https://sistersofcharityfoundation.org.au/

Sisters of Charity Foundation, Sydney (2026)

26/08/2026

“A lot happens in five years. I've been working tirelessly towards the completion of my Bachelor of Engineering degree (Honours, Mechanical). So many opportunities have opened up for me through the Foundation. I can't name all of them today, I've been told to stick to a minute!

In late 2023, I was able to make connections to Mick and Robin, the co-founders of Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, through the Sisters of Charity Foundation. I was able to come on board with Abergeldie and start up as an intern engineer.

Ever since I've worked on two different bridge projects. Very similar in structure but very different in how you’ve got to build them. I've just been learning so much every single day, on-the-job experience. I really believe 80 per cent of what you learn is through work and through what you do.

And it's just been so thrilling. Moving from intern engineer to undergraduate engineer – and I'm hoping after the completion of my degree to take up a full-time gig with Abergeldie, if they'll have me!

I have lots of confidence. It's been amazing, miraculous what you can do when you've got the fundamentals. You need your basic things – food, water – and then you get the next stage up and the tippy-top of that pyramid is confidence and self-esteem and that's where I find myself now. I just really want to get this degree done and continue learning. It's been great working on site.

Really find out what you want to do and find something that's fulfilling and valuable to you. And I place emphasis on fulfillment because if you love what you do, then every day is so much easier. You get into work, you keep showing up.

Times do get tough. It's not the worst thing on earth to say, ‘hey, I need some help’.”

Our scholarship student Andre participated in a Q&A with our Patron the Governor-General at Admiralty House in June. Andre first spoke at Admiralty House in 2021, when he’d just started out on his degree. We’ve seen his confidence and happiness increase over the years, and we’re SO excited to see him finish his course and graduate soon. And it looks like he has a job all lined up!

Photos:

Andre, the Governor-General Ms Sam Mostyn AC, and Mick and Robin from Abergeldie.

The Governor-General conducts a Q&A with scholarship recipients Andre and Julia, and Program Development Manager Estelle Muller.

24/08/2026

This is such an awesome story: ‘A 12-year-old boy from western NSW will walk 500 kilometres for a guaranteed chat with the prime minister about paediatric care in the bush. At the end of this month Dusty Langby will hit the road for a 16-day trek from Warren to Parliament House in Canberra.

He is aiming to raise $1 million for Little Wings, a children's charity that provides free flights to Sydney for rural children.

"I'm asking for him [Anthony Albanese] to match the amount that I've raised when I get to parliament," Dusty said.

The charity also flies paediatricians to regional communities, including Warren, for monthly visits. So far Dusty has raised $100,000, which is enough to fund a doctor's travel to five rural communities for a year.

Dusty came up with the idea of walking from Warren to Canberra while swimming in the family dam with his mother Sarah in January.

"I''m so proud of Dusty," she said. "We have worked out that, so far, what he's raised is nearly going to see 400 children get access that they wouldn't have had access to. For a 12-year-old boy to think of this and execute it, I'm just very, very proud of him."

Dusty wants to make sure no child misses out on the care he has been lucky enough to receive himself. Both he and his brother have been flown to Sydney from Warren by Little Wings for specialist medical appointments.

Dusty has been in training since January and has so far gone through four pairs of shoes. His walk starts August 30 and he hopes to reach Canberra on September 14.’

Join us in cheering Dusty on!

Story and photos: ABC News: bit.ly/4gx99wo

20/08/2026

“At 16 and 17 years old I was managing things like rent, bills, and day-to-day responsibilities while still trying to attend school,” says our scholarship student Chey-Anne. She was often top of the class when she was younger, in subjects like Multimedia, English and PE. However, her final years at school were very challenging.

“That period impacted my attendance and ultimately my final results. I still managed to graduate, but it wasn’t a true reflection of what I was capable of at the time.”

Chey-Anne received a scholarship in 2026 to study a three-year Bachelor of Criminology at Deakin University. She always wanted to go to university, but for a long time didn’t believe she was capable of handling the pressure and completing the course. Fortunately, that mindset changed.

