As the dust settles on the 2025 Federal Election, St Vincent de Paul Society extends its congratulations to the Australian Labor Party on forming government again. We look forward to continuing our work with the Albanese Government to build a fairer and more compassionate Australia.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our many Members, volunteers and supporters who brought the Justice and Compassion campaign to life.

From writing to candidates and attending local forums, to sharing our calls on social media and in community conversations, your efforts made a meaningful impact. As we look ahead, we are eager to deepen and broaden this engagement—inviting all Members to consider how their voice might strengthen our collective call for justice.

We know that candidates and parliamentarians value the feedback of our Members, hearing the challenges faced by those doing it tough in their local communities. Advocacy remains a vital expression of the Society’s mission, and when Members are equipped and supported to speak out, real and lasting change is possible. 

Many candidates expressed a willingness to continue engaging with the Society post-election…

Throughout the campaign, the Society called on all parties and candidates to support four key priorities: securing a fair safety net for all, ensuring housing security across the country, meeting the needs of First Nations peoples, and rising to the refugee challenge. These are not abstract policy asks, they are grounded in the lived experiences of those we serve and stand with every day.

We received formal responses to our election statement from the ALP, the Coalition, and the Australian Greens, as well as written feedback from a number of independent MPs and Senators, including Senator David Pocock and Dr Andrew Leigh MP.

Many candidates expressed a willingness to continue engaging with the Society post-election, and we will be taking them up on that offer. We will also continue to work closely with key Commonwealth Departments, especially the Department of Social Services, which oversees emergency and food relief policy and funding, and Treasury, which oversees the administration of charities. 

Following the election, the Society undertook a review of the campaign’s impact and effectiveness. This included consultation with National Council’s Social Justice Advisory Committee and the Vincentian Refugee Network, as well as a briefing to National Council.

The review affirmed the value of clear, accessible materials and a streamlined message, and highlighted opportunities to strengthen Member engagement—particularly through earlier resource distribution, more interactive webinars, and expanded video and digital content.

National Council has endorsed several recommendations arising from this review, including continued investment in video and social media, earlier campaign rollouts, and tailored support for Member advocacy. 
Planning is also underway for a series of engagements with parliamentarians throughout late 2025 and into 2026. These will include Members of National Council meeting with key Ministers, MPs and Senators, as well as a proposed launch of the Society’s commissioned research on tax and welfare reform at Parliament House.

While elections come and go, our mission endures. The Society remains committed to advocating for a more just and compassionate Australia—and to doing so in partnership with Members across the country, whose voices and experiences are vital to the work ahead. R

To read more about the campaign and stay involved with our advocacy, visit: www.vinnies.org.au/advocacy

Mirielle Augustin is a final year student at the ANU, working with the Policy & Advocacy team at the Society’s National Council Secretariate.