Dr John Falzon

Dr John Falzon

CEO St Vincent de Paul Society

Dr John Falzon is the Chief Executive Officer of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Victoria. His Maltese parents migrated to Australia from the East End of London when John was only seven. His parents and their two sons lived in his uncle’s garage in Blacktown, in Sydney’s outer west, before moving into their own house nearby.

John’s interest in issues of social justice stems from his own family context. His father instilled in him a sense of what social justice means for working people. In John’s words “I saw my own father suffering the effects of injustice when he got cancer from having to use carcinogenic solvents while testing road materials for a large company”.

He had a strong academic interest which led to his gaining a PhD and working in academia. He holds degrees in Literature, Theology, Philosophy, Politics and Social Analysis. He is also a published poet. However, he has always had an interest in being involved at the grassroots level. He has held a variety of positions – youth worker, community development officer on public housing estates, and conducting research and advocacy for non-government organisations.

John was a participant in the 2020 Summit, has served as a member of the ACOSS Board and has also served on government advisory committees such as the Community Response Task Force and the Energy White Paper High Level Consultative Committee. He is a member of the Australian Social Inclusion Board.

John has written and spoken widely on the structural causes of marginalisation and inequality in Australia and has long been involved in advocacy campaigns for a fairer and more inclusive Australia, especially with regard to welfare legislation, housing justice, homelessness and poverty.

Sources: 1. socialinclusion.gov.au 2. abc.net.au 3. becausechildrenmatter.org.au