“As I’ve gotten older and gained more life experience, I’ve realised that I am capable, and that I always have been,” she says. “I think a big part of it was confidence and believing that I deserved to be there.”

Being accepted into her degree helped her realise she’d made the right choice. “This was exactly what I needed to stay motivated and push myself,” Chey-Anne explains. “Now that I’ve started studying, it’s been really rewarding to learn something I’m genuinely interested in. It’s made a big difference being engaged in what I’m doing, and it’s helped me push through the challenges that come with it.”

Chey-Anne is interested in why people commit crime, and how different systems respond to it. She currently works in corrections and immigration detention and has seen first-hand how complex people’s situations can be. “I’m looking forward to learning the theory [behind why people commit crime] and understanding things on a deeper level, not just from experience but academically as well,” she says.

“My long-term goal is to build a career within the criminal justice or intelligence space, potentially working in areas related to serious crime or counter-terrorism. I want to be in a role where I’m not just observing the system, but actively contributing to it in a meaningful way and making a real impact.”

Like all our scholarship students, Chey-Anne’s schedule is packed. Her work in detention services involves long shifts, sometimes at night. She organises her lectures, readings and assignments around work – but also prioritises staying active through soccer, running and swimming. “It helps me manage stress and stay balanced,” she says.

When Chey-Anne learnt she’d received a scholarship she was initially shocked. “It took a while to sink in!” she admits. “I felt really grateful and proud of myself. It felt like recognition of how far I’ve come.”

In a first for our Tertiary Scholarship Program, Chey-Anne’s twin sister Tori-Lee also received a scholarship this year, to study a three-year Bachelor of Social Work at James Cook University. “We’ve both been able to build positive paths for ourselves,” says Chey-Anne. “It’s been really motivating to have someone so close to me who understands where we’ve come from and pushes me to keep improving.”

Chey-Anne plans to use the scholarship for study-related costs as well as everyday expenses. “It allows me to focus more on doing well in my degree rather than just getting through,” she says. “The financial support definitely helps, but it also means more than that – it feels like someone is backing me and believing in what I’m trying to achieve.”

Chey-Anne’s message to supporters:

“I’d like to genuinely thank the Foundation and its supporters for investing in students like me. Your support doesn’t just help financially, it gives people opportunities they may not have thought were possible for themselves. It truly makes a difference.

I think it’s important for people to understand that where you come from doesn’t have to define where you’re going.

Opportunities like this can genuinely change someone’s path, and I’m really grateful to be in a position where I can take that opportunity and make something of it.”

19/08/2026

After fleeing her rental home to protect herself and her children from family violence, Priya thought the hardest part was behind her. Instead, she spent the next three years burdened by a lease agreement she couldn’t escape. Despite repeatedly informing the rental provider and real estate agent of the violence, and providing clear evidence that it was unsafe for her to return, they refused to remove her from the lease.

Years later, Priya was shocked to receive a VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) claim against her, seeking her bond and additional compensation for damage and rent arrears – caused by her former partner after she had left the property!

In crisis and unsure of her rights, Priya turned to Anika Legal, a free service that helps vulnerable Victorian renters.

Priya received tailored legal guidance and comprehensive submissions asking VCAT to recognise her circumstances as a victim-survivor of family violence. Anika prepared evidence showing that the rental provider had unreasonably refused to remove her from the lease for over three years, despite her repeated requests.

With Anika’s assistance, VCAT excluded Priya from all liability. She recovered her full bond, and those funds helped her and her children access services to heal from the trauma they’d been through.

Today, Priya and her children are safely housed in a new rental property. She has gained confidence to engage with the legal system and feels empowered to assert her rights. She says:

“I’m incredibly grateful to Anika Legal for their support… From the very beginning, their team was compassionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to helping me navigate the process… They made a complex situation feel manageable, explained everything clearly, and treated me with respect throughout. I can’t recommend Anika Legal highly enough to anyone needing legal assistance. Their service is not only professional but deeply human.”

