St John's Care

St John's Care A drop-in centre providing emergency relief in central Canberra. Non-judgmental and caring service or simply a friendly cuppa and a chat.

Come and say Hi!! Donate an item or two… We are at the Jamison Shopping Centre today between 9:00am and 3:00pm. Pantry A...
13/06/2026

Come and say Hi!! Donate an item or two… We are at the Jamison Shopping Centre today between 9:00am and 3:00pm. Pantry Appeals are one of the most effective ways of collecting food whilst saving money.

HELPING M FOCUS ON HEALINGDuring a wellbeing chat, M shared that she was due to commence chemotherapy treatment in mid-M...
12/06/2026

HELPING M FOCUS ON HEALING

During a wellbeing chat, M shared that she was due to commence chemotherapy treatment in mid-May. While preparing for this difficult stage of her cancer journey, she expressed concerns about maintaining a healthy diet and managing the additional challenges that treatment would bring.

Together, we discussed how our service could support her throughout her treatment. We agreed that M would regularly access food relief, with a focus on fresh fruit and vegetables to help support her nutrition and wellbeing. We also made arrangements for a family member or friend to collect food on her behalf during the weeks when she was not feeling well enough to attend in person.

Since beginning chemotherapy, M has continued to access fresh produce through our service. Despite the challenges of treatment, M has made a conscious effort to remain active and maintain a sense of normality. Whenever she feels well enough, she enjoys coming in to collect her food herself, as it gives her an opportunity to get out of the house, stay connected to the community, and focus on her wellbeing.

Recently, M visited us and shared that she was feeling much better. She expressed her gratitude for the ongoing support and explained how much the fresh fruit and vegetables have helped her throughout treatment.

During our conversation, we spoke about healthy recipes, nutritious meals, and green juices that could help support her overall wellbeing. M shared that she believes the access to fresh, healthy food has played an important role in strengthening her immune system and helping her body cope with the demands of chemotherapy.

For M, the support has been about much more than food. Knowing that she could rely on regular access to nutritious produce has reduced financial stress and provided reassurance during a very challenging time.

This support is made possible through the generosity of our food donors, including OzHarvest and SecondBite. Their contributions allow us to provide fresh and nutritious food to people like M who are facing some of life's most difficult challenges. Through these partnerships, we can continue supporting clients during times of illness, hardship, and recovery, ensuring they have access to healthy food when they need it most.

Kind Regards,

Karen Medrano
Case Manager

A Warm Coat and a Fresh StartAt St John’s Care, no two days are ever the same. While our community lunches are special, ...
04/06/2026

A Warm Coat and a Fresh Start

At St John’s Care, no two days are ever the same. While our community lunches are special, it is often the quieter, everyday moments that leave a lasting impact.

One chilly morning, S visited us for the first time. He had recently secured a casual job after months of unemployment and was due to start the following week. While he was excited, he was also anxious. Canberra’s mornings the past few days have been unforgiving, and S did not own a warm coat suitable for early starts at the warehouse where he would be working.

As we sat together, S shared how difficult the past year had been. Rising rent, increasing utility bills, and the cost of simply getting by had slowly eroded his savings. Like many people, he had found himself choosing between paying bills and buying essentials.

Thanks to generous community donations, we were able to provide S with a warm coat, sturdy boots, and a food hamper to help him get through until his first pay. We also connected him with financial guidance through Care Financial to ensure he felt confident managing expenses as he transitioned back into work.

The following fortnight, S returned - this time with a big smile. He had completed his first week, felt welcomed by his new colleagues, and was proud to be earning again. The simple act of having appropriate clothing had given him confidence on that important first day.

“I felt ready,” he told us. “It might not seem like much, but that coat changed everything.”

At St John’s Care, we see time and again how practical support, offered with dignity and kindness, can help someone take the next step forward. A warm coat is never just a coat. It is comfort, confidence, and sometimes, the beginning of a fresh start.

We are deeply grateful to our donors and community partners who make these moments possible every single day.

Our FREE monthly community lunch is on this Friday, all are welcome, we'd love to see you here.
02/06/2026

Our FREE monthly community lunch is on this Friday, all are welcome, we'd love to see you here.

