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Helping Children Feel Safe to Learn with MacKillop Family Services

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:08:48 GMT

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.

Pictured above: Mackillop Family Services Paw Pal Therapy Dogs

Oliver’s story

By the age of eight, Oliver* had already experienced significant trauma and instability in his young life. Living in residential care and navigating multiple diagnoses including ADHD, autism and mild intellectual disability, Oliver found unfamiliar environments particularly challenging.

School felt overwhelming.

Emotional outbursts became common and his school attendance reduced to just a few hours per day. Learning felt out of reach.

Then Oliver met Marlowe.

Marlowe, a Paw Pals therapy dog, offered calm presence and quiet reassurance. Through regular interaction, Oliver began to feel safe again. He started to regulate his emotions, rebuild trust with adults and gradually re-engage with learning.

Over time, Oliver’s attendance increased to full school days. His emotional outbursts reduced and his confidence grew.

His story reflects the transformative impact that thoughtful, evidence-informed programs like Paw Pals can have when the right supports are in place.

“He actually ran out of the house to greet her…
I’ve got these beautiful photos of them where the dog is just lying next to him.”

Belinda, Education Specialist

Quiet impact across schools

Since its introduction, Paw Pals has supported students across a growing number of school communities, helping children overcome barriers that may otherwise prevent them from fully participating in education.

Program impact to date:

1,749+ students supported
6,709+ sessions delivered
15 Facilitators
21 Therapy Dogs
Operating since 2018
Servicing all Diocese in Victoria

Behind these numbers are stories of increased attendance, improved emotional regulation and renewed confidence in learning.

Programs like Paw Pals demonstrate the importance of early intervention and holistic support in helping young people remain connected to education and community.

Double your impact

From 20 – 24 April , CDF will act as a matched giving partner, meaning every donation made to the MacKillop Paw Pals Appeal during this period will be matched dollar-for-dollar, helping extend the reach of the program to more students who need support.

Donations contribute to:

therapy dog training and care
program delivery in schools
specialist resources for students
facilitator training and support
program governance and safety frameworks

Together, we can help create supportive learning environments where more young people feel safe, confident and ready to participate in their education.

Support Paw Pals today

To learn more and support the Paw Pals program, visit: give.mackillop.org.au/paw-pals-2026

or read more about the program impact: mackillop.org.au/stories/paw-pals-2026

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist initiatives like MacKillop Family Services Paw Pals, and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. 

Learn more and apply today.

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

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:45:08 GMT

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.

A sign of hope and guidance

In his homily, Bishop George reflected on St Joseph as a model of quiet, faithful strength, and on the significance of the shrine as a place where people can seek hope and direction.

" St Joseph teaches us that true strength is not about power or status, " he said. " Real strength is faithfulness, humility, courage and responsibility. "

The Bishop expressed a particular hope that the shrine would draw young people discerning their path in life, describing St Joseph as someone who " understands the struggles of responsibility, work and decision-making. "

With Albany marking its bicentenary year, Bishop George offered a fitting image of what the shrine represents for the community: " Across Albany we see lights shining during this anniversary year. Today we add another light - a spiritual light - a place where people can come to pray and be gently led to Christ. "

His message to those seeking direction was simple and direct: "I f you are confused, struggling, or searching - go to St Joseph. He will always lead you to Jesus. "

"Real strength is faithfulness, humility, courage and responsibility.'

Bishop George Kolodziej, Bishop of Bunbury

A faith story shaped over generations

The roots of Catholic life in Albany run deep. In 1838, the first Catholic Mass in Western Australia was celebrated at what is now known as Mass Rocks, overlooking Princess Royal Harbour. As the community grew, Albany's parish was established and St Joseph's Church was blessed and dedicated in 1878.

Nearly 150 years later, the parish continues to serve the spiritual and practical needs of the community through worship, education and outreach. The presence of ministries such as St Joseph's Lodge reflects an enduring commitment to care and accompaniment across all stages of life.

The designation of St Joseph's as a Diocesan Shrine is both an affirmation of that history and an invitation - to pilgrims, to the faithful, and to those still searching - to encounter something lasting within its walls.

Supporting the mission of the Bunbury Diocese

CDF was proud to be part of celebrating this significant milestone in the life of the local Church. Through partnerships across education, health, aged care and social services, CDF works alongside Catholic organisations across the Diocese of Bunbury and beyond — helping to strengthen communities and support the mission that moments like this one embody so well.

View the Shrine of St Josephs Mass: Shrine of St Joseph's Event at St Joseph's Church 22/3/26

Mass Booklet: Shrine of St Joseph Order of Service Booklet_for emailing

Bishop Mark Ordained and Installed as Ninth Bishop of Ballarat

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:36:14 GMT

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.

Pictured above: Images from Bishop mark Freeman' Episcopal Ordination and Installation Mass

In accordance with the traditions of the Church, the ceremony included the laying on of hands, prayers of consecration, and the formal seating of Bishop Freeman in the cathedra, symbolising the beginning of episcopal leadership in the diocese. “ I am deeply humbled by the trust placed in me and grateful for the prayers and support of this community, ” Bishop Mark said. “ Together, we are called to serve with faith, hope, and love, proclaiming compassion, courage and justice in the world ”.

A lovely moment during the ceremony was the warm and heartfelt welcome extended to Bishop Mark by the many different groups within the diocese. Representatives came forward as a visible sign of the rich diversity and shared life of the diocesan community, each offering their greeting with joy and respect. This gesture highlighted the spirit of unity, collaboration, and mutual support that defines the diocese, and set a gracious tone for Bishop Mark’s ministry among the people he is called to serve.

During his address, Bishop Mark spoke words of gratitude and appreciation. He acknowledged and greeted all the People of God in the Ballarat diocese, asking them to teach him how to be their bishop. “ Every time I have begun a new appointment, I have said to the community that you are the people whom God has given me to love. As I begin this new ministry among you, I say the same to the whole diocese, people and priests of Ballarat – You are the people whom God has given me to love. As I received this ring during today’s Mass, I made that commitment with all my heart. ”

Bishop Mark acknowledged Bishop Paul Bird and said “ It is an honour to succeed you as Bishop of Ballarat. It’s a vibrant local Church that I have been called to serve as bishop. It has been cared for and guided by a true servant leader. You have set the bar high, and I thank you. ”

“Every time I have begun a new appointment, I have said to the community that you are the people whom God has given me to love. As I begin this new ministry among you, I say the same to the whole diocese, people and priests of Ballarat – you are the people whom God has given me to love.

