About Catholic Social Services Australia

Catholic Social Services Australia is the Catholic Church's peak national body for social services in Australia. Our 64 member organisations provide social services to over a million Australians a year, delivering services in local communities in metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.

Our Vision: Catholic Social Services Australia envisages a fairer, more inclusive Australian society that reflects and supports the dignity, equality and participation of all people

Our Mission: Catholic Social Services Australia advances the social service ministry which is integral to the Mission of the Catholic Church in Australia.

We work with Catholic organisations, governments, other churches and all people of good will, to develop social welfare policies, programs and other strategic responses that work towards the economic, social and spiritual well-being of the Australian community.

Catholic Social Services Australia is a commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, reporting to the Bishops through a Board of 9 persons appointed by the Conference.

Catholic Social Services Australia seeks to embody and promote the core principles of Catholic Social Teaching:

Dignity of the person
Our vision for society springs from our understanding of the fundamental dignity, sanctity and worth of every human life.

Common good and community
People are fundamentally social beings, and how we organise socially, politically and economically has implications for our capacity to grow in community.

Preferential option for the poor
The most important measure of the success of our community is the manner in which we direct our resources to assist those people most in need.

Rights and responsibilities
Our participation in community brings with it both a range of rights and protections and a range of duties and obligations.

Further information relating to Catholic Social Teaching can be found here.

Catholic Social Services Australia's Statement of Strategic Intent details our priorities for the next 3 years.

Catholic Social Services Australia's National Office in Canberra operates a policy and research unit that is informed by an extensive service delivery network. This includes over 500 programs nationally. We manage a number of government contracts including Job Network, Personal Support Program, Disability Open Employment Services and we also support a number of Family Relationship Services.

Our National Office in Canberra employs 24 staff under the leadership of the Executive Director, Frank Quinlan (pictured left).

See Also:

Catholic Social Services Australia Constitution
Catholic Social Services Australia By-Laws
Catholic Social Services Australia Code of Ethics
Catholic Social Teaching