The St Vincent de Paul Society Australia (SVdP) is deeply committed to supporting communities in need, both locally and globally. We fulfil this commitment by helping those in need in the Asia-Pacific region through the Overseas Partnerships Program (OPP).

The OPP is coordinated on behalf of the Society by National Council of Australia and overseen and facilitated by the Overseas Partnerships Program Standing Committee and Secretariate, working with State and Territory Councils and Conferences.

The OPP is comprised of Twinning, Projects, Assist A Student and Emergency Relief, and is delivered through St Vincent de Paul Society partnerships in the following regions and countries:

• Oceania: Kiribati, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk).
• Asia: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Laos PDR and Myanmar.

Being involved in the OPP offers an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals to bring about lasting change on an international scale by helping to implement programs that improve living conditions for marginalised communities. There are numerous ways Members of the SVdP community support this important work, from becoming a Twinning Officer, Committee membership, or joining specialised Working Groups focused on developing long-term, sustainable relationships in these regions.

1. How Members Contribute

Conferences are the lifeblood of the Overseas Partnerships Program, and there are numerous ways Members contribute to the OPP, no matter your background or expertise. Initially, you could express interest in being a Twinning Officer for Conference or Council to raise awareness and support for the OPP. With experience, you may want to be considered as a member of one of the OPP Committees.

Involvement in National or State/Territory Committees is facilitated by regular Zoom meetings and occasional face-to-face meetings.

2. Overseas Partnerships Program Standing Committee

Reporting to National Council, the Overseas Partnerships Program Standing Committee (OPP SC) guides the direction of international initiatives and ensures that partnerships align with local needs and have a lasting impact in overseas communities. OPP SC Members collaborate with Council General International (CGI) and its regional representatives, our overseas partners and States and Territories to provide advice to National Council in strategic planning and the implementation of the OPP.

Chair and Members of the OPP SC are appointed by the National President and come from the across the Society.

3. State and Territory Overseas Partnerships Committees

Most State and Territory Councils in Australia have an Overseas Partnerships Committee (OPC). These OPCs are crucial to the Society’s work because they: encourage communication and relationship building between twinned Conferences and Councils, support the engagement of Conferences and Councils in their jurisdiction in the OPP; and coordinate the collection of remittances for Twinning, Grants, Projects and Assist A Student.
Chair and Members of the OPP SC are appointed by the State or Territory President and come from the across the Society. Current Members come from New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

4. The OPP National Network

The OPP National Network connects SVdP staff and Members from all States and Territory Councils, providing a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing resources, and collaborating on national initiatives. It enables States and Territories to stay connected, keep updated on the latest developments in the Society’s overseas projects, contribute to cross-state coordination, and be a part of efforts aimed at raising awareness and engagement in the OPP across jurisdictions. The OPP National Network is essential to the continued strengthening of the OPP.

The Co-Chairs and Members of the OPP National Network are the Members and staff from the States/Territories involved in the OPP.

5. Society of St Vincent de Paul Oceania Partnership

The National Council of Australia is working with the CGI’s Oceania team, the National Council of New Zealand and the National Councils of Federated States of Micronesia – Chuuk, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga to collaborate to further the mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Oceania through the establishment of the Oceania Partnership.

The aim of this partnership is for the National Councils in Oceania to journey together as they become sustainable and self-sustaining, through increasing their capabilities across multiple areas.
The SSVP Oceania Partnership is governed by the Oceania Partners Forum which is made up of the National Presidents of each of the National Councils in Oceania.

CGI and the National Councils of Australia and New Zealand will provide leadership, support and assistance to the SSVP Oceania Program over the next 10 years. Australia is providing Secretariate support.

6. Working Groups

The Society in Australia is also continuing to work to strengthen its engagements with its partner National Societies. This includes the potential for Australia’s State/Territory Councils to twin with Overseas National Councils in Asia or the Pacific, with the first two twinnings already in formation.

The Queensland State Council has established a twinning relationship with the Solomon Islands, while the New South Wales State Council has twinned with Fiji. These twinning relationships provide an exciting opportunity for individuals to engage in building sustainable development projects, strengthening cultural understanding, and fostering long-term support between Australian Members and the people of these Pacific nations.

Co-chairs and Members of these working groups are appointed by the National President of the Overseas Partner and the President of the State or Territory Council.

Emerging Societies are also supported by Vincentians in Australia through the Papua New Guinea Working Group and the Timor-Leste Working Group. Being part of these working groups gives individuals a chance to play a direct role in implementing life-changing projects and building strong partnerships that benefit local communities.

Members of these working groups are appointed by the National President upon the recommendation of the Chair of the OPP SC. Current Members come from Canberra-Goulburn, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get involved, visit the St Vincent de Paul Society website or contact your Conference President, Chair of your State or Territory OPC or email overseassupport@svdp.org.au. 

Join us in making a difference for people in need across the globe, and together we can help build a global network of charity as envisaged by our Founder Frédéric Ozanam.