Bishop Mark Freeman

Bishop Mark was born and raised in Tasmania, his journey from a Launceston childhood to episcopal leadership has been shaped by early stirrings of vocation, formative mentors and a lifetime of sacramental ministry across Tasmania.

After completing secondary school, he entered Corpus Christi College in Clayton, Victoria, where he found joy, strong friendships and growing clarity about his vocation. A defining influence was Archbishop Guilford Young, who guided and encouraged him throughout his formation. “ He really encouraged people to use their gifts well ,” Fr Mark said. He would become the last priest ordained by Archbishop Young.

Bishop Mark has served as Vicar General for both Archbishop Adrian Doyle and Archbishop Julian Porteous, along with being appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Hobart and most recently, before his appointment as Bishop of Ballarat, Archbishop Tony Ireland appointed him Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. Each of these appointments reflect the trust placed in his pastoral wisdom and administrative ability.

His priesthood has been defined by sacramental ministry — celebrating Masses, baptisms, weddings, First Communion Masses, confirmations, and hearing confessions. He sees these moments as the heart of his vocation. “ You are really ministering the presence of Christ ,” he explains.

Bishop Mark follows Bishop Paul Bird who turned 75 in 2024 and offered his resignation but was asked to stay on until a successor could be found. On January 7, 2026, Pope Leo appointed Fr Mark Freeman to be the new Bishop of Ballarat.

The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat is a diverse and geographically extensive Diocese of twenty-three parishes which covers the western third of Victoria, extending from the Murray River in the North to the Southern Ocean. To the west it is bounded by the Archdiocese of Adelaide and the Diocese of Port Pirie, to the north by the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes and to the east by the Diocese of Sandhurst and the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

We warmly congratulate Bishop Mark Freeman and offer our prayers and support as he begins his ministry in the Diocese of Ballarat.

Read: Ordination Mass Book

Watch: Bishop Mark Freeman's Episcopal Ordination and Installation Mass (below)

Diocese of Ballarat, Media Enquires

Jane Collins (jane.collins@ballarat.catholic.org.au)

A Legacy of Faith and Service Takes Root at Mount Duneed

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:10 GMT

On 27 February 2026, a new chapter for Catholic education in Victoria began as community leaders, families and Church representatives gathered in Mount Duneed, Geelong, for the official sod-turning ceremony of Mary Glowrey Catholic Primary School .

The moment marked more than the start of construction. It celebrated the beginning of a school community inspired by the life of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey; a Victorian-born doctor, religious sister and missionary whose life was defined by faith, courage and service.

Supported by a $10.5 million loan from Catholic Development Fund (CDF), the new project will deliver a vibrant new Catholic primary school for the rapidly growing Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities in greater Geelong. When complete, the $21.6 million development will provide contemporary learning spaces designed to nurture both academic growth and the formation of young people in faith.

Faith based, yet modern day education

The school will welcome its first students in 2027, beginning with Prep to Year Six. Enrolments are expected to reach 222 students in the opening year, growing to approximately 742 students by 2031 as the surrounding community continues to expand.

Located on Feehans Road in Mount Duneed, the school is being developed across multiple stages and will include a new administration facility, two learning centre wings, an art hub, a resource centre, specialist learning spaces, a canteen and amenities buildings and outdoor learning areas, sports spaces and landscaping including a rain garden.

The broader vision also includes the Mary Glowrey Children’s Hub, an integrated kindergarten delivered in partnership with MACSEYE , opening in 2028. With 10.6% of the Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek population currently preschool-aged, the school and early learning hub will play an essential role in supporting the region’s young families.

A Community Gathering to Begin

The sod-turning ceremony brought together the many partners who have helped bring the project to life, including representatives from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) , Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) , architects Minx Architecture , builders Magellan , and members of the local community.

A particularly meaningful moment was the presence of Mary Glowrey’s extended family, including her niece, who attended to honour the legacy of the woman whose name the school proudly bears. Mary Glowrey herself was born nearby in Birregurra, making the school’s location especially significant.

Inspired by Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey

Mary Glowrey’s life continues to inspire Catholics around the world.

Born in rural Victoria, she became one of Australia’s first female doctors and surgeons in 1910 before entering religious life with the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph. She later served as a missionary doctor in India, dedicating her life to caring for the sick and vulnerable.

In 2023, Pope Francis recognised her heroic virtue and declared her Venerable, formally acknowledging the extraordinary witness of her life of faith and service.

To honour this legacy, the school has adopted the motto: Fidem et Fortitudinem — Faith and Fortitude

The words capture both the spiritual foundation of the school and the resilience Mary demonstrated throughout her life.

A Crest that Tells Mary’s Story

The school’s visual identity was carefully developed through a collaborative process involving Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, the Fuel Agency, and Damascus Parish Priest Fr Joel Peart and foundation principal Sarah Kelly.

“ One of the most memorable moments of this process was sitting with Fr. Joel Peart at a rustic outdoor cafe in Torquay. Together, we reflected on the design and identified the specific elements of Mary’s life we wanted to immortalise for generations to come. ” Sarah Kelly

The result is a traditional crest designed to act as a visual narrative of Mary Glowrey’s life and mission.

The crest is divided into four symbolic quadrants:

The Sacred Heart — honouring Mary’s religious name, Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey

The Rod of Asclepius — the ancient symbol of medicine, reflecting her vocation as a doctor and healer
Wheat and Grapes — representing the Eucharist and acknowledging the vineyard land on which the school now stands

Together, the upper quadrants form the shape of an open book, symbolising both the Word of God and the medical knowledge Mary used to serve those in need.

Supporting a Growing Catholic Community

Mary Glowrey Catholic Primary School will serve one of the fastest growing regions in Victoria, providing a place where families can gather, learn and grow in faith.

Through its $10.5 million loan, CDF is supporting the delivery of the school’s first two stages and helping ensure the facilities needed for Catholic education are in place as the Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities continue to grow.

When the school opens in 2027, it will stand as a lasting reminder of the legacy of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey and the role Catholic education continues to play in building strong communities.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Mount Duneed and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Mission in Operations: CDF Catholic Connect Explores Aligning Practice with Purpose

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:52:49 GMT

In modern Australia, Catholic organisations are called to act with integrity in a pluralist society that may not always prioritise the same values. Their core objectives—be it education, healthcare, or community and social services - generally reflect that identity; the ‘back-end’ operations that sustain them, however, may be subject to forces that detract from mission.