Medication ExpensesI received a call the other day from a Social Worker from the Cancer Support Ward at Canberra Hospita...
29/05/2026

Medication Expenses

I received a call the other day from a Social Worker from the Cancer Support Ward at Canberra Hospital.

She had a client who was undergoing treatment from a rare type of cancer. K had been out of work for the last 7 months due to his ongoing battle against the disease and his partner was also not working. He had been unable to receive government benefits due to his migration status.

K and his partner couldn’t even afford to buy paracetamol.

The Social Worker called us because she had heard about what we do and was desperate to get K to wider community support. His treatment plan was changing, and he was about to transition out of the care of Canberra Hospital.

When I took the call I could hear the desperation in her voice, so I offered to meet up with her that day. She gratefully accepted and somehow managed to organise a meeting with all of us within a few hours.

I was able, not just to meet them, and assure them of our ongoing support as they make this transition but also take them a much-needed food hamper. K and his wife were incredibly grateful. They had never heard of us but were amazed by the generosity we were able to show them.

Now, we are a small organisation compared with Canberra Hospital, and we receive no government funding, but sometimes that opens possibilities that might otherwise get missed.

Our dedicated volunteers and staff, and your ongoing generosity, allow us to ‘punch above our weight’ when it comes to offering personal, speedy, support to clients in real need.

I love that we can do things like this, and we are so grateful for your ongoing partnership. Please know, that it is making a real difference in the lives of people every day.

Grace and Peace,

Nathan
Community Chaplain

Last week wass National Volunteer Week, and this year’s theme is "Your Year to Volunteer". It reminds us of something w...
25/05/2026

Last week wass National Volunteer Week, and this year’s theme is "Your Year to Volunteer". It reminds us of something we see every single day at St John’s Care, ordinary people doing extraordinary things for our community.

Quite simply, we could not operate without our amazing volunteers.

From packing food hampers, stocking shelves and welcoming clients, to making cups of tea, listening without judgement and helping families through some of the hardest moments of their lives - our volunteers are the heartbeat of St John’s Care.

Every hour they give is an act of kindness, dignity and hope.

If we had to pay for the work our volunteers do each year, it would cost millions of dollars in salary expenses alone. But what our volunteers bring is worth even more than money. They bring compassion. Humanity. Community.

What many people don’t realise is that St John’s Care does not receive ongoing government funding. We are only able to continue this work because of the generosity of our donors, alongside the dedication of our volunteers and staff, who together make St John’s Care what it is today.

At a time when more and more people are struggling with the rising cost of living, housing stress and financial hardship, our community continues to step forward to support one another.

To every volunteer - Thank You for giving your time, care and energy.

To every donor - Thank You for standing beside us and believing in this work.

And to our staff - Thank You for showing compassion and dignity to every person who walks through our doors.

Together, you are the reason hope continues to exist for so many people across Canberra and the surrounding region.

I was lucky enough to attend the National Volunteer event at Government House last week, where I listened to volunteers and staff from across the community sector share many of the same concerns we are also seeing here at St John’s Care. It was both reassuring and sobering to hear that organisations across Canberra are experiencing similar challenges, with growing demand for support, increasing cost-of-living pressures, and more people seeking help for the very first time.

Kind regards,
Jason Haines
Managing Director

This week is National Volunteers Week!!! St John's Care is fortunate to be supported by over 75 volunteers each week. We...
22/05/2026

This week is National Volunteers Week!!! St John's Care is fortunate to be supported by over 75 volunteers each week. We would not be able to do the wonderful work we do in the community without our amazing volunteers. This week we have celebrated by having cake and refreshments with our volunteer group each day. Please see below for some photos of our volunteers, and a video of our Managing Director Jason Haines with the Governor-General of Australia who gave a special shout out to our volunteer Joyce who she remembers fondly from her time volunteering here at St John's Care.

FROM CRISIS TO HOPEA woman visited our service today seeking urgent support after experiencing a series of difficult cir...
15/05/2026

FROM CRISIS TO HOPE

A woman visited our service today seeking urgent support after experiencing a series of difficult circumstances. She had been living and working in Canberra, where she was employed in a checkout role. Following an injury affecting her hand and arm, she was no longer able to continue working due to ongoing pain and physical limitations.

