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

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.

Morality & Global Warming: A Response to Cardinal Pell

Talk given at Social Policy Connections’ Annual General Meeting
24 November 2011

By 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.

Australia, Aid, Global Development

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 …

Public policy and human wellbeing

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.

Slavery: the importance of victim centred terminology

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

Nuclear disarmament: The great challenge

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 29^th 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.

Human Rights & the NT Intervention

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.