A recent CDF Catholic Connect workshop, hosted by Catholic Development Fund (CDF) in partnership with Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV), challenged leaders to look deeper into how policies and processes reflect the Catholic mission. The session, ‘Aligning Organisational Practices with Mission’, explored how Catholic Social Teaching can be intentionally embedded across core operations, from procurement and investment to hiring and governance.

Lessons and Learnings with Industry Experts

Four panel and workshop presenters brought strong sector experience and deep insight:

Tarang Jain ( Modern Slavery Liason Officer / Group Procurement Lead ESG, St Vincent’s Health Australia )
Melissa Halliday ( Community Development Project Coordinator, ACRATH )
Dr John Ballard (Board Director Mercy Education and Catholic Development Fund / Leadership and Governance Consultant)
Anna Brazier ( Climate Justice Coordinator, Jesuit Social Services )

CDF Catholic Connect panelists from left to right: Anna Brazier, Dr John Ballard, Tarang Jain and Melissa Halliday.

Josh Lourensz, Executive director of Catholic Social Services Victoria , opened the discussion by pointing to the invisible threads connecting everyday business decisions to global justice issues. ‘ Our work is to educate, to serve. But if we’re not seeing every aspect of our work being aligned with Catholic social principles, and the things that are really quite profound in the tradition from which all our organisations spring, then we’re actually not quite doing what we’re meant to do. ’

"If we aren’t truly working to the alignment with our mission, if we aren’t taking the time to discern, we’re at the risk of losing our credibility."

Panel moderator Melissa Halliday of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans), framed the conversation around integrity, asking the panel to consider what is at stake when there is a gap between an organisation’s stated values and its everyday practices. The first speaker, Jesuit Social Services climate justice coordinator Anna Brazier, argued that the ‘heart’ of the organisation is on the line.

‘ It’s our essence of who we are, and it’s our identity. If we aren’t truly working to the alignment with our mission, if we aren’t taking the time to discern, we’re at the risk of losing our credibility ,’ she said. ‘ And if we aren’t brave and we don’t speak truth to power, or if we fall into that cycle of chasing funding cycles, or we’re too scared to bite the hand that feeds us, then how can we maintain our integrity and credibility as a Catholic organisation? ’

Not living by Catholic values, Ms Brazier said, leaves staff and clients underserved. In her area of work- ecological and therefore social justice - entire communities lose. ‘ It’s our home, it’s the earth, it’s the ecology that sustains us that’s at stake ,’ she said.

Tarang Jain, of St Vincent’s Health Australia, investigates modern slavery as part of his role as procurement lead. For him, looking inwards at how mission applies to human resources and the treatment of staff is vital. ‘ It’s often easy for us to go out and start looking at the vulnerable people in the society and community, but I would say, how about we start looking at in our own backyard? ’ he said.

‘ We’ve got a really massive workforce, around 30,000 people across the country. It was interesting to observe that more than 20 per cent of our workforce is on visas, so almost 5,000 people are migrants. ’ Some migrant groups are susceptible to exploitation, which could include deceptive recruitment, Mr Jain said. So he and his team have begun addressing those vulnerabilities and making sure that staff and colleagues are protected.

As for modern slavery and procurement, Mr Jain argued against a purely punitive approach to suppliers found doing the wrong thing. With every product that an organisation might consider buying, ‘ there is a high likelihood that it may have some association with some kind of exploitation happening somewhere throughout its value chain. One option for us as the buyers is that we can choose to terminate our relationship. But is that the right thing to do?’ he asked.

"[Organisations aren’t] staffed by heart- and mind-readers. They cannot operate on an implicit understanding. Mission has to be clear."

Taking an empathetic approach to doing business - the ‘walking with’ of Catholic Social Teaching - means understanding that potentially thousands of families could lose their livelihoods if a trading relationship is cut, Mr Jain said. ‘ We felt that there must be a solution for us, and we are still trialling it ... It’s a collaborative way where we are [allowing] our suppliers to be transparent with us, in opening up if there is any risk within their supply chain, and we do not wish to penalise them.

Instead, they aim to have ‘that collaborative, compassionate lens to allow the supplier to be open, transparent, and [to] work with them to fix and remediate the issue ’.

Dr John Ballard, an expert in ethical leadership and governance, challenged the notion that ‘mission’ is an easy topic, saying alignment must be explicitly developed. ‘ Starting with first principles is revisiting the mission: What is our mission? What’s our purpose? And it requires deliberate, robust board level discussion and not assumptions ,’ he said.

‘ The mission has to be intelligible, not just heartfelt. I believe that leaders may “know it in their heart”, but the organisation isn’t staffed by heart- and mind-readers. They cannot operate on an implicit understanding. Mission has to be clear to those serving the ministry, and clarity enables action .’

"Leaders have to honestly ask what are they prepared to give up to achieve genuine, ethical outcomes for the common good."

It requires asking how the corporate purpose genuinely reflects and serves the charism.

Dr Ballard noted that true commitment to the common good often requires sacrifice, and this applies especially to the ‘corporatised ministry’ of many modern Catholic organisations.

‘ In an unequal world, leaders have to honestly ask what are they prepared to give up to achieve genuine, ethical outcomes for the common good. That’s always where the common good falls over, which is why I come back to “set up the first principles”. You start with the ministry. What’s your purpose? ’

Anna Brazier explained how Jesuit Social Services has formalised its purpose, through an ‘environmental way of proceeding’, which integrates business processes with human spirit. ‘It’s when you’re thinking about your waste streams, your procurement, your carbon accounting, your divestment policy. But sitting alongside that, we also [need] to think about how ecological justice is embedded within our practice, ’ Ms Brazier said.

The workshop concluded with a powerful story from Dr Ballard about his time as CEO of Mercy Health , illustrating how financial logic can sometimes blind boards to mission-critical needs. He recounted how the finance committee at the time disagreed with his proposal to redevelop an aged-care facility, suggesting it was too financially risky.

‘ As they never visited a facility, they may have little insight into what we do or [what] was needed there. I asked our next meeting to be on site. They agreed, and that was a turning point ,’ Dr Ballard said.

"Mission clarity shifts outcomes."

‘ Financial logic alone can block mission-critical decisions. Board and committee members gain materially different insights when they see the operations, the people and the conditions firsthand. When they got out there, they saw how daggy the buildings were and how unsuited they were.

