts regularly, free of charge. Northern Territory Intervention, introduced in 2007, causes great anger, frustration and despondency amongst the majority of Aboriginal people in the NT. The intervention required the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). Alastair Nicholson has been at the forefront of fighting to change the legislation to ensure full restoration of the RDA. In his talk, he provided more details about this issue, and how all concerned with Aboriginal wellbeing might respond. The Honourable Alastair Nicholson AO, RFD, QC is the Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia. He is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne. 

Human Rights & the NT Intervention

The following podcast features a lecture delivered by Caz Coleman. Caz drew from the findings of her recently published research project “Australia’s Hidden Homeess”, to discuss alternatives to current ways of receiving asylum seekers. The talk was presented to Social Policy Connections on Wednesday August 12 at the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union.Caz Coleman is Director of the Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project, a Melbourne based agency working with asylum seekers living in the community. Caz has worked in the asylum and refugee sector for ten years and has an academic background in Theology. In 2009, Caz was appointed to the Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR) advising the Federal Minister for Immigration, Senator Chris Evans, on asylum issues in Australia.If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.com.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcasts regularly, free of charge. 

Receiving asylum seekers

The following podcast features a lecture delivered by Professor John Warhurst, titled “Politics, Religion & Election”. The talk was presented to Social Policy Connections on Wednesday 4 August at the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union.John Warhurst was born in Adelaide and educated in politics and economics at the Flinders University of South Australia. He has taught political science in various universities for more than 30 years and is now Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University. He is a former president of the Australasian Political Studies Association and now writes a weekly column for The Canberra Times. He is active in public affairs as chair of the Australian Republican Movement.If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.com.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcasts regularly, free of charge. 

Politics, Religion & Election Issues

Welcome to the Social Policy Connections audio podcast, The following Social Policy Connections event was held in association with Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, on Saturday April 19 2010, at Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. Our guest speaker was the Reverend Dr Andre Karamaga, a Rwandan Presbyterian Minister , who lost family during the Rwandan Genocide is General Secretary of, the All African Conference of Churches, which represents 173 churches and Christian organisations from 40 African countries, with 140 million adherents. Dr Karamaga’s talk was entitled “New Hope for Africa: the churches’ role in peacemaking, development’ If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.com.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcast regularly, free of charge. 

New Hope for Africa: the churches’ role in peacemaking, development’

Welcome to the Social Policy Connections audio podcast on the topic of moral implications of Australia’s close economic ties with China. The following podcast features a discussion between Dr Thomas Bartlett and Dr Paul Rule on Wednesday May 23rd 2010 in the Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. Thomas Bartlett and Paul Rule have been teaching and researching about China in universities in Australia and the United States as well as visiting and living in China through the changes from the Cultural Revolution to the present economic dominance. Both have recently retired from teaching Chinese history at La Trobe University but remain active in research and publications on China. Thomas mainly writes about Qing dynasty history but also has a strong interest in current events in China. Paul specializes in the study of Chinese religion past and present. If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.com.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcasts regularly, free of charge. 

Australia’s relationship with China: prospects and perils

The following lecture entitled “The Global Financial Crisis: Opportunity for Transformation” was presented by Professor John Langmore on Thursday September 10th 2009 in the new Study Centre of Yarra Theological Union. In this podcast Professor John Langmore gives a succinct, comprehensible overview of the causes of the current economic crisis. He goes on to suggest political and financial reforms which would not only prevent a similar crisis in the future, but also bring about a more just and equitable society.For those of you who are not familiar with our institution, Social Policy Connections is an independent, ecumenical organisation, motivated and informed by Christian social thinking. Our purpose is to expand awareness of social justice issues in Australia and overseas, and to influence public policy for the benefit of all people, especially the most disadvantaged. Social Policy Connections is not aligned with any political party.For more information on upcoming Social Policy Connections events please visit our website located at www.socialpolicyconnections.org.au 

The Global Financial Crisis: Opportunity for Transformation

If you would like attend one of our events please refer to our website www.social policyconnections.com.au. Please feel free to subscribe to our podcast via itunes or via an RSS feed located on our website’s home page, as we will be publishing podcast regularly, free of charge.