Anika Legal used its Sisters of Charity Foundation Community Grant to employ a community lawyer to provide free legal help to Victorian renters facing eviction, unfair rent increases, unsafe living conditions, and more.

17/08/2026

‘It is often dubbed an invisible crisis, but in one of Australia's most affluent and progressive cities, evidence of homelessness is becoming harder to ignore.

"People don't want to look at it, because it's gritty and it's hard and it's hard to fix," Havelock Housing chief executive Kylie Maiden said. "But you only have to walk through Garema Place to see that it's not invisible – there are a lot of people sleeping rough in this city in very cold, cold winters."

Across Canberra, homelessness services are reporting an increase in demand tied to the cost of living.

Vinnies Night Patrol hits the road 364 nights a year, with volunteers in vans supplying food, hot drinks, toiletries, warm clothes and bedding to those in need.

Last financial year, the service provided more than 19,000 instances of support in Canberra and Queanbeyan – a 38 per cent jump on the previous year.

The van's busiest stop is in Civic. "It can get up to maybe 50 or 60 people here, and we just end up giving out black coffee because we run out of milk," volunteer team leader Angus Hutchinson said.

The number of material items Night Patrol provides to keep people warm and comfortable overnight has also increased by 58 per cent in one year.

"People say that I'm only two pay cheques removed from coming out here," Mr Hutchinson said. "I think everyone's feeling that lately."

Some of those who use the service are sleeping rough in tents in public parks, or in sleeping bags next to concrete buildings.

Others, like Victor, have a home in public housing, but are struggling to afford the essentials. "I come out to get some food to supplement my diet. I do come here two or three times a week," he told the ABC.

The Early Morning Centre in Canberra's CBD is seeing similar demand for its breakfasts, lunches and emergency food packs. "With the cost-of-living crisis, people are really struggling financially," centre director Nicole Wiggins said. "[We're seeing] some new faces, but more of our regular faces … coming daily rather than weekly.

"We have people with university degrees, people who speak numerous languages, people who've owned their own businesses, owned their own houses, and then disaster has struck, and they've ended up on the street."

Story and photos: ABC News: bit.ly/4cd8Rtl

13/08/2026

After 19 years of serving farming families and rural communities across southern Queensland, Downs & West Community Support has officially closed its doors.

Since 2007, the organisation has provided encouragement, practical support and hope to people facing hardship. From distributing food hampers, grocery and fuel vouchers, furniture, clothing and farm supplies, to assisting with household bills and creating opportunities for connection through hundreds of community wellbeing events, every act of support was delivered with dignity, compassion and care.

Downs & West Community Support was established during what was described as the “worst drought in living history”. Initially supported by the Sisters of Charity of Australia Congregation, it came under the umbrella of the Sisters of Charity Foundation in 2022.

Looking back on nearly two decades of service, Founder and Sister of Charity Christine Henry reflected:

“What I witnessed in those early days, and in every year since, has been the extraordinary strength, resilience, kindness and compassion of rural communities across Southern Queensland. While the decision to wind down this important work has not been easy, I am forever grateful for every connection made, every conversation shared, and every life touched along the way.”

Advisory Committee Chair and Treasurer Chris Garnier said the organisation’s legacy will live on through the lives it has touched.

“Nineteen years of human kindness cannot be erased from the soil of Queensland. Thank you to our donors, our volunteers, our resilient farming families, and most of all, to Sister Christine for her 19 years of selfless service.”

To every donor, volunteer, community partner and supporter who made this work possible – thank you. Your generosity enabled thousands of people to receive practical assistance, compassion and hope when they needed it most.

While Downs & West Community Support’s chapter has come to an end, the spirit of kindness, resilience and community that defined its work will continue to inspire those whose lives were touched over the past 19 years.