‘Seeing the substandard facilities … reframed perceived risk of investment. The risk was if we did not invest. Mission clarity shifts outcomes, reconnecting decision-makers to organisational purpose and service need. It unlocked support that the financial modelling alone couldn’t do. ’

As Catholic organisations continue to navigate a complex environment, the workshop highlighted how in very diverse Catholic organisations, mission is lived through the integrity of every policy, process and decision made behind the scenes.

Full Story: Melbourne Catholic

Images: Catholic Development Fund

Learn more about CDF’s Catholic Connect series, and register your interest for the next event today.

Faithful Leadership Honoured as Bishop Paul Bird Retires in Ballarat

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:42:33 GMT

Media Release: Catholic Diocese of Ballarat

The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat marked the conclusion of a distinguished chapter of leadership, pastoral care and dedicated service to the community with a Mass of Thanksgiving on 2 March 2026 for Bishop Paul Bird as he retires as Bishop of Ballarat.

Bishop Paul has served the Diocese of Ballarat since 2012. Upon turning 75, Bishops are requested to offer their resignations to the Pope. Bishop Paul turned 75 in 2024 and offered his resignation but was asked to stay on till a successor could be found. On January 7, 2026, Pope Leo appointed Fr Mark Freeman to be the new Bishop of Ballarat. At the same time, Pope Leo appointed Bishop Paul as Apostolic Administrator, to care for the diocese until Bishop Elect Mark is ordained and installed as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat on 19 March 2026.

Pictured above: Images from Bishop Paul Bird's Thanksgiving Mass

Bishop Paul has been defined by a steadfast commitment to spiritual leadership, community outreach, and the strengthening of parish life across the region. Throughout his years of service, Bishop Paul has been widely respected for his warm pastoral presence, thoughtful guidance and unwavering dedication to fostering a sense of unity and hope within the Church.

The Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat, with 300 people in attendance including priests of the Diocese, Redemptorist priests and people from many of the parishes around the Diocese all joining together to wish Bishop Paul the best for his retirement.

Bishop Paul expressed deep gratitude for the people of the diocese and the privilege of serving them “I give thanks to God for the blessings of my time as Bishop of Ballarat and I give thanks to each one of you – those here in the cathedral and those joining us online. I thank you for the support you have given me in this ministry,”

“As I draw towards the end of my service as Bishop of Ballarat, I’m glad of this opportunity to give thanks for the years I’ve spent in this role and I’m grateful to you all for joining me in the Eucharist, our great prayer of thanks."

Bishop Paul Bird

Bishop Paul led the diocese through the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Responses to Child Abuse and then through several hearings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse. These were particularly difficult years – for those who had suffered abuse, for their families, for parishes and schools and for the whole community.

During the celebration, there was recognition of the Bishop, on behalf of the Laity, the Religious of the Diocese and on behalf of the Clergy of the Diocese.

Noeline Hogan, East Wimmera Parish, on behalf of the Laity said, “ we are grateful for your unwavering dedication and support as you enabled the amalgamation of parishes and encouraged the different communities to work together. Your counsel has inspired the leaders in our parishes, and your example has embodied servant leadership at its finest, as was demonstrated through the Diocesan Assembly held in 2024. You have enabled people to follow their passions and encouraged individuals to become involved in parish and liturgical life. ”

Sr Marie Davey RSM, stated that “for the past fourteen years you were teacher and faith leader to those who live in the Diocese of Ballarat. As our Bishop you met the needs of not only the local parish communities, but also those who lived in religious communities. Your empathy and understanding of people has been greatly enhanced by your years as a Redemptorist leader.”

Fr Marcello Colasante, Vicar General, continued “We pay tribute to Bishop Paul, with a sense of great gratitude, as the priests of the diocese. It's often said we are given particular leaders at a particular time in history, and in the history of our diocese, none better than Bishop Paul came to us, giving his life for us, and we extend heartfelt gratitude, and wish him all the best, as life is different for him, as it goes forward.”

A poignant moment at the end of the celebration was when all stood and gave Bishop Paul a blessing by singing “May God Bless and Keep You”.

CDF joins the community in giving thanks for Bishop Paul’s years of faithful ministry and leadership to the Diocese of Ballarat, and we wish him every blessing as he begins this new chapter.

Pictured above: CDF Staff and sector colleagues from the Diocese of Ballarat at Bishop Paul Bird's Thanksgiving Mass.

Diocese of Ballarat, Media Enquires

Jane Collins (jane.collins@ballarat.catholic.org.au)

Watch: Bishop Paul Bird's Thanksgiving Mass

A blessing for VMCH St Clare - and the people it was built to serve

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:52:54 GMT

On 20 February 2026, St Clare - Villa Maria Catholic Homes' landmark retirement living precinct in Kew - was officially blessed by the Most Rev Peter A. Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne. The occasion brought together residents, partners and supporters to give thanks for what had been built, and to look forward to what it would make possible.

For CDF, the sole lender of the major project, the occasion was a meaningful reminder that careful stewardship and mission-aligned lending create outcomes that endure - not just beautiful spaces, but dignity, security and hope for people who need it most.

A Vision Realised

Designed by internationally recognised architects Woods Bagot, St Clare comprises 103 premium senior living residences on a 1.4-hectare site in the heart of Kew. More than half the site has been retained as open space, with landscaped gardens and shared amenities that foster connection and a genuine sense of place.

Two restored heritage buildings serve as community hubs, and sustainability has been embedded throughout; from rooftop solar to rainwater harvesting.

St Clare welcomed its first residents in December 2025, ahead of schedule and with more than 85 per cent of residences reserved as the precinct opened. The response speaks to the confidence people have in VMCH’s long-standing commitment to care, community and purpose.

“We thank the Catholic Development Fund for its support of this development, from which profits generated will be reinvested to support the core Mission of VMCH.”

Sonya Smart (CEO, VMCH) and Julien O’Connell AO (Chair of the Board, VMCH).

Pictured (left to right): Brendan Hoy (CDF), Andrew Carman (CDF), Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, Sonya Smart (VMCH), Julien O'Connell (VMCH), Tim O'Leary (Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne), Gerard Bibile (CDF).

Funding from Within

CDF provided $185 million in lending support to bring St Clare to life. That investment reflects our purpose to balance margin and mission, for the common good – supporting Catholic organisations in their own mission.

