The Catholic Weekly 28 June 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 6 NEWS 28, June, 2020 Stay safe and happy at home with holistic home care packages Discover our range of in-home services 1300 216 675 THE ANNUAL St Vincent de Paul Society CEO Sleepout raised $5.09 million this year - double the charity’s origi- nal goal of $2.4 million for the event. Funds will go to homeless- ness services run by the St Vincent de Paul Society across the country, providing shelter, food, clothing and other sup- port for people experiencing homelessness, or at imminent ¾ ¾ David Ryan Sleepout participant Dr Andrew Rochford chats with Society services client Cassie during the live stream. PHOTO:VISIONAIR PHOTOGRAPHY risk of losing their home. This year, however, the event took place in backyards, cars and on couches across the nation on 18 June with 1,550 business and community leaders par- ticipating. “We are incredibly grateful for the enormous show of sup- port for the2020CEOSleepout, which far exceeded our expec- tations in this unique environ- ment,” said Toby O’Connor, chief executive of the Society’s National Council. “We know this is a hard time for people fi- nancially and, likemany chari- ties, we’ve seen donations slow over the past fewmonths. “We had to move the Vin- nies CEO Sleepout online in response to social-distancing requirements.” He said that this year’s event took place in a very different environment but it was an exciting new experi- ence for all involved. Sleepout participants watched a live-streamed broadcast from 7:30 to 9:30pm on Thursday night, featuring a Sleepout still a big hit Vincentian event smashes its own goal for the homeless look at the Society’s services as well as stories of people who have experienced homeless- ness while sleeping on couch- es, in cars and in backyards across the country. “The generous contribution of our participants and sup- porters means we can contin- ue to provide clean, comfort- able, welcoming places where people facing homelessness can find support,” Mr O’Con- nor said. Jack de Groot P18 Wage rise ‘not enough’ THE AUSTRALIAN Catholic Bishops Conference has crit- icised the minimum wage in- crease saying it will not ease the financial burdens of the working poor, particularly those raising young families. Bishop Max Davis, the Bish- op Delegate for Employment Relations, said the 1.75 per cent rise does not meet the inflation rate and falls well short of pro- viding vulnerable families with a safety net as required by law. “Through the various minis- tries of the Church, the bishops have a first-hand understand- ing of the challenges faced by minimum-wage earners,” said Bishop Davis. “Many minimum-wage earners, despite working full- time and having trade quali- fications, are unable to raise themselves and their families out of poverty.” The Fair Work Commis- sion’s rulingwill see thenation- alminimumwage of $19.49 per hour or $740.80 per hour week (before tax) rise to $19.84 per hour or $753.80 a week. The Conference makes sub- missions to the annual review of the minimum wage each year. It argued for a 4 per cent increase before COVID-19 led to additional financial un- certainty for many low-paid workers and their families. Bishop Davis said its latest submission sought to outline how the economy, “in part be- cause of aminimumwage that is inadequate”, is seeing more people in full-time work not meet what is internationally considered to be the threshold for poverty – earning 60 per cent of the median household income. “A 1.75 per cent increase in theminimumwage before tax, at this point in time, doesn’t achieve that, and it will be felt most acutely in households with children,” he said. The decision has been met with mixed response across different sectors, with some leaders in the already fragile tourism industry due to COV- ID-19 concerned it will cause further damage and other in- dustry leaders agreeing the rise will cost some low-paid workers their jobs. Many mini- mum-wage earners, despite working full- time and having trade qualifications, are unable to raise them- selves and their families out of poverty.” Bishop Max Davis Find the career you deserve www.catholicjobsonline.com.au CATHOLICJOBSONLINE For all enquiries call Katie on (02) 9390 5402