From classrooms to the wider community – the Social Justice Hub’s first year

As the Social Justice Hub celebrates its first year, we reflect on the impact, growth, and collaboration that has shaped this program into something truly special. 

Since our launch earlier this year, more than 400 students across our three partner schools, St. Michael’s Grammar School, Star of the Sea, and Wesley College, have taken part in the Social Justice Hub. These incredible students have embraced learning, advocacy, and action. Helping to challenge stigma, raise awareness, and fundraise in support of people experiencing homelessness and deep disadvantage. 

The Social Justice Hub was created to connect young people to social justice in a way that is meaningful, practical, and transformative. Along the way, it has also helped us better understand how teachers and students want to engage with complex issues in their classrooms and put their learning into practice. Thanks to the commitment of our partner schools, and the generosity of those who shared their expertise in education – we are now proudly investing in the education of our future change-makers and community leaders.  

Co-design and collaboration has been at the heart of the Social Justice Hub since day one. We are proud to work alongside experts in service delivery, as well as experts with a lived experience of homelessness who have so generously shared their experiences and points of view. 

Including (but definitely not limited to), Jodie White (Head of Services), the team at Women’s House, members of the Executive Advisory Group on Lived Experience (EAGLE), and Jayke Clayden (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead). We are especially grateful to Caroline Briggs-Martin, a proud Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba Woman, whose guidance and leadership has shaped our upcoming module on the experiences of First Nations communities. 

Looking ahead, we are developing four new modules exploring: 

• Homelessness within First Nations communities 
• Homelessness and the LGBTQIA+ community 
• Homelessness and Mental Health 
• The impacts of Family and Domestic Violence on Homelessness  

The Social Justice Hub embodies Sacred Heart Mission’s 2030 Strategy. We are excited to grow our services to meet needs, influence a fairer and more inclusive community, partner for long-term and effective impact.  

In just one year, the Social Justice Hub has flourished into a program with real-world impact. To every student, teacher, partner, and contributor who has helped us on this journey – thank you. Together, we are making tangible and meaningful change for people experiencing homelessness.