The coming months will be significant for our Society, both in our continuing service to people experiencing hardship and in advocating key policy decisions that will affect their lives. As this Autumn issue of The Record reaches you, we stand at the threshold of Easter, still within the penitential season of Lent. It is a fitting time to fast, to pray, and to reflect on our shared mission and the key developments that lie ahead.

At the national level, we are encouraged by the Federal Government’s apparent willingness to explore changes to the 50 percent Capital Gains Tax discount in the upcoming Budget. Any reform must be tested against a simple Gospel-inspired question: does this help or harm people who are already doing it tough? With the housing and cost-of-living crises worsening, tax settings are part of the web of policies that can either entrench intergenerational inequality or open pathways to secure housing and dignified work. As a Society grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, our contributions to this discussion will continue to focus on fairness, the common good and the preferential option for people living in poverty.

These developments sit within our suite of advocacy priorities. The Society remains committed to speaking fearlessly on issues such as housing and homelessness, income support and cost of living, the dignity of work, the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum, and the needs of First Nations peoples. Our advocacy flows from what Members see and hear every day in home visits, Conferences and services. Policies and systems must never lose sight of the human faces behind the statistics, and I encourage Members to continue sharing the stories and insights that arise from your local experience, which inform our national voice.

As a democratic, Member-led organisation, the Society regularly experiences transitions in leadership. I warmly congratulate Brendan Podbury on his recent election as State President for Victoria and welcome him to National Council. Brendan brings a deep Vincentian spirit and many years of service to his new role, and I trust the Victorian State Council and Members will be well served by his leadership.

Brendan succeeds Michael Quinn, whose four-year term as Victorian State President ended in February. I offer heartfelt thanks to Michael for his generous service to National Council over the past four years. His contribution has been marked by fidelity to The Rule, a genuine concern for Members and volunteers, and a constant focus on the Companions we assist. Our councils and committees rely on people who are willing to give of their time, energy and professional skills, compassionately and without public recognition; Michael’s service is a reminder of the many quiet acts of leadership and kindness that sustain the Society.

Looking ahead, we also prepare to welcome new leadership in Queensland, with the election of Peter Dougherty as the next State President due to occur in June. As Peter prepares to take up this responsibility, we give thanks for those who have gone before him in leadership in Queensland and across Australia. We ask that the Holy Spirit guide Peter in discerning how best to support Vincentians, our Companions and the Society’s services, volunteers and staff in the years to come.

On the international front, our bonds with the wider Vincentian family continue to expand. A face-to-face meeting of the SVdP Oceania Partnership Program is planned for Auckland from 9 to 11 April. This gathering will allow us to strengthen relationships across the Oceania region, share experiences of responding to poverty and climate-related challenges, and explore new ways to collaborate. The Society in Australia stands ready to respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in the Pacific, including the impacts of environmental degradation, displacement and economic vulnerability.

Another important recent development has been the Permanent Section’s approval of changes to Part III of The Rule. The Rule is not merely an administrative document; it is a spiritual and practical guide that keeps Members close to the charism of the Society’s founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and our patron Saint Vincent de Paul. Any revision is undertaken with great care to ensure that how we organise ourselves truly supports our mission of compassionate service and spiritual growth. In coming months, we will provide further information to help Members understand and live these changes. (Turn to page 6 for more details.)

As we move through Lent toward Easter, may the Society continue to be a beacon of hope: in the way we accompany people experiencing hardship, in the humility and courage of our service and advocacy, and in the way we support one another as Vincentians. I thank you for your commitment to our Vincentian mission, and I pray that this Easter will bring you, your families and the people we serve a sense of peace and renewed purpose.