“ We thank the Catholic Development Fund for its support of this development, from which profits generated will be reinvested to support the core Mission of VMCH .” - Sonya Smart, CEO, and Julien O’Connell AO, Board Chair, VMCH.

Mission that Reaches Further

The success of St Clare is not an end in itself. Proceeds from the development will be reinvested by VMCH into affordable housing and specialist disability housing across Victoria - ensuring that those most vulnerable are not left behind.

VMCH Board Chair, Julien O’Connell AO, put it simply at the blessing ceremony:

“ Retirement living developments like St Clare enable VMCH to turn purpose into action, supporting initiatives such as affordable housing for older people on low incomes. It was fitting that this place was blessed as residents continue to build their lives and community here. ”

More than 50 residents attended the blessing, a sign of the community already taking root. Representatives from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, CDF, and the VMCH Board and Executive joined them to mark the special occasion.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist organisations like VMCH, and other Catholic agencies to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

Images courtesy of Villa Maria Catholic Homes.

Celebrating the 2025 CDF Father James Wall Bursary Recipients

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:05:24 GMT

For over two decades, the CDF Father James Wall Bursary has been one of the most meaningful expressions of CDF’s mission; directly supporting the next generation of Catholic leaders.

Established in honour of CDF’s founder , Father James ‘Jim’ Wall, the bursary continues his legacy of nurturing faith, leadership, and service within our Catholic school communities.

Each year, seven Year 10 students from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Ballarat, Bunbury and Sale are recognised for their outstanding contributions to their schools and wider communities. Each recipient receives a $5,000 bursary to support their Year 11 and 12 school fees, helping them continue their education journey in a Catholic secondary school.

One of the highlights of this program is not only rewarding deserving students, but the opportunity it provides to CDF; travelling to each school community to present these awards at school assemblies and presentation ceremonies. Meeting the recipients, their families, teachers, and school staff face to face, and seeing first-hand the environments where this remarkable work takes place is a privilege and an honour the CDF team looks forward to each year. These presentations remind us of the importance of this bursary and the vibrant, faith-filled communities it serves.

At the end of 2025, we were proud to celebrate seven extraordinary students who each embody the values of Father Wall’s service, leadership, and faith.

Meet the 2025 Recipients

Caden – St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully

Caden is someone who leads quietly but powerfully. He is known for stepping up when needed, representing his school with respect and integrity, and contributing generously to college life in countless ways.

But his impact reaches well beyond the school gates. Whether coaching junior cricketers, supporting younger children through Auskick All-Abilities, or returning to his former primary school to help with programs, Caden has a natural instinct to include, encourage, and uplift others. .

Pictured : Caden with Nicola Mant (CDF), Nigel V. (College Business Manager), Cathy Livingston (College Principal) and Andrew Carman (CDF).

Grace – Bunbury Catholic College, Bunbury

Grace’s contribution to Bunbury Catholic College has been consistently thoughtful and impactful over the years. She has advocated for student wellbeing, helping create a more inclusive school environment. Her commitment extends well beyond the school grounds; she is an active surf lifesaving volunteer and seeks ways to offer leadership grounded in kindness and purpose.

Grace also embraces opportunities to grow and help others grow; whether through national leadership programs or by helping lead STEM learning initiatives for younger students at local primary schools. In all she does, Grace reflects the Bunbury Catholic College motto: acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly.

Pictured : Grace with Kerrie Merritt (Catholic Education WA), Melanie McLean (CDF), and Ben Priest (College Principal).

Hyoojoo – Killester College, Springvale

Hyoojoo stood out for the way she leads, not just through achievement, but through generosity of spirit. Whether contributing to the arts or building connections across the college and beyond, she has a remarkable gift for bringing people together and creating a genuine sense of belonging.

Her service extends beyond the College; she has tutored primary students through the Vietnamese Women’s Association, volunteered as a Dandenong Youth Leader and Amplify Leader, and contributed to community events designed to be inclusive, accessible and welcoming for all young people.

Pictured : Hyoojoo with Annie Rosati (Killester College Principal) and Gerard Bibile (CDF).

Logan – Padua College, Mornington

Logan was recognised for her outstanding leadership, academic excellence, and genuine commitment to serving others across the community and at Padua College.

From representing peers as House Captain and Peer Mentor, to contributing to the Respectful Relationships Team, FIRE Carriers and the Alpha Youth Program, there isn’t a challenge to difficult for Logan. She has demonstrated excellence across a wide range of subjects and beyond the classroom has also represented her college in multiple sporting disciplines. In her service, she gives generously supporting various fundraising initiatives; her leadership is one that opens doors for others.

Pictured : Logan with Tamara Fernando (CDF) and Andrew Carman (CDF).

Marvin – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill

Marvin embodies what it means to use education in service of others. At St Mary MacKillop College in Swan Hill, he has excelled academically, earning a place in the competitive work experience program at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

But it is his heart for service that truly sets him apart: mentoring new Vietnamese students, tutoring peers in mathematics, volunteering in aged care settings, and supporting people living with disability through community sports programs.

A proud moment for St Mary MacKillop College too, this is the second year running that a student from the College has received the CDF Fr Wall Bursary.

Pictured : Marvin with Michelle Haeusler (College Principal) and Gerard Bibile (CDF).

Rose – Catholic Ladies College, Eltham

From academic honours and a Principal’s Award to her roles as Year Level Leader, Peer Support Leader, and member of the Principal Student Advisory Council, Rose has given generously to her school community while excelling in her studies.

Beyond the classroom, she has represented Queensland as a triathlete and will represent Australia internationally next year.

Rose’s leadership, her generosity, and her consistent willingness to contribute reflect the kind of hope that the College’s founders, the Sisters of Charity, devoted their lives to nurturing: a hope expressed through action, service, and care for others.

Pictured : Rose with Andrew Carman (CDF), Stephanie Evans (CLC Principal), Simon Gridley (CLC Business Manager) and Milton Balazs (CDF)

Ruby – Catholic College, Sale

Ruby exemplifies the vision and mission of Catholic College Sale through her academic engagement, leadership, and practical service to others. She has represented her peers through the Student Voice Cabinet, participated in the Gippsland Social Innovators Day, and helped establish the first Catholic College Sale Marist Girls Cricket Team.

Beyond school, Ruby gives generously through fundraising and community service, reflecting the Marist–Sion values at the heart of Catholic College Sale; being strong of mind, gentle of heart, and committed to making a positive difference.

