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.

CLIENT JOURNEY – CELEBRATING STRENGTH, HOPE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTThe client first came to St John’s Care more than six m...
04/09/2026

CLIENT JOURNEY – CELEBRATING STRENGTH, HOPE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The client first came to St John’s Care more than six months ago seeking food relief. During our initial conversations, she shared that she was about to begin chemotherapy. At a very difficult and uncertain time in her life, she was facing the treatment journey with very limited support around her.

Since then, I have had the privilege of supporting her on a weekly basis throughout her chemotherapy journey. Our support was not only about providing practical assistance, but also about offering encouragement, connection and a safe space where she could feel supported during such a challenging period.

St John’s Care was able to provide the client with weekly food relief throughout her treatment. Access to fresh fruit and vegetables was particularly important to her during chemotherapy, and we were able to make sure these were regularly available alongside other essential food items.

This week marks a very special milestone: the client is receiving her final chemotherapy treatment.

At St John’s Care, we want to celebrate her strength, resilience and determination throughout this journey. We also want to recognise and celebrate our donors and supporters. Their generosity made it possible for us to provide consistent practical support when this client needed it most.

As her Case Manager, I was able to be the connection between that generosity and a person going through one of the most difficult periods of her life. Week after week, the support provided by our donors became fresh food, essential groceries, encouragement and reassurance that she did not have to face every challenge alone. Her final chemotherapy treatment is not only an important milestone for her; it is also a meaningful reminder of what community support can achieve. Behind every donation is the opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life. Today, we celebrate this client, her incredible strength, and everyone who helped support her throughout this journey.

We are incredibly grateful to all our donors whose generosity made this ongoing support possible. Your contributions are much more than food on a shelf; they allow us to stand beside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. In this client’s journey, your support meant that each week she could access nutritious food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, while undergoing chemotherapy. It also meant that she knew there was a community behind her, caring and supporting her along the way. As we celebrate her final chemotherapy treatment, we celebrate you too. Thank you for making it possible for St John’s Care to be there, week after week, when it mattered most.

Kind regards

Karen Medrano
Case Manager

It's going to be a very busy day at St John's Care tomorrow!! Bring your bills and your appetite - we can help you with ...
03/09/2026

It's going to be a very busy day at St John's Care tomorrow!! Bring your bills and your appetite - we can help you with both. Whether you need some practical support or just want to enjoy some good food and company, we'd love to see you.

St John's is once again participating in Floriade About Town! Wander around the church and schoolhouse on Saturday 12 Se...
02/09/2026

St John's is once again participating in Floriade About Town! Wander around the church and schoolhouse on Saturday 12 September from 2pm-4pm as the music of the bells echoes across the city in 'Sounds of a Floriade Spring'. The bellringers will showcase a range of spring-themed songs, traditional peals and movie soundtracks. Free entry and ample parking nearby. Donations in the church on the day will go to St John's Care, helping Canberrans in need this spring. Bring some friends and explore one of Canberra's most historic landmarks.

REMINDER: Bring your bills workshop held in conjuction with Care Financial will be at our September community lunch th...
01/09/2026

REMINDER: Bring your bills workshop held in conjuction with Care Financial will be at our September community lunch this Friday 4 September, bring your bills and your appetite.

The following organisations have been confirmed:

ActewAGL
Origin (online)
Red Energy (online)
Canberra Community Law
Housing ACT
Vinnies Energy Team
Pam's Pantry
Community Service #1

Theory into practiceThere's a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein – although its real origin probably traces much ...
30/08/2026

Theory into practice

There's a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein – although its real origin probably traces much earlier – which reads as follows.

"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not."

Often, we can think we have a good understanding of people's lives, their hardships and the issues they face just based off theories. We might read something or watch something that gives us a sense, an idea, even a theory about the problems our clients face, and how to fix it. As I entered my social work placement at St John's Care this year, I certainly thought I had a good enough understanding of the sort of clients I would meet, the problems they faced, and exactly what needed to be done to fix those problems.

