The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia is united in its spirituality and management through the International Confederation of the St Vincent de Paul Society (The Rule, Part II, Art. 1.1).  National Council is instituted by the International Council General (Part III, Art. 15) and follows the international and Australian statutes outlined in The Rule.

The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia (‘the Society in Australia’) is governed by The Rule which embraces the principle of subsidiarity such that decisions are made as close as possible to the level where activities are performed ensuring local circumstances are taken into consideration (Part I, Art 3.9).  

The Society in Australia consists of the National Council and six State Councils and two Territory Councils that together assist the Society’s Members carry out good works. 

Under The Rule, the National Council is the Society’s superior council in Australia (Part II, Art. 1.6).  National Council authorises the legal entities that operate in Australia in the name of the St Vincent de Paul Society.  Each of the Society’s nine councils in Australia is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC).

National Council and some of the state and territory councils have established and control separate subsidiary legal entities to assist in the good works of the Society.  Each subsidiary entity is registered with the ACNC.