Celebrating our good works

Our beginnings

Frederic Ozanam was a 20-year-old student in 19th century France who, along with his fellow students, met regularly “for large and lively discussions about the social teachings of the Gospel”. One night during one of these meetings, Frederic and his peers were challenged by someone in the crowd. “What is your church doing now? What is it doing for the poor of Paris? Show us your works.” That moment had a profound effect on Frederic.

Frederic and his colleagues took up the challenge and provided practical assistance to people who were struggling and, as a result, the St Vincent de Paul Society was born in Paris on 23 April 1833.

His vision became a worldwide movement and, 21 years later on 5 March 1854, the St Vincent de Paul Society arrived in Melbourne, Australia, brought here by Fr Gerald Ward who, like Frederic, had also witnessed a changing community following the discovery of gold in central Victoria in 1851, resulting in the state’s population doubling. Women and children were often the casualties of the goldfields, as men determined to strike it rich often couldn’t take their families with them and, in some cases, abandoned them altogether.

Today, through its wide network of members and volunteers, the Society’s work continues to provide practical frontline support, advocacy and friendship to the most vulnerable members of our community. This work is provided through our conferences – or local volunteer groups – and our core work is known as Home Visitation, meeting people in their home and providing assistance specific to their needs.

Our other special works include a network of Vinnies Shops, Soup Vans, Education programs, Prison Visitation, No-Interest Loan Schemes and VincentCare Victoria, which provides housing and homelessness programs and services.

For 168 years, the St Vincent de Paul Society has focused on serving people in need by connecting with them and personally working through their issues to provide the best possible assistance.

In Victoria, we have more than 10,000 members and volunteers providing assistance to people whose daily struggles can include putting food on the table, paying essential utilities and ensuring their children remain at school to obtain an education. Each person needing assistance is provided with care and compassion.

We also have a wide network of caring committees, which are volunteer-led and respond to, and advocate for, people in need. Examples include the Overseas Development Committee, which supports people in developing countries; the Social Justice & Advocacy Committee, which facilitates research, advocacy and supports new settlers. The Emergency Response Liaison Committee also coordinates an important, locally led response to natural disasters.

We are extremely grateful to the network of members and volunteers who are the backbone of our organisation.