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Events

Homelessness Forum (act)

Homelessness: It’s About You, Can we halve Canberra by 2020? As Canberra celebrates its Centenary, homelessness remains a key civic challenge. A part of the Centenary of Canberra, the forum raises the profile of poverty and homelessness in our community. Can we find new solutions and new approaches by looking afresh at homelessness in Canberra? More...

 

 
 
 


FAQ's
General
Q             Who does the Society help?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society’s members and volunteers reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through our conferences, special works and Vinnies Centres.
Members and volunteers assist people in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs.
 
Anyone requiring assistance can contact the Society on:

State Phone No. Email
Canberra/Goulburn (02) 6282 2722 stvdp@stvincanb.com.au
New South Wales (02) 9560 8666 vinnies@vinnies.org.au
Northern Territory (08) 8948 8100 admin@svdpnt.org.au.
Queensland (07) 3217 3700 state.admin@svdpqld.org.au
South Australia (08) 8112 8700 svdp@svdpsa.org.au
Tasmania (03) 6333 0822 svdptas@bigpond.net.au
Victoria 1300 305 330 info@svdp-vic.org.au
Western Australia (08) 9475 5400 info@svdpwa.org.au
Q             How many people does Vinnies assist annually in Australia?
A
State People Assisted
Canberra / Goulburn TBA
New South Wales
915,261
Northern Territory
63,000
Queensland
260,000
South Australia
155,000
Tasmania
40,000
Victoria
660,000
Western Australia
150,000
TOTAL 2,243,261

Q             How big is the St Vincent de Paul Society?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international organisation operating in 148 countries and has over 950,000 members worldwide. The Society has a presence on every continent in the world with the exception of Antarctica perhaps.

Q             How is the St Vincent de Paul Society staffed?
A
The Society’s work is carried out by members and volunteers and is supported by a small number of professional staff.

Q             Is the St Vincent de Paul Society a part of the Catholic Church?
A
The Society is a lay Catholic organisation and does not receive any direct funding from the Catholic Church. The Society enjoys a close relationship with the Catholic Church and is assisted through parishes and schools.

Q             Does the Society only help Catholics?
A
Although the Society has a primarily Catholic membership and is based on Catholic spiritual principles, we provide assistance to whoever seeks it, without judgement or prejudice.

Q             What does the Society's logo mean?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society logo is used in many countries and is recognised everywhere as a symbol of hope and goodwill. The logo has three components: the hands symbol, the text and the slogan.

The hands signify:

Hands

The text:

logo

The slogan:

slogan
Funding
Q             Where does the money come from?
A
The Society raises money from its members, through Parish poor boxes, proceeds from items sold at Vinnies Centres, donations from the public and some government funding.

Q             How do I donate to the St Vincent de Paul Society?
A
You can donate to the Society by using the online donation facility provided on this website click here or by calling the 13 18 12. Donations of $2 and more to the Society are tax deductible.
 
Donations of clothing, furniture and household goods can also be made at your local Vinnies Centre. This donation will go towards assisting people in your local area.

Q             If I donate money does it actually go to those who need it?
A
When you donate to a specific special work we ensure that it goes directly to where you want it. The Society prides itself on ensuring all funds donated are used specifically for what they are intended. We have the lowest administration fees of any other Australian charity because of our huge volunteer base.

Q             Is the Society government funded?
A
The core work of the Society is carried out by members and volunteers and does not receive government funding ie home visitation and Vinnies Centres. These services are funded through donations, fundraising activities and enterprises run by the Society.
 
However some of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Special Works do receive government funding ie aged care facilities, housing and homeless services, supported employment for people with disabilities.
 
The Society does not receive any direct funding from the Catholic Church.

History
Q             When was the St Vincent de Paul Society established?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society was established in Paris 1833.

Q             Who founded the St Vincent de Paul Society?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Paris 1833 by 20 year old university student, Frederic Ozanam.

Born in French occupied Milan on 23 April 1813, Frederic Ozanam was inspired by St Vincent de Paul’s legacy and decided to name the Society after the famous French saint of the poor. Frederic Ozanam died on 8 September 1853 at the age of 40. He was beatified in Paris by Pope John Paul II on 22 August 1997.

Q             Why was the St Vincent de Paul Society established in Paris?
A
In Paris 1833, the people were experiencing tremendous political and social upheaval due to changes of government, the Industrial Revolution and unjust employment practices.
 
Frederic Ozanam gathered some colleagues and began to respond in practical ways to the poverty and hardship he saw in the lives of people around him. They visited people in their homes and offered friendship and support. This practice, known today as “home visitation”, remains the core activity of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Q             Who is the Society's patron and why?
A
St Vincent de Paul is the international patron of the Society.
 
Frederic Ozanam was inspired by St Vincent de Paul’s legacy and decided to name the Society after the famous French saint of the poor. The Society follows his teachings and compassion for people in need.

Q             Who founded the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia?
A

The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Australia on 5 March 1854 at St Francis’ Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne by Fr Gerald Ward.
 
Fr Gerald Archbold Ward was born in London 1806 and migrated to Australia on the 787-ton Digby on 7 September 1850 with Fr Patrick Dunne and 42 other passengers. Fr Ward died the 14 January 1858 at the age of 52.

