Whatever your faith, religion, gender, ethnicity, age or socio-economic background – we’re here to help. No matter where you come from, who you are or what you believe. We provide care when you need it most. Existing to do Christ’s work in the community, Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains (Catholic Care) is the Diocese of Parramatta’s social welfare agency. The most vulnerable, disadvantaged members of our community — regardless of faith, religion, gender, ethnicity, age or socio-economic background — can turn to us for support and professional care. Our aim is to be the face of Christ and to make a positive difference — through the Church — in the lives of those who need our support, and to help them find joy and purpose in life. Catholic Care provides a range of services to support people in Sydney’s west. These supports include:
- Family and children’s services: Family support programs, including positive parenting in Blacktown to help vulnerable and disadvantaged families grow and thrive in the community. We also provide family and parenting counselling and caseworker support for families and carers.
- Supporting pregnant and young women with children: Houses 2 Homes provides holistic support and temporary housing across Blacktown and Parramatta for pregnant women and young mothers aged between 16 and 25 with children, who are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness due to financial, family, domestic and sexual violence. Project Elizabeth provides trauma counselling, pregnancy and practical parenting support for women and their families who are expecting a baby, have lost a baby, have had an abortion, or who need support with a child aged up to three years.
- General counselling: Offers confidential counselling for individuals and families experiencing life’s challenges, including grief and loss, parenting, financial issues, relationships and trauma, including domestic, family and sexual abuse.
- Childcare services: Through the HIPPY program, Family Day Care service across Western Sydney, and a creche centre at Mamre House in Orchard Hills, Catholic Care provides essential care for children, including engaging activities to support child development during their first 2000 days of life.
- First Nations support services: A range of social services and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Catholic faith.
- Community outreach: Supporting people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as those experiencing disadvantage and/or social isolation, through various drop-in centres at Emerton, Springwood, Mamre and All Saints of Africa at Blacktown. Support includes English classes, food banks and a range of social and wellbeing support groups that aim to connect people within our community.
- Volunteer services: Catholic Care’s volunteers support a range of services, including visiting the elderly and socially isolated, as well as working with disadvantaged and vulnerable community groups
Catholic Care has several locations (including drop-in centres) to connect communities across Sydney’s west:
Blacktown (All Saints of Africa)
Orchard Hills (Mamre House)
Emerton (Aboriginal Services)
Springwood
Blacktown. Visit Catholic Care for details of classes, groups and drop-in sessions, as well as times and locations.
