St Vincent de Paul Society

The St Vincent de Paul Society has been helping Queenslanders since 1894 and in Bundaberg since 1934. The St Vincent de Paul Society provides essential relief to people facing difficulties in their lives. Whether it's financial pressure, social disadvantage, personal crisis or dealing with natural disasters, the Society provides practical assistance and support services to people in need. Much of the Society's support services are intended to provide immediate assistance and opportunities to enable people to achieve better outcomes for themselves and their families in the long term, as a 'hand up', not a 'hand out'.

More than 8000 members, volunteers and staff across Queensland work to realise the Vision of the Society to offer a 'hand up' to people in need and to achieve the Mission of the Society to serve the poor and the marginalised and to assist people in times of crisis. This is achieved by operating Vinnies Retail Centres, with two in Bundaberg and one in Bargara, which provide value shopping by recycling, repurposing and selling a wide range of used goods, offering a range of quality used items including clothing, household items, furniture and much more at affordable prices, with the proceeds of the sale of donated goods being used to fund a range of support services the Society provides in the community. In Bundaberg this includes a Support Centre which provides emergency relief and essential assistance to people in need as well as other services. It varies by region, with some services offered relative to regional needs and availability of funds and personnel to operate services, and in Bundaberg other services available include Children's Education Fund, Christmas Hampers, Youth Programs, Child & Family Program, crisis accommodation for men at the SVdP Men's Homeless Hostel, and a Housing Program set for development from 2025.

This range of support services is only possible because of donations (material and financial), as well as people who donate their time to work as volunteers in Vinnies Retail Centres, Conferences, and in Society Programs. Many opportunities exist in the St Vincent de Paul Society to volunteer in a variety of roles which offers people an opportunity to use their skills and to learn new skills, meet people, socialise, stay active, be motivated and to inspire and positively impact the lives of others and contribute and benefit the community.

The St Vincent de Paul Society remains steadfast in its purpose to be recognised as a caring 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. Across the world and across Australia and Queensland, and here in Bundaberg, as a lay Catholic charity offering a 'hand up' to people in need, serving the disadvantaged and vulnerable in the community, the members of the Society who provide essential support services to people and families in need, do so by respecting the dignity of those in need, sharing hope, and encouraging people in need to take control of their own destiny. As a faith-based organisation, the St Vincent de Paul Society advocates for social justice and to create social impact by providing care, compassion and hope to anyone who needs a 'hand up'. Similarly, the Society welcomes anyone who wants to make a difference and join as a member or volunteer, whether becoming a Conference member and offering support services and community programs, or as a volunteer in a Vinnies shop or warehouse sorting and recycling donations, the St Vincent de Paul Society welcomes all.