FAQs

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact our Emergency Relief Helpline:

13 18 12

or email us at info.cg@vinnies.org.au

Our conference members and volunteers reach out to people seeking assistance in the ACT and surrounding regions through our Conferences, Special Works (services) and Vinnies shops.

We assist anyone in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can contact our team through your nearest Vinnies shop or call us on (02) 6282 2722.

You can donate to the Society by donating online or by calling 13 18 12.
Donations of $2 and more to the Society are tax deductible.

Donations of clothing, furniture and household goods can also be made at your local Vinnies shop. These donations go towards assisting people in your local area.

When you donate to a specific Special Work we ensure that it goes directly to where you want it. The Society prides itself on ensuring all of our funding goes to providing services for people in need.

Donations made to Vinnies shops allow us to provide clothing or furniture free of charge to families or individuals seeking assistance. This is organised by our conference members through the home visitation process.

Goods donated at Vinnies shops assist this process and remaining stock is sold to the public, thus generating revenue which helps fund the Society’s work within the local community.

We raise funds from the proceeds of items sold at Vinnies shops, donations from the public and some government funding.

All of our funding goes to providing services for people in need.

The Society is a lay Catholic (ordinary members of the community) organisation and does not receive any direct funding from the Catholic Church. The Society enjoys a close relationship with the Catholic Church and is assisted through parishes and schools.

The core work of the Society is carried out by conference members and volunteers and does not receive government funding, such as, home visitation and Vinnies shops. These services are funded through donations, fundraising activities and enterprises run by the Society. All of our funding goes to providing services for people in need.
 
However some of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Special Works (services and programs) do receive government funding, such as, aged care facilities, housing and homelessness services, supported employment for people with disabilities.
 
The Society does not receive any direct funding from the Catholic Church.

A Conference is a group of members who come together to fulfil the Mission of the Society by providing home visitation and support to people seeking assistance in their local community.

A Conference may be established within any community, such as a parish, town, suburb, school, university, workplace, ethnic or social group.

Conferences are funded through donations and Vinnies Shop profits.

The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Paris 1833 by 20 year old university student, Frédéric Ozanam. 

Born in French occupied Milan on 23 April 1813, Frédéric Ozanam was inspired by St Vincent de Paul’s legacy and decided to name the Society after the famous French saint of the poor. Frédéric Ozanam died on 8 September 1853 at the age of 40. He was beatified in Paris by Pope John Paul II on 22 August 1997.

The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Australia on 5 March 1854 at St Francis’ Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne by Fr Gerald Ward.

Fr Gerald Archbold Ward was born in London 1806 and migrated to Australia on the 787-ton Digby on 7 September 1850 with Fr Patrick Dunne and 42 other passengers. Fr Ward died the 14 January 1858 at the age of 52.