The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.The Society aspires to be recognised as a caring Catholic charity offering “a hand up” to people in need. We do this by respecting their dignity, sharing our hope, and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny.

The St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/ Goulburn is a not-for-profit organisation made up primarily of passionate members and volunteers, supported by a number of dedicated staff. The work of the Society is funded through donations, enterprises run by the Society, and some government funding.

As a lay Catholic organisation, the Society does not receive any direct funding from the Catholic Church. Vinnies helps people in need in a number of ways, giving them a ‘hand up’ and support to make life-changing decisions. The types of assistance offered differs from situation to situation, but our mission remains central to our service.