Social Justice

Given the personal nature of the members and the schools at which they choose to work, VIEU sees the Social Justice Committee as a way of expanding the outreach and influence of the union in the broader community. Equally, this Committee, which was established in 2002, will hopefully provide a method of information and activity sharing between members. It will also allow members to actively pursue issues of social interest which have a broad level of support amongst the union.

VIEU Social Justice Committee

The Committee meets on a nominated date from 4.30 until 6.00pm at the VIEU Offices at 120 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne.
Meetings are used to highlight an issue via a guest speaker, as well as to offer an opportunity for members to share ideas, resources and to act as a reference group for the union. An agenda is sent out the week prior to the meeting, so if you are attending please contact Chris Clarke.

Make Poverty History Campaign

Make Poverty History is an international campaign working towards ending extreme poverty through encouraging Governments to honour their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. Make Poverty History brings together Church groups, community organisations and others to work towards the common goal of ending extreme poverty.

Fairwear Campaign

VIEU has been a long term supporter of the Fairwear campaign, which is aimed at improving the working conditions of outworkers in the textiles industry. VIEU encourages and supports schools to become involved in the campaign by identifying their clothing suppliers so that the Fairwear office can establish if their suppliers are adhering to proper work practices and rates of pay.
Further information can be sources directly from the Fairwear website at www.fairwear.org.au or by contacting Chris Clarke at the VIEU office on (03) 9254 1860.

World Vision Australia

We produce a range of school curriculum resources on topics like Global Citizenship, Our Pacific Neighbours, Child Rights, Climate Change and Migration - in fact our Get Connected series was recently awarded the Australian Geography Teachers Association 2010 Award for best primary education resource. We mail one free hard copy to every school in Australia and many of your schools and members would already be using or aware of the resource and we also provide online resources too. The World Vision Australia school resources web link is:

http://www.worldvision.com.au/learn/SchoolResources.aspx

School Activities

We are looking to publicise events, campaigns or activities undertaken by members in their schools, so if you have any material which you would like to share with other members, please contact Chris Clarke at the VIEU Office.

Human Rights Dates in Schools 2010

These are some dates which are recognised in schools on a variety of human rights issues. It is by no means an exhaustive list.

8 March: International Women's Day
21 March: International Day for the Eradication of Racism and Racial Discrimination
14-21 March: Cultural Diversity Week
2 - 8 May: Privacy Awareness Week
26 May: Sorry Day
27 May - 3 June: Reconciliation Week
4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (www.unicef.com)
5 June: World Environment Day
12 June: World Day Against Child Labour
20 June: International Refugee Day
20 - 26 June: National Refugee Week
26 June: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net)
12 August: Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions
29 August: National Council of Churches in Australia Refugee Sunday
1 - 7 September: Privacy Awareness Week
21 September: International Day of Peace (www.un.org/peace)
4 October: World Habitat Day
7 - 13 October: Austcare Refugee Week
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
24 - 30 October: Disarmament Week (www.un.org/peace)
16 November: International Day of Tolerance
20 November: Universal Children's Day
1 December: World AIDS Day (www.unaids.org)
2 December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net
10 December: Human Rights Day (www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net)

Social Justice Websites

This is a list of websites that may be of interest to people that are relevant to aspects of social justice issues.

General Issues

Justice Education in Catholic Schools: www.justiceeducation.org.au
This website is co-ordinated by the Catholic Commission for Justice, Education and Development. The site has resources for teachers in the classes as well as information on social justice issues.
Community Aid Abroad – Oxfam: www.caa.org.au
Community Aid Abroad is a voluntary community based which is secular and independent organisation. It has a number of key aims including development and relief programs and campaigning and advocacy role within the global community.
Caritas Australia: www.caritas.org.au
Caritas Australia is the Catholic Church agency for aid and development which pursues justice for those suffering from poverty and disadvantage. It works to bring assistance to those who have suffered from conflict or natural disaster and its focus is to support people through the principle and practice of community development so that people can help themselves out of poverty, hunger and injustice.
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission: www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_teachers
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is a national independent statutory government body, established by an Act of Federal Parliament. It has responsibility for the Racial Discrimination Act (1975), Sex Discrimination Act (1984) and the Disability Discrimination Act (1992). The site has a section which is created to support teachers in class activities in these areas.
Australian Social Justice Council: www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au
The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference mandates the ACSJC to promote research, education, advocacy and action on social justice, peace and human rights, integrating and providing a credible Catholic voice on these matters in Australian society.
Australians Against Racism: www.australiansagainstracism.org
Australians Against Racism in October 2001. AAR was formed to encourage Australians to rethink majority attitudes to Refugees and Refugee Claimants (Asylum Seekers). AAR aims to halt the continued abuse of people in detention centres, in our community and now in the Pacific, by actively promoting understanding and debate in society through the media, arts and the law.
Refugee Action Collective: www.rac-vic.org
Refugee Action Collective is a voluntary grass roots organisation which has a focus on the issue of changing the government’s policy on refugees and the ending of mandatory detention of refugees in Australia.
Australians for a Just Society: www.ajustaustralia.com
The VIEU through its Federal Office (IEU) is an organisational supporter of this group along with numerous other unions, community groups, business organisations, religious groups and individuals. The organisation is focused upon the pursuit of a just refugee program for Australia.
Union Aid Abroad: www.apheda.org.au
A commitment to justice and human rights is the cornerstone of the work of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the ACTU's overseas aid organisation. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was established in 1984 by the ACTU in recognition of the union movement's responsibility to contribute directly to countries and regions of the world where men and women workers are disadvantaged through poverty, a lack of workplace / human rights and civil conflict. The VIEU through our Federal office has an affiliation with this organisation.
Victorian Human Rights Education Committee: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
Provides information on the teaching of human rights education in Victoria as well as access to the units of work for the Certificate of Humanity, suitable for primary school.

Indigenous Issues sites

Treaty Now: www.treatynow.com
This site gives an explanation as to why there is a need for a Treaty between the indigenous people and Australia as well as information on the current position of where the negotiations stand.
Reconciliation Australia: www.austlii.edu.au/au/orgs/car
This is the website of Reconciliation Australia, the independent non-profit body which provides a national focus for the process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation: www.antarvictoria.org.au
Is an independent network promoting national community education and awareness of indigenous issues. The website advertises events and media releases in support of justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia. There is also information about the 'Sea of Hands' project and how schools can hold their own 'Sea of Hands' events.