Pictured : Ruby with Andrew Carman (CDF), Tamara Fernando (CDF) and Brett Van Berkell (College Principal).

Congratulations to all seven of the 2025 CDF Father James Wall Bursary recipients. Each a wonderful example of what it means to lead with purpose, serve with generosity, and live the values of your school and Catholic community. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of your leadership in the years ahead.

To learn more about the CDF Father James Wall Bursary and the difference it continues to make for young Catholic leaders, visit: CDF Father James Wall Bursary .

Walking Together: CDF Supports Young Pilgrims at ACYF 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:16:29 GMT

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) returned in 2025 with extraordinary energy, bringing more than 6,000 young people together from across the Australia and Oceania region for three days of prayer, workshops, worship and the Eucharist.

Hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and with CDF as a major sponsor, the festival transformed the city into a vibrant gathering place for young Catholics. From the opening Pilgrimage Walk to the closing Commissioning Mass, ACYF highlighted the beauty of the Catholic Church in Australia.

Pilgrims Journey to Melbourne, with help from CDF

CDF was honoured to support pilgrims on their journey to Melbourne, from our partner Dioceses in Bunbury , Ballarat and Sale .

“242 young pilgrims have returned to the Diocese of Sale following their powerful spiritual experience at ACYF. It was delightful to see how joyful they were by the encounter with 6000 plus pilgrims celebrating the gift of Christian faith in the Catholic Church. As always, the Catholic Development Fund has been generous in their support of the mission of the Church."
Bishop Greg Bennet, Diocese of Sale

“The financial support from the Catholic Development Fund has made the pilgrimage possible for dozens of young people… Without this support, the cost of the festival would have been a barrier for many of them.” - Bishop Paul Bird , Diocese of Ballarat

“Being able to offer sponsorship to these young people says to them that they are loved, wanted, valued.”

Aaron Faure
Evangelisation Coordinator, Diocese of Bunbury

Bishop George Kolodziej , Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry delegate for youth, expressed a vibrant message to pilgrims nationwide:

“My hope is that more young people can be empowered to live as disciples of Christ. Never under-estimate the power of music, laughter and celebration to show that faith is not a burden, but joyful and life-giving. ”

A Pilgrim Walk to Remember

The festival opened with a breathtaking moment of unity; the ACYF Pilgrim Walk - with CDF as the name sponsor of the walk itself.

Beginning at St Patrick’s Cathedral, pilgrims carried the World Youth Day Cross and Icon through the streets of Melbourne, journeying five kilometers in prayer, song and companionship toward the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Their steps - steady, joyful and hope-filled - were a powerful witness of a Church alive and present in the heart of the city.

The end of the walk culminated in an opening Mass where pilgrims, were welcomed with a surprise video message from Pope Leo XIV , encouraging them to be courageous witnesses in their communities and reminding them that the universal Church walks alongside them. Pligrims were encouraged to make the most of the festival ahead, with Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reminding them to " Go out to greet Him; He’s waiting to welcome you!"

Pilgrim Voices: Encounters of Faith and Friendship

From Western Australia across to regional Victoria, CDF financially supported pilgrims to make the journey to Melbourne and participate in ACYF 2025. What may not have been possible for some, soon became a reality:

“My faith gives me a positive outlook on school, home and friendships. Having CDF’s support allowed me to experience an event like no other. Even in the darkest times, hope flourishes when we look out for each other.”

Marcus, St Mary MacKillop College (Diocese of Bunbury)

“CDF didn’t just help me attend - it made the whole journey meaningful. Their support felt like God’s work in action. The plenaries were filled with love, worship and the presence of the Lord.”

Holly, Sacred Heart Parish, Pemberton (Diocese of Bunbury)

" You believed in me enough to invest in my faith. CDF turned my ‘maybe someday’ into ‘right now.’ I will never forget that.”

Mary, Holy Family Parish, Northeast Mallee (Dioceses of Ballarat)

“Faith is my rock, my light. CDF’s support meant our young people could attend without financial anxiety - that gift is immeasurable.”

Fr John, Saints Anne & Joachim Parish, Sunraysia (Dioceses of Ballarat)

The CDF Team: Serving With Joy

CDF staff who volunteered at ACYF shared their own reflections on witnessing young people encounter faith so openly and enthusiastically:

“To be amongst young people full of faith, hope and love for Jesus was a wonderous experience. I will not forget seeing and feeling the excitement as they gathered with purpose to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus and be empowered to live their faith in the world and experience the breadth of the Church in Australia.”

CDF Team Member, Kamini

“Being there reminded me why our work matters - every conversation was a reminder that when young people flourish, the whole Catholic community flourishes.”
CDF Team Member, Maxine

“It is a privilege for CDF to walk alongside our Dioceses and young people at ACYF. Their faith, questions, courage and joy are a gift to the whole Church. Through sponsorship and staff volunteering, we hope to create opportunities for young people to encounter Christ, deepen their faith and continue their formation journeys. We congratulate and thank the Australian Bishops - especially our host, Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli - for bringing this festival to life and for their steadfast commitment to the next generation of Catholic leaders.”
CDF Interim CEO, Andrew Carman

Looking Ahead With Hope

At the conclusion of the ACYF commissioning Mass, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP invited those gathered to the next festival in 2028, which will be what he called a ‘crucial strand’ of the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney.

‘ What God has begun in you in these days must not fade, ’ Archbishop Fisher said. ‘ Carry this fire home. Share it with your families, your friends, your peers at school or university or at work, with your world. Let these days … be the start of something beautiful in you, not the end. ’

While the festival may be over, pilgrims left the city with a deepening of faith and friendship. CDF is grateful to stand with them as together we continue to live the Gospel and help grow our Catholic community.

CDF Announcement: Chief Executive Officer Appointment

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 03:32:18 GMT

Announcement: 8 December 2025

We are delighted to announce the appointment of John McClusky as the next Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Development Fund (CDF), effective 1 March 2026.

John brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in banking across Australia, Asia, the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. His career includes significant roles with Deutsche Bank AG and, since 2000, National Australia Bank (NAB), where he has held senior leadership positions including General Manager of Capital Financing, CEO & Head of NAB UK, Europe & Asia, and most recently Executive Head of Corporate Finance & Head of NAB Asia.