The client reported that other people experiencing homelessness had recommended that she come to our service for support. Without income, she gradually exhausted all her savings and recently became homeless, sleeping on the streets while trying to navigate her situation alone.

Due to her current circumstances and lack of income, the client is also unable to access housing options or receive any type of Centrelink financial support, leaving her with very limited pathways to stability and recovery.

The client also shared that, due to financial hardship and having no remaining savings, she had stopped taking her prescribed medication because she could no longer afford her PBS prescription costs. St John’s Care was able to assist by covering the cost of her prescriptions to ensure she could continue accessing her medication and support her health and wellbeing.

Through collaboration between St John’s Care and other support services, emergency accommodation was secured for four nights to provide immediate safety and stability. St John’s Care is also continuing to assist the client through food relief support and advocacy with external agencies to explore options for financial assistance with flight tickets so she can return home and reconnect with her support network.

After discussing her circumstances and future plans, the client provided consent for support workers to contact other organisations on her behalf to seek assistance with travel costs. She believes that returning home will allow her to access stronger supports and services that may better support her recovery and long-term wellbeing.

Despite the challenges she is facing, the client remains hopeful and motivated to rebuild stability in her life. Support from donors makes it possible for services like St John’s Care to respond quickly to people experiencing crisis, providing practical assistance, advocacy, and hope during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.

Kind regards

Karen Medrano
Case Manager

As Canberra’s temperatures continue to drop, more people in our community are being pushed to breaking point. Families w...
12/05/2026

As Canberra’s temperatures continue to drop, more people in our community are being pushed to breaking point. Families who have never needed support before are now struggling to afford food, fuel, heating, and other everyday essentials.

This winter, St John’s Care is expecting one of our busiest seasons yet, and we need your help.

The good news is that every donation made to our Winter Appeal will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $30,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of one of our long-time supporters. That means your kindness can have twice the impact for local people doing it tough this winter.

Together, we can help provide emergency relief, practical support, and hope to people across our community when they need it most.

Donate to our Winter Appeal - https://www.stjohnscare.org.au/donate

Search for WarmthThe temperature has dropped below zero. Most of the community is inside by now. Heaters are blowing, wa...
08/05/2026

Search for Warmth

The temperature has dropped below zero. Most of the community is inside by now. Heaters are blowing, warm baths and showers are running, and electric blankets are working hard to warm beds before we climb into them.

However, across Canberra there are people preparing for a very different night.

Some pull sleeping bags tighter around themselves beneath a tree or in bushes, while others seek shelter in public toilets. Some walk the streets through the night because movement is the only thing that keeps the cold from settling in their bones.

Canberra’s winters can be brutal for those sleeping rough. The cold is not simply uncomfortable, but extremely dangerous as freezing temperatures increase the risk of illness, worsen preexisting health conditions, and place immense strain on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.

When people are forced into survival mode, they are consumed by focusing on their immediate threats and needs, and are often unable to plan ahead, problem solve or put things in place to better their situation. Unfortunately, at St John’s Care, we see this reality firsthand.

I recently provided a tent, a sleeping bad, and a warm winter jacket to a man named S who had been experiencing homelessness for approximately 6 months. S had every intention of finding more permanent accommodation, but simply did not have the financial, emotional or psychological resources necessary to undertake this process.

Over the past few weeks, the cold, and the exhaustion had taken a visible toll on S. He spoke openly about how difficult it was to think beyond what was immediately in front of him. Staying safe, finding food, and seeking warmth consumed almost all of his energy.

Alongside providing practical support such as a tent and warm clothing, St John’s Care also worked closely with S to explore more stable accommodation options. Staff assisted him to navigate housing services, discuss referral pathways, and connect with specialist agencies better equipped to provide long-term support.

While the process was often slow and overwhelming for S, having consistent encouragement and someone to walk alongside him helped make the task feel less impossible. Stories like S’s are a stark reminder of Canberra’s brutal winter conditions, and the ongoing need for services like St John’s Care to support those doing it toughest in our community.

Kind regards,

Robbie Speldewinde
Operations Manager

Address

45 Constitution Avenue, Reid
Canberra, ACT
2601

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 2pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 2pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 2pm
Thursday 9:30am - 2pm
Friday 9:30am - 2pm

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