The National Council of Australia
The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia aspires to work towards a country transformed by compassion and built on justice.
National Council of Australia purpose
The purpose of our National Council is to represent and guide The Society nationally, enabling the state and territory councils in achieving our mission.
Our National Council is instituted by the International Council General and guided by the Society’s statutes outlined in The Rule.
170 years of Good Works
For 170 years, the St Vincent de Paul Society has been providing support and assistance to people in need.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia was established at St Francis' Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne on 5 March 1854 with Fr Gerald Ward as the Society's first President.
Members of our National Council
Members of our National Council include our President, and the Presidents of our six State and two Territory Councils, our Spiritual Advisor, youth representative, and office bearers. Presidents are elected by Members. Office holders are appointed by the National President. The Spiritual Advisor's role is to facilitate the Council to be ‘genuine communities of faith and love, of prayer and action’ and ‘meet as brothers and sisters with Christ in the midst of them.‘ The Rule.
The members of National Council (The Rule, Art 15) are the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia Inc. and are the directors of the Association’s board (Association Constitution, Cl 10).
National Council is a member of two related entities:
- St Vincent de Paul (Society) Housing Australia
- St Vincent de Paul Society National Redress Scheme Ltd
Secretariate
National Council Secretariate supports and assists National Council implement its Strategic Plan.
Our Secretariate is led by the National Council CEO, Toby oConnor.
