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...
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The St Vincent de Paul Society’s members and volunteers provide practical support, advocacy and friendship to the most vulnerable in our community through local groups, known as conferences, as well as our Vinnies Centres and Soup Vans.
The Society also provides assistance to migrants and refugees seeking to rebuild their lives in a new country as well as supporting individuals and communities in developing countries. The St Vincent de Paul Society provides assistance to people in need each year within their local communities.
Conferences
Conferences respond to calls from people in need within their local communities and provide assistance with food, material aid, budget and utility bill advice, advocacy issues as well as a hand of friendship. They also provide a range of initiatives that address specifi c needs of the people they assist. Young adult conferences and college conferences involve younger members and provide a range of volunteer work in the community, including tutoring and organising Kids Camps for disadvantaged children.
Vinnies Centres
Vinnies Centres provide quality clothing, furniture and household items to people in need. Stocks are available free of charge to people being supported by conference members, as well as to the general public at a low cost. Profits from the sale of stock in the centres assists in providing resources and support to people in need.
Soup Vans
The Society’s five soup van services are based in Berwick, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Footscray and Moe. Staffed by volunteers, the vans travel the streets of metropolitan Melbourne and Moe bringing food and friendship to thousands of people living in boarding houses, low-rise/high-rise flats, refuges and on the streets.


