Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia is proud to announce our participation in a joint national research project which explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalised communities in Australia.

As part of the Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) new and innovative Stakeholder Engaged Scholarship Unit (SESU), JRS Australia along with St Vincent de Paul NSW, Catholic Social Services Victoria, St Mary’s House of Welcome, and Lord Somers Camp and Powerhouse are working together to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted community members in particularly vulnerable situations and community sector services.

Researchers from the university with work with staff, volunteers, and service beneficiaries from all five organisations to examine the effects of last year’s lockdowns for temporary visa holders, people who experienced long-term unemployment, and people who had access to support for the first time.

The project will also look at what improvements can be made for people who had access to support and the effects on their mental health and wellbeing. The project will also highlight ways in which the community sector can be prepared to respond to future need following the roll back of federal government emergency relief measures.

To find out more about the project, read the Australian Catholic University Media Release.