Beyond his financial expertise, John has guided organisations through periods of significant growth and development with care and integrity. His strong alignment with CDF's mission and values positions him well to lead the Fund into its next phase of sustainable growth and stewardship, for the benefit of our clients, partners, Dioceses and communities.

John is a committed Catholic and longstanding, active parishioner at Our Lady of Pentecost in Deepdene, Melbourne. He is genuinely motivated by the opportunity to serve Catholic communities and contribute his expertise to our purpose-driven work.

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, Chair of the CDF Board, stated: " We are delighted to welcome John to the Catholic Development Fund. His extensive leadership experience, combined with his commitment to our faith and mission, makes him well suited to lead CDF into the future. I look forward to working with John as we continue to grow and serve Catholic communities across our Dioceses. "

We want to assure you, our customers, that CDF’s dedication to serving you remains unchanged. John's leadership will build upon the strong foundation we have established together, ensuring you continue to receive the exceptional service you expect from our team.

Andrew Carman will continue as Interim CEO until John's commencement in 2026, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Andrew for his outstanding leadership during this period of transition. His steady guidance and unwavering commitment to CDF and to you, our valued clients, has been exemplary.

Please join us in welcoming John to the Catholic Development Fund team, and in thanking Andrew for his dedicated service. We look forward to this exciting new chapter together.

Should you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact your CDF Relationship Manager or our Client Services Group on Tel: 1800 134 135.

Thank you for your continued trust in Catholic Development Fund.

The Future of Giving: Reflections from CDF Catholic Connect

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:10:26 GMT

On Wednesday 26 November 2025, Cathedral Hall at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne became a hub of inspiration and collaboration as CDF hosted the final Catholic Connect workshop for the year. Under the theme ‘ Inspiring Generosity: Encouraging Greater Giving for Purpose and Impact ,’ more than 80 leaders from across Catholic organisations and the for-purpose sector gathered to explore the evolving landscape of fundraising, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Understanding the Landscape

The afternoon began with John McLeod from JBWere Family Advisory & Philanthropic Services, who provided a comprehensive overview of giving trends across Australia. His presentation painted a picture of both challenge and opportunity: while the for-purpose sector has experienced consistent growth, with income rising 8% annually since 1996, organisations now face tighter margins as expenses outpace income growth.

What emerged most powerfully from the data was the story of generational change. With Australia's ageing population and an estimated $5.4 trillion expected to transfer through inheritances over the next 20 years, the sector stands at a critical juncture. The JBWere findings highlighted that while fewer taxpayers are claiming charitable deductions, those who do give are becoming increasingly generous. The challenge ahead for Catholic organisations is to normalise charitable bequests and engage the next generation of donors.

Strategy in Action

Chris McKenzie, Head of Philanthropy at St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria , brought theory to life through a compelling case study on their Corporate Volunteering program. Launched in late 2024, the initiative demonstrates how strategic clarity and values-driven design can transform traditional fundraising approaches. By inviting corporate partners to volunteer in Vinnies shops, the program has created meaningful pathways for engagement that extend far beyond financial donations.

Chris McKenzie's presentation underscored three critical success factors: strategic clarity around organisational goals, values-driven program design that resonates authentically, and relationship stewardship that builds lasting partnerships. The program's success lies not just in the volunteer hours generated, but in how it has opened doors to deeper relationships and logistical support that strengthens Vinnies' retail operations and community impact.

Embracing Technology with Purpose

The afternoon's final presentation from Catherine Brooks, CEO of Equitable Philanthropy , explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping donor discovery, segmentation, and engagement. Catherine’s message was clear: " AI is here to assist, not replace. It gives fundraisers more time to do what only humans can - build trust, listen deeply, and connect authentically ."

Through practical demonstrations, the audience was exposed to how AI tools can automate repetitive tasks, provide data-driven insights, and enhance personalised communications while freeing fundraising professionals to focus on relationship-building. The key, she emphasised, is maintaining human connection at the centre of all technological adoption. Organisations don't need million-dollar budgets to begin; they simply need to start with one tool, build internal confidence, and keep donors at the heart of every decision.

Sharing and Connection

Throughout the session, showcase presentations from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne , Villa Maria Catholic Homes , and CatholicCare Victoria provided glimpses into creative campaigns and initiatives underway across the sector. These moments of sharing reinforced a central theme of the day: collaboration and collective learning strengthen the entire Catholic community's capacity to serve.

Looking Ahead

As participants departed Cathedral Hall, they carried with them not just insights and data, but inspiration about the power of strategic, values-driven fundraising. The convergence of demographic shifts, technological innovation, and evolving donor expectations creates unprecedented opportunity for organisations willing to adapt, while staying true to their mission.

Learn more about CDF’s Catholic Connect series and register your interest for the next event.

Sharing the Joy of Christmas: Four Ways to Make a Difference This Season

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:01:05 GMT

This Advent season, CDF is inviting our community to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and participate in meaningful initiatives that bring hope, dignity, and joy to those who need it most.

Across our network of schools, parishes, healthcare and social services, vulnerable families and individuals are preparing for what should be the most wonderful time of the year - but for many, it's become increasingly difficult. The cost-of-living crisis has pushed countless people to the brink, leaving nothing for luxuries and, for some, even the necessities feel out of reach.

CDF is proud to stand alongside four client organisations this Christmas, each working tirelessly to ensure no one is left behind during the festive season.

Pictured: CDF and VMCH Staff at the 2025 Christmas Hamper Delivery Day

Villa Maria Catholic Homes: 900+ Hampers of Hope

It's hard not to get caught up in the consumer-driven culture of Christmas, but the true meaning of the season shines brightly across Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH). Each year, VMCH relies on donations to ensure hundreds of vulnerable people receive a little joy through their Christmas Hamper Appeal.

This year marks VMCH's biggest hamper drive yet, with over 900+ people in need across their affordable homes, home care, and disability services. These hampers bring essential items and small comforts to people who might otherwise go without.

How CDF is supporting: CDF staff are collecting donations and volunteering their time to pack and deliver these vital hampers throughout November and early December.

How you can help: Donate to VMCH Christmas Hamper Appeal today.

Pictured: CDF and St Mary's House of Welcome Staff cooking a Christmas BBQ for SMHOW clients

St Mary's House of Welcome: 65 Years of Dignity and Support

For 65 years, St Mary's House of Welcome has been a beacon of hope for people experiencing homelessness in the heart of Melbourne. As a Specialist Access Point, they provide essential support to people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and severe social isolation.

