Cyber Safety: Avoiding Phishing Scams

September 22, 2023

The battle against cybercriminals and their persistent efforts is more crucial than ever as cybercrime continues to rise each year in Australia, and in particular – phishing scams.

What is a phishing scam?

A phishing scam is a method of stealing confidential information by sending fraudulent messages to a victim. It is one of the most common cyber scams reported in Australia.

Perpetrators often disguise themselves as reputable organisations or even Government departments, exploiting people’s trust in these entities.

Phishing messages come in various forms, all designed to trick individuals into surrendering personal or business information. Examples include, email or system upgrade messages, HR emails from a similar address, website expiration messages requesting and emails with information relating to government benefits or financial assistance payments.

Where can I receive a phishing scam?

Phishing scams are versatile and can be delivered through multiple channels, including email, SMS, social media, instant messaging platforms, and even phone calls. At first glance, they often appear as a legitimate message from trusted sources. These messages often feature official-looking logos, disclaimers, and persuasive prompts, coercing individuals into disclosing sensitive and personal data, such as passwords and banking details.

The tactics employed by cybercriminals in phishing attempts includes sending malicious links or attachments, and even requesting a range of personal information, including usernames and passwords. Spotting these fraudulent messages can be tricky, as cybercriminals invest significant effort into making them appear genuine.

To help safeguard you and your business against phishing scams:

1. Exercise caution before clicking links

Whenever possible, hover your cursor over the link, but don’t click on it, to preview the actual web address it leads to. Check the web address for spelling errors or varying punctuality. Visit direct URLs instead of clicking links.

2. Never disclose personal information via message links

If you need to visit a website, such as your bank's portal, it is safest to manually enter the official web address into your browser. Alternatively, use a trusted search engine to find the official website and log in from there. Be vigilant for advertisements, as cybercriminals can create deceptive ads for fraudulent websites.

3. Verify the source of suspicious messages

If you receive a message that raises doubts, take the time to contact the person or business mentioned using legitimate contact details from a separate, reliable source. Do not rely on the contact information provided within the suspicious message.

For more information, visit:

Helping Children Feel Safe to Learn with MacKillop Family Services

April 17, 2026

For some children, the classroom can feel overwhelming. Anxiety, trauma, learning challenges or difficult life experiences can make it hard to concentrate, participate or feel safe at school. For these students, reconnecting with learning often requires more than traditional support approaches. Since 2018, MacKillop Family Services’ Paw Pals program has quietly been helping students take meaningful steps forward, one gentle interaction at a time. Through the presence of specially trained therapy dogs and skilled facilitators, Paw Pals creates safe and supportive environments where children can regulate emotions, rebuild trust and re-engage with learning. For the past five years, CDF has proudly partnered with MacKillop Family Services to support the continued growth of this program across schools.

A place of hope for the Bunbury Diocese: St Joseph's Church Albany named first Diocesan Shrine

April 2, 2026

On Sunday 22 March 2026, the Catholic community in Albany gathered for a moment that had been generations in the making. St Joseph's Church, Albany was formally declared the first Diocesan Shrine for the Diocese of Bunbury - a recognition that affirms what so many in the community have long known: this is a place where faith endures, and where people come to seek hope. The Elevation Mass, celebrated by Bishop George Kolodziej SDS DD and led locally by Parish Priest Fr Vincent Comple OSJ, brought together clergy, pilgrims and visitors from across the diocese to mark the occasion. It was the culmination of a weekend of prayer, reflection and celebration that honoured both the history of the Church in Albany and the beginning of this new chapter. A weekend of prayer and pilgrimage The celebrations unfolded across three days. Friday opened with a Holy Hour and Mass celebrated by Bishop George. On Saturday, pilgrims walked through Albany retracing the history of the Catholic Church in the region, before gathering for Mass and fellowship. Sunday's Elevation Mass brought the weekend to a close, followed by a community celebration of this important milestone.

Bishop Mark Ordained and Installed as Ninth Bishop of Ballarat

By Michelle Ross-FitzGerald • March 25, 2026

Media Release: Catholic Diocese of Ballarat The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat joyfully celebrated the ordination and installation of Fr Mark Freeman as the Ninth Bishop of Ballarat on Thursday 19 March at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat. The celebration brought together bishops, clergy, parish representatives, ecumenical guests, civic representatives, and members of the wider community to witness this significant moment in the life of the Church. The ordination and installation were led by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli with assisting bishops from all over Australia. In addition to around these 500 people packing St Patrick’s Cathedral, the ceremony was livestreamed to hundreds of people across the country.

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.