Q             When was the Society established in each State of Australia?
A
State Date
Victoria
St Francis' Conference, Melbourne		 5 March 1854
Western Australia
Perth Conference		 8 December 1865
New South Wales
St Patricks' Church Hill Conference		 24 July 1881
South Australia
St Francis Xavier Conference		 April 1884
Queensland
St Brigids' Red Hill Conference		 18 February 1894
Tasmania
Church of the Apostles Launceston Conference		 12 July 1899
Northern Territory
St Marys' Darwin Conference		 27 September 1949
Canberra/Goulburn
Conference to be advised		 Date TBA

Q             Why was the St Vincent de Paul Society established in Australia?
A
In 1854, Fr Gerald Ward established the Society to assist people affected by the rapidly expanding immigrant population.
 
With the discovery of gold in 1851 and the rush to the goldfields of central Victoria, the population doubled and homeless, deserted children roamed the streets.
 
Fr Ward suggested that the main reason why the first Australian conference was for “the protection of male and female orphans.”
 
In a submission to the government of the day, Fr Ward stated that the new conference aimed at “the relief of the destitute, in a manner as much as possible permanently beneficial and the visitation of the poor families.”

Services
Q             What services does the Society provide?
A
The Society provides the following services:

•    Advocacy
•    Aged Care facilities
•    Budget counselling
•    Care and support centres
•    Childcare services
•    Children's activities and holiday programs
•    Disability services
•    Disaster recovery
•    Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services
•    Emergency accommodation
•    Employment support services
•    Friendship programs for people with a mental illness
•    Home and hospital visitation
•    Homeless accommodation and support services
•    Low-cost food outlets
•    Migrant and refugee support services
•    Mobile food services
•    Overseas support programs
•    Prison visitation
•    Refuge accommodation for women and children
•    School-base mentoring programs
•    Self-care aged units
•    Subsidised accommodation for tertiary students
•    Support programs for people with a mental illness
•    Supported employment for people with a physical or mental disability
•    Tutoring program for refugees
•    Vinnies Centres
•    Volunteer programs
•    Youth drop-in centres
•    Youth programs

*Not all services are available in each state

Q             How many Vinnies Centres are there?
A
State Centres
Canberra / Goulburn 25
New South Wales 267
Northern Territory 5
Queensland 132
South Australia 38
Tasmania 33
Victoria 99
Western Australia 45
TOTAL 641

Q             What happens to goods donated to Vinnies Centres?
A
Vinnies Centres resource local conference activities, providing clothing or furniture free of charge to struggling families or individuals identified through the home visitation process. Goods donated at Vinnies Centres assist this process but remaining stock is also sold to the public at reasonable prices thus generating revenue which helps fund the Society’s work within the community.

Q             How do I get help?
A
The St Vincent de Paul Society’s members and volunteers reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through our conferences, special works and Vinnies Centres.
Members and volunteers assist people in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs.
 
Anyone requiring assistance can contact the Society on:

State Phone No. Email
Canberra/Goulburn (02) 6282 2722 stvdp@stvincanb.com.au
New South Wales (02) 9560 8666 vinnies@vinnies.org.au
Northern Territory (08) 8948 8100 admin@svdpnt.org.au.
Queensland (07) 3217 3700 state.admin@svdpqld.org.au
South Australia (08) 8112 8700 svdp@svdpsa.org.au
Tasmania (03) 6333 0822 svdptas@bigpond.net.au
Victoria 1300 305 330 info@svdp-vic.org.au
Western Australia (08) 9475 5400 info@svdpwa.org.au
Membership
Q             How many conference members and volunteers does the Society have?
A
State Conference Members
& Volunteers		 Conferences
Canberra / Goulburn 3,500 55
New South Wales
19,669
471
Northern Territory
300
7
Queensland
7,973
215
South Australia
2,500
 64
Tasmania
1,000
29
Victoria
7,682
293
Western Australia
3,000
 78
TOTAL
42,124
1,169

Q             What does the word conference mean?
A
A “conference” is a local parish group of Society men and women which is established within a local area to provide assistance to people in need through home visitation and other initiatives.

Conference members meet regularly to provide mutual support, spiritual reflection and discuss how best to respond to the people they assist. Conferences are the basic unit of organisation.

Q             Who/what are members of the Society?
A
A member of the Society is a volunteer who joins a conference and attends regular meetings which include scripture discussion, prayer, reflection and how to improve assistance given within the local conference area. A member takes part in the work of the Society providing assistance through home visitation.

Q             Is a volunteer a member?
A
No. Volunteers participate in the work of the Society but do not attend conference meetings.

Q             Can I join the Society or become a volunteer?
A
Yes. Our members and volunteers enjoy a wide range of activities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can contact your local conference through the nearest Vinnies Centre or call the St Vincent de Paul Society in your State.

State

Phone No.

Email
Australian Capital Territory 02 6282 2722 volunteers@stvincanb.com.au

New South Wales
02 9560 8666

Northern Territory
08 8948 8100

Queensland
07 3010 1000

South Australia
08 8112 8700

Tasmania
03 6333 0822

Victoria
03 9895 5800

Western Australia
08 9475 5400
Q             At what age can I become involved with the Society?
A
Mini Vinnies 4 to 12 years
(primary school age)
School/College Conferences 12 to 18 years
(secondary school age)
Vinnies Youth/Young Adult Conferences   17 to 35 years
Society Members 18 years and up

Q             At what age can I become a member the Society?
A
You can become a member of the Society from the age of 17 and upwards. Your involvement with the Society can begin through College Conferences and Vinnies Youth as well as local parish conferences.



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The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia wishes to acknowledge that we are on Aboriginal land. We pay respects to all traditional custodians.
This website may contain images of deceased members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. They are used with the greatest respect and appreciation.