This December, St Mary's is hosting their annual BBQ for the Homeless, bringing warmth, food, and community to up to 200 people who might otherwise spend the festive season alone. They've also partnered with Brunetti Classico, Chocolatier Australia, and Bisko Bakehouse to offer a gingerbread fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting their Welcome Relief Meals Program that provides daily breakfast and lunch to homeless community members.

How CDF is supporting: CDF staff are volunteering at the BBQ for the Homeless in December, helping to prepare food, cook, and serve guests with dignity and care.

How you can help: Purchase gingerbread houses, DIY kits, chocolates, or shortbread through the festive fundraiser , or make a direct donation to support the St Mary's House of Welcome daily meal program.

Pictured: CDF and Mackillop Family Services Staff at the 2025 Christmas Toy Drive

MacKillop Family Services: Bringing Christmas Magic to Children in Care

Every child deserves the magic of Christmas morning. Each year, MacKillop Family Services works to deliver gifts to children and young people in their care across Australia -many of whom have experienced trauma, displacement, and hardship that no child should endure.

The Christmas Toy Appeal ensures these young people wake up to presents under the tree, experiencing the joy and wonder that every child deserves during the festive season.

How CDF is supporting: CDF staff are donating toys and volunteering at the Toy Drive Days in early December, helping to sort, wrap, and prepare gifts for distribution.

How you can help: Donate age-appropriate toys, books, or gift cards that will bring smiles to children and young people at the MacKillop Toy Drive. Or make a charitable donation to MacKillop Family Services.

CatholicCare Victoria: Restoring Dignity Through Choice

This Christmas, CDF is proud to stand alongside CatholicCare Victoria in supporting their Christmas Food Voucher Program, helping families and individuals across Victoria experience the dignity, joy, and hope of the season.

Through this initiative, every $50 donation provides a $50 food voucher to someone in need, empowering them to choose the meals that bring comfort, celebrate family traditions, and share in the spirit of Christmas. More than just food, these vouchers restore choice, dignity, and belonging for people who might otherwise feel left behind.

How CDF is supporting: CDF will match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000. That means every contribution goes twice as far, directly helping households put food on the table this Christmas. Every dollar you give becomes a dollar of hope, multiplied.

How you can help: Make a donation of any size to provide food vouchers to families in need. With CDF's matched giving, your impact is doubled. Donate to CatholicCare Victoria Christmas Food Voucher Program today.

Choose What Resonates With You

However you choose to participate this Advent season, whether through donating, purchasing, or simply spreading the word, you'll be sharing the joy of a CDF Christmas and bringing hope to those who need it most.

The true meaning of Christmas is all around us in the compassion, generosity, and care we extend to our most vulnerable neighbors. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community experiences the dignity, warmth, and hope of this sacred season.

Restoring A Sacred Space: St Mary’s Bunbury Brings Heritage to Life

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:15:27 GMT

At the heart of South Bunbury, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is preparing to celebrate a new chapter in its long story of faith, learning, and community. With support from Catholic Development Fund (CDF), the school is breathing new life into its historic chapel and church hall, transforming buildings that had fallen silent into vibrant spaces once again.

St Mary’s Primary School has been serving families in the South Bunbury community for more than a century. Today it is home to 250 students, with a strong Catholic identity and a commitment to living out its motto of Faith, Respect, Courage .

The school sits in a growing coastal city around 175 kilometres south of Perth. Known as the gateway to the Southwest, Bunbury is a diverse and dynamic community where families, schools, parishes, and local businesses all play a role in shaping the region’s future.

The chapel and hall, gifted to St Mary’s by the Bishop of Bunbury in 2011, once stood as important hubs of worship and community. But after years of disrepair and safety concerns, the much-loved buildings were fenced off, unable to be used.

Principal Paul Cronin has carried the vision of restoration for more than nine years.

“Our community has waited a long time to see these buildings renewed. They have been part of the life of so many families, and now they will be part of our future again"

Paul Cronin
Principal, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

This long-awaited refurbishment will become a reality with a $50,000 contribution from the school and a $1.2 million loan from CDF. The project will see the chapel restored as a sacred place of prayer and worship, and the hall renewed as additional classroom space.

St Mary’s story is deeply entwined with the Mercy tradition, dating back to its origins in 1904. That heritage has shaped every detail of the project.

120-year-old floorboards have been carefully preserved to remain a feature of the hall.
Heritage vents were re-created by a local teenager using 3D printing technology.
In the chapel, timber removed during repairs has been lovingly repurposed into the new altar.
The original baptismal font and priest’s chair, with decades of history, remain in place.

“The Sisters of Mercy brought faith, education, and compassion to Bunbury more than a century ago,” Mr Cronin explained. “Restoring these spaces allows us to carry their story forward while providing students with modern and meaningful spaces to learn and grow.”

Paul Cronin
Principal, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

The chapel will once again host Masses, school liturgies, and sacred moments such as the Year 6 Graduation Mass. These spaces will also continue to be places where families and the wider Bunbury community gather, reconnecting parish and school ties in a powerful way.

Faith, Respect, Courage — is lived daily by the St Mary students, and now, the refurbished chapel will provide a sacred space to encounter God on the school grounds.

In recent years, the school has invested in helping students appreciate the Catholic story that shapes their identity. Through creative initiatives like artist Phil Doncon’s live painting of Catherine McAuley, Marcellin Champagnat, and Ursula Frayne — the saints behind their school houses — the children have come to see their place in a much larger tradition of Catholic mission.

For St Mary’s, the partnership with CDF has been critical in turning this long-held dream into reality.

" CDF understood who we are and what we are trying to achieve ," Mr Cronin shared. "T heir support helped us to undertake this project, which will have a positive impact on our students and staff .

"When working with partners our school is always keen to ensure the values of any organisation is aligned with that of the school. CDF's presence in the community and support for local initiatives such as the Wardandi Gift was important when deciding to partner with them on this project "

Looking to the future, Mr Cronin explains, “We continue to look at ways to meet the needs of Bunbury families and to this end planning is underway on how we might deliver a full-time Kindy programme in line with new Government policy.”

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Bunbury and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Heritage Meets Innovation: Major Redevelopment Announcement for Our Lady of Sion Convent and Precinct

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:24:53 GMT

Media Release

The iconic Our Lady of Sion convent and school campus site in Sale is set to be revitalised after plans were approved for a $40 million investment in one of the largest education projects ever undertaken in the Diