Home visitation is the core work of the St Vincent de Paul Society and is a way by which people can be supported and encouraged to take control of their lives.  It allows Vinnies members the privileged opportunity to enter another’s home and life, to accompany them as they move forward.

Volunteers with St Vincent de Paul Camberwell Conference reflect on some of their experiences with home visits over this last year.  

On reflecting on the year just gone and some of the moments that stand out for us we recall assisting a lady fleeing from domestic violence, together with her grandson, who had been assigned a social housing flat in a complex in the local area. It was unfurnished and all she brought with her was a queen size mattress. Our visit revealed that she needed at least a refrigerator, a bed base for herself and a bed and mattress for her grandson. As it happened, that day a lady walking her dog in the local park asked our volunteer whether St Vincent de Paul could do with a single bed and base, and our Conference President, Joe Hastie, happened to have had a queen bed in his shed. By 11.00 am that morning we had delivered two beds and a mattress and ordered a mattress and fridge to be delivered a few days later. One very appreciative client and two Conference members felt quite pleased with themselves and their good fortune.

A sobering encounter occurred after more than 20 years of Conference visits to mainly welfare clients, many of them in social housing, when we visited a single income family suffering mortgage stress. It was on a visit to North Melbourne, where we assist our Balwyn Conference colleagues who serve areas where St Vincent de Paul conferences no longer operate. The wife received us, the husband not choosing to appear, possibly from embarrassment. We were able to lend an ear to this lady’s story and make a generous contribution to household expenses, but it was no answer to their situation. Reflecting on this encounter, it occurred to us that it  is now the new working poor, whether as mortgaged homeowners or renters, who are worse affected by interest rates and cost of living pressures than our usual clients. However, these families are less likely to ask for help, yet do not receive the relief offered to Centrelink recipients. It is the tip of an iceberg and a lesson that the government, Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and St Vincent de Paul itself should heed.

A more recent call alerted us to the plight of those in Australia on work visas who lose their employment. A visit to a single mother, living locally in rented accommodation at commercial rates, found that has also had to cover childcare costs without the government rebate, as well as household expenses. She does not qualify for any Centrelink benefits, and the loss of her job left her in a desperate situation, as she sought alternative well-paid employment. We were only able to pay for a fortnight’s rent and supply food and supermarket vouchers. Her decision to relocate to another capital city where she has friends and hopes of better job prospects has relieved us of the decision of how long we could continue to support her from our very limited resources. We wish her every success, but wonder how many others are in her situation.

All donations to our Christmas Appeal are gratefully appreciated.  To donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal,  you may like to take a tag from the Advent Giving Tree or use the QR codes below or complete the donation form here.  To learn more about the works of St Vincent de Paul visit Vinnies.

It’s your compassion and support that makes our work possible.  Financial donations play a critical role in sustaining the Society.  The annual Vinnies Winter and Christmas appeals are the primary local fundraising activity of our Conferences. 

Our Conferences are always looking for new members to assist in our work.  If you are interested in joining or finding out more about our works, please contact the Conference President(s) via the Parish Office.

Once again, we thank our fellow parishioners for their prayers and generous support for our work throughout the year.

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Published: 8 December 2023