Pre-Budget Submission 2026

The St Vincent de Paul Society (Society) is a partner of governments. Our charitable work couples with government assistance initiatives to promote resilience and unity in civil society in times of need.

The Society’s focus is on addressing the root causes of disadvantage and poverty, reducing inequality and helping Australians reach their full potential. The Society’s Members provide material assistance to those struggling with everyday living and they tell us that the number of people seeking assistance has significantly increased over the past 12 months.

The Society acknowledges the various Government initiatives aimed at addressing the cost of living and housing crises, from increased access to bulk billing and cheaper medicines, through to the energy rebate and various housing initiatives.

However, Australians are continuing to struggle to meet basic, everyday expenses.

In short, more people are seeking our assistance, and their needs have increased in complexity (around 15 per cent increase). This, along with increased costs, is making it harder to assist all those who need our help. The situation is also heightened in the lead up to Christmas and follows through to the start of the school year.

Read the 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission (PDF)