The St Vincent de Paul Society in Tasmania commenced in 1899 when a Conference was established in Launceston. Six years later, the first Conference was founded in Hobart. No further expansion occurred until 1911 when, in the wake of a visit to the State late in the year by the President of the Superior Council of Australasia, L. F. Heydon, twelve new Conferences were formed. Of them, two were created by dividing the conferences in each city into two and the remainder came into existence in various localities across the island, outside the urban centres (at the same time, particular councils were established in Hobart and Launceston).
From these beginnings, the Society has grown to the extent that there are now 25 Conferences within four Regional Councils in Tasmania. These Conferences undertake a variety of good works although the most common continues to be the traditional Vincentian one of visiting people in need in their homes.
For many years, Tasmania has promoted and supported the membership of young people. Currently, a Youth Co-ordinator is employed to organise and facilitate services which include recreational and social activities for disadvantaged children and teenagers, visitation of the elderly in their homes and in nursing homes, visiting patients in hospitals and raising funds for local and overseas projects.
Special works in Tasmania include Marillac House in Launceston which provides accommodation for people travelling to Launceston for medical reasons, Bethlehem House in Hobart which provides accommodation, referral services and recreational social and outreach programmes to homeless men in the Hobart area. Mt. St Vincent Nursing Home and Therapy Centre a 68 bed nursing home, which also provides a variety of medical services to residents and the broader community - located in Ulverstone. Loui's Van, a mobile service which provides food and hot drinks, five days a week to people "on the streets" of Hobart and Glenorchy and York Place a social club for adults with disabilities which operates on Saturdays in Launceston. A total of more than a hundred people with intellectual disabilities are provided with employment at Vincent Industries at Burnie and Wivenhoe, St Vincent Industries, North Hobart and Tastex Knitwear, Glenorchy.
