St Vincent de Paul Society NSW

What an incredible day at Hilton Sydney. The inaugural Hilton Sydney Cricket Club brought Aussie sporting legends to the heart of the city to support Vinnies Vans. Cricket stars like Michael Clarke took to the pitch and the match was followed by engaging lunch discussions with NRL legends and the broader rugby community. Thanks to the generosity of Hilton Sydney, our partners, and guests, we raised over $40K. These funds will help us stock our Vinnies Vans with food and essentials, allowing us to continue supporting those who need it most. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and made this day possible.

As Inclusion @ Work Week comes to an end, we wanted to share moments that show what inclusion looks like across our services and programs. From open days and a Community Greening Day to shared skills and unexpected reunions, it has been a week to remember. We look forward to next year’s Inclusion @ Work Week and will continue to put connection and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. 🤝Diversity Council Australia Ltd

When people in Wagga Wagga fall on hard times, the team at Edel Quinn is there to offer a hand up. Damien Adams oversees our homelessness and housing services in the region, working with the Edel Quinn team to help people gain housing and sustain tenancies. Damien’s dedication to delivering for the people Edel Quinn assists has seen him recognised with an Argyle Housing Stakeholder Award. Learn more about the impact Damien and the Edel Quinn team are making in the community: https://lnkd.in/gNXha8F6

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is proud to launch our latest research report, developed in partnership with The McKell Institute: 'Equitable Transition: How the NSW Government Can Better Support Lower-Income Households Challenged by Energy Prices.' As NSW moves toward net zero, we’re calling for stronger protections so low-income households aren’t left behind. The report recommends: 🔹 More targeted energy rebates 🔹 Easier access to hardship and crisis supports 🔹 Improved energy efficiency for at-risk households We launched the report with a sector roundtable bringing together representatives from the Justice and Equity Centre (formerly the Public Interest Advocacy Centre), Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON), Sydney Alliance, COTA NSW, Justice and Peace Office, Tenants' Union of NSW and NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS). It was also powerful to hear directly from our Vinnies Support Centres, who shared what they’re seeing every day: people struggling under the weight of rising energy bills and cost-of-living pressures. Achieving energy justice has been a foundational part of the support provided by the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW. Our founder, Frederic Ozanam, delivered firewood two centuries ago in post-revolution France and that same spirit of responding with warmth endures to this day.    You can download a copy of the report here: https://lnkd.in/g4PGTrbD

Spreading Christmas cheer with Vinnies Vans and Westfield Sydney. Last week, we hosted our first-ever sit-down Christmas lunch in Waterloo thanks to the generosity of Westfield Sydney. The Westfield Scentre Group (Owner of Westfield destinations in Aus and NZ) and Vinnies Vans teams came out in full force to serve, support, and care for some of the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community. This collaboration is a great example of what meaningful corporate partnership looks like - hands-on, community-focused and driven by impact. Together, we supported 380 people, with 15 receiving referrals for wraparound support and 2 assisted with immediate housing assistance. A huge thank you to everyone involved for helping create a warm and memorable experience. If your organisation is looking to volunteer as a team or explore opportunities to partner with St Vincent de Paul Society NSW please get in touch!

Inclusion @ Work Week celebrates diversity and inclusion in the workplace each year. Diversity Council Australia Ltd is commemorating its 40th anniversary in 2025 by focusing on the progress that has been made so far and where workplaces are headed in the future. St Vincent de Paul Society NSW aspires to shape a more just and compassionate society for all. Inclusive and diverse workplaces play an important role in realising that vision. Learn more about how we can all play a part in shaping inclusive workplaces.

It was great to have Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, join St Vincent de Paul Society NSW at our Lewisham office for an open conversation about addressing domestic and family violence. The Society NSW operates 10 refuges dedicated to supporting victim survivors of domestic and family violence, along with a further two refuges that primarily offer this support. In the past year, these services supported over 1,700 women and children. Thank you to The McKell Institute for co-hosting this event with us, and to Minister Harrison for joining us.

Christmas should be a time of joy, but new research commissioned for the Vinnies Christmas Appeal is presenting a much grimmer picture. Over 1,000 households were surveyed by YouGov in partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW. The findings concerningly show that 1 in 2 Australians expect to experience financial stress during the festive season. Our members are seeing these concerns every day as people reach out for assistance with the most basic of needs such as food, clothing and household bills. You can ease these concerns through a donation to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Funds raised will support households in their time of need and ensure no one goes without this Christmas. Donate today at: https://lnkd.in/g6Vw_yxf

We warmly welcome the NSW Government announcement to expand and improve crisis and transitional accommodation across the state. The new Building Crisis Housing Plan is an important investment that will strengthen services supporting people facing or experiencing homelessness in our communities. This is much-needed funding that will enhance the quality and capacity of accommodation for vulnerable people across NSW. We operate a number of crisis and transitional housing properties that could benefit from this investment - helping to raise standards and create more safe, dignified spaces for people rebuilding their lives. Demand for crisis accommodation continues to rise as more people struggle with cost-of-living pressures and housing insecurity. We’re also seeing people stay longer in crisis accommodation. Targeted investment like this will help create more sustainable exit pathways from crisis, allowing more people to access timely support when they need it most. The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is ready to work closely with the NSW Government, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson to ensure this funding is directed where it’s needed most - particularly to smaller refuges and transitional services that make a life-changing difference in communities across NSW.

Our Vinnies Reconciliation Movement Poster Competition received more than 140 entries from students across the state. Students used their creative flair to express what this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme – ‘Bridging Now to Next’ – means to them through paintings, drawings, sculptures and graphic design. Quinn Z was our overall winner and received a prize pack from our partners at Amazon at her school assembly. Find out more about her entry and see all the winners and runners up here: https://lnkd.in/gNJUqKcM