Sisters of Charity Community Care
As the most recent initiative in social support, the Sisters of Charity
Community Care (SCCC) reaches out to the disadvantaged in
Melbourne and the rural areas of Victoria through a number of
programs. The Sisters, in developing this project, have
endeavoured to be true to our charism to seek out the emerging
needs of the poor in our society and to take whatever steps are
needed to walk with people in justice, compassion and love. The
SCCC program commenced in 1997 with the establishment of
Briar Terrace, a small house in Fitzroy, which provides a place for
homeless men and women of the area to experience social
contact, a listening ear and genuine concern. Two Sisters of
Charity work at Briar Terrace along with a number of volunteers.
At the same time, research was being done as to how the Sisters
might use their property at Healesville, known as "Comely Bank",
which was previously used by the St Vincent de Paul Society for
programs for recovering alcoholics. In 1998, Comely Bank was
made available for a group of children from Bosnia who were
recovering from prosthetic limb surgery following the war. In 1999,
the house was restored and now provides a place of respite for
carers of people with disabilities, particularly for those who come
from disadvantaged situations. Two Sisters, one part-time, minister
at Comely Bank.
Rosebank Centre at Strathmore has been functioning as a centre
of hospitality since 1995. The Centre offers various programmes
including craft, massage, card mornings, a book club, reflection
days and herbal days. Volunteers from the Centre also visit the
needy in the community. It provides a very pleasant venue for
Conference days and is used by schools and other groups for
meetings. Rosebank Centre houses the Congregational Office of
the Sisters of Charity (Victoria), the SCCC office, the office for
Care for Carers and the office for the Sisters of Charity Aboriginal
Awareness Project. A Sister of Charity manages the Centre,
assisted by a number of committed volunteers.
Care for Carers commenced in 1998 and is the fourth program to
operate under the umbrella of SCCC. This program works in
conjunction with the Moreland City Council and provides
companionship and a listening ear for people involved in full-time
caring. It operates in the areas of Brunswick, Moreland, Coburg,
Pascoe Vale, Glenroy and Fawkner. A Sister of Charity manages
this service, assisted by a group of trained volunteers.
In 2003, a fifth program began at Castlemaine with the opening of
a house of hospitality for families visiting women in the local
women's prison. Two Sisters of Charity live in the house and are
currently developing awareness of the service among the local and
wider community. The project has been supported in part by
VACRO.
The SCCC was incorporated in June, 2000. It has a Board of
Directors including two Sisters of Charity. The Board is responsible
to the Congregational Leader and Council who are the members of
the Company. This company has the potential to develop and
include other programs or form a partnership with other groups.