But then early into my placement, I met R. Over the last two years, R had been in and out of hospital for multiple cancer diagnoses and treatment in various parts of her body. It had left her too tired to cook, too sore to sleep, and too weak to spend time with her grandchildren. Furthermore, over the two years, R was unable to properly look after her home, which now had an outstanding gas bill of over $3000. The whole process had left her stressed and anxious about her future.

It's here that I really experienced, not just learned in a classroom, that people's problems don't just remain isolated to one area of life; they spread like illness, infecting and negatively impacting the mental, social, physical, and spiritual aspects of a person's wellbeing.

Thankfully, after ringing both Centrelink and R's gas provider, we were able to negotiate a payment plan that would pay off their gas bill over time, while still leaving her enough money for medical costs. In the meantime, I suggested R seek food relief from St John’s Care until some of these financial stressors eased.

Theory is essential to our practice; however, none of the theories I learned could ever encapsulate the joy and relief I saw on R's face, when she realised that there was hope for her future. Please know and be encouraged by the fact that some of the joy and relief our clients experience comes from your constant prayers, support, and donations.

Grace and Peace,

Tim
Junior Case Manager – Student Placement

SAVE THE DATE – FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBERThere’s lots happening at St John’s Care next Friday💡 BRING YOUR BILLS 11am–2pmDrop...
27/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE – FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER

There’s lots happening at St John’s Care next Friday

💡 BRING YOUR BILLS 11am–2pm

Drop in for FREE, in-person help with debt, energy bills and cost-of-living pressures. Chat with the team about available support, including the $100 Energy Support Payment, managing debt and energy hardship, consumer credit legal issues, tenancy assistance and more.

🍽️ COMMUNITY LUNCH 12 noon–1:30pm
While you’re here, stay and enjoy our FREE Community Lunch

On the menu:

🥣 Pea & Ham Soup
🍗 Apricot Chicken
🌱 Vegetarian options available
🍫 Brownies with berries & ice cream

No bookings are required , simply come along. Whether you need some practical support, would like to enjoy lunch, or both, we’d love to see you!

We are excited to announce we will be hosting another bring your bills workshop at our September community lunch, bring ...
25/08/2026

We are excited to announce we will be hosting another bring your bills workshop at our September community lunch, bring your bills and your appetite.

When the right support changes everythingHardship rarely exists in isolation, and a single challenge can often begin to ...
21/08/2026

When the right support changes everything

Hardship rarely exists in isolation, and a single challenge can often begin to impact every aspect of a person’s life.

Recently, a client named K came to SJC at a point where he felt he had nowhere else to turn. Following the passing of a family member who owned a property, K found himself caught in a complicated legal situation. As he attempted to navigate the property law system and seek professional advice, the costs continued to grow and K accumulated significant debt.

Before long, the financial pressure began affecting almost every part of his life. His physical and mental health suffered, and the ongoing stress began impacting his ability to maintain employment. What had started as a legal problem had quickly become something much bigger.

Fortunately, SJC had recently been approached by Thomsons, a law firm that had generously offered to support St John’s Care.

I was able to refer K to Thomsons, who have spent the past few weeks helping him navigate an incredibly complex and costly process. Importantly, K has been able to access professional legal advice and consultation that would otherwise have been financially out of reach.

Earlier this week, K returned to St John’s Care to provide an update and say thank you. More importantly, he wanted us to pass his thanks on to Thomsons, telling me that their assistance had “seriously changed my life.”

K and I spoke about just how significant the impact had been. Removing some of the legal and financial pressure had allowed him to begin focusing again on his health, employment and the other areas of his life that had suffered.

K’s experience is a reminder that sometimes the most valuable support we can provide is not something sitting on our shelves. It is knowing our community, building strong partnerships, and connecting someone with the right people at the right time.

We are incredibly grateful to Thomsons for generously sharing their expertise with K. For K, their generosity was more than free legal advice - it provided relief, hope, and an opportunity to begin moving forward again.

Robbie Speldewinde, Operations Manager

21/08/2026

Our Managing Director Jason Haines discussing the Fundraising Institute Australasia - FIA, and some learnings from last financial year.

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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