12/08/2026

George completed a personal training course a few years ago and is now ready to set up his own gym in Melbourne's Sunshine and Maribyrnong areas. Ready Set’s volunteer stylist Wendy helped him out by providing work-appropriate clothing to start him on his new venture.

Our Community Grants recipient Ready Set Australia supports young jobseekers across greater Melbourne who are facing barriers to employment. By providing high-quality, work-appropriate clothing and essentials (such as shoes, accessories, toiletries and underwear) jobseekers are helped to confidently enter the workforce. They work one-on-one with experienced stylists and dressers to find outfits that reflect their personal style while aligning with their goals.

10/08/2026

"When I left my relationship, I honestly thought I'd done everything I could to keep myself and my four kids safe. But somehow, my ex always seemed to know where I'd been or what I'd been doing. It was really unsettling, and I couldn't work out how it was happening.

There were concerns that my phone and some of my digital accounts had been compromised, and that things like my digital wallet were giving away information about where I was shopping or spending money. It made me feel like I had no privacy and that I was constantly being watched.

Getting a DV Safe Phone made such a difference. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a phone I could actually trust. I could contact my support workers, organise appointments, and manage day-to-day life for my family without worrying that someone was keeping tabs on me.

It might just look like a phone, but for me it meant peace of mind. It gave me a chance to feel safe again and focus on moving forward with my kids."

Women escaping or living with domestic and family violence need access to a safe mobile phone: to call for help; access financial, support and emergency services; and to maintain their social networks. Perpetrators so often target victims' phones and destroy them or use them to control and track their victims.

Our Community Grants recipient DV Safe Phone clears and repairs donated phones, then sends them to service providers and DFV response agencies to be given to clients in need.

Safe communication can be life-changing for people escaping DFV. A safe phone can provide privacy, connection, and the freedom to focus on rebuilding a safer future.

06/08/2026

“Reading is so important,” says Philip. “It expands the mind – you use your imagination. All the furniture, all the characters, all the voices of the people, you have to think them up for yourself. You have to translate the words into a mind thing. You can be the architect of your imagination. I build the characters in my mind. There are voices that I can’t forget, I can remember them because I created them. Books take you to places.

“The people are beautiful, they are very caring and kind. They are not just giving away books; they are touching people’s lives.”

Our Community Grants recipient The Footpath Library provides quality books, reading glasses, and opportunities for social connection to people experiencing homelessness. Footpath Library vans visit around 25 regular locations across NSW, Victoria and WA, and give away more than 8,000 books every year – much of this work made possible by an amazing team of volunteers.

04/08/2026

“Being off the ground and warm inside is amazing… Being inside, safe, respected and able to be clean,” were what one guest valued most about her time at the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter, operated by our Community Grants recipient charity Stable One.

“When we asked what she valued most about her time at the shelter, she didn't talk about grand gestures. She talked about the things many of us take for granted,” says Stable One CEO Katherine Kirkwood.

In partnership with local churches, the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter runs nightly with the support of around 150 volunteers who offer meals, warm beds, and a sense of community. The shelter exists to create a place of rest, care and connection, helping guests feel less alone and more supported.

“Over time, she became part of the life of the shelter – sharing meals, joining in games around the table, laughing with volunteers and fellow guests, and gradually finding a place where she felt safe, known and valued,” says Katherine.

“She also reflected on the positive influence of the shelter community itself, saying, ‘It has made me cut back on alcohol and drugs, thinking of volunteers and other sleepers.’

“By the end of her stay, she was ready to take an important next step on her journey – something we celebrated with her and continue to pray for. Before leaving, she shared one final reflection that has stayed with all of us: ‘This program saved me from suffering in so many ways, I cannot list them all.’

“We know the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter can't solve every challenge our guests face. But we can offer warmth, stability and a community that continues to welcome people, even when the journey isn't straightforward.

“Sometimes, that's exactly what's needed for hope to take root.”

Sisters of Charity Foundation

26/08/2026

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19/08/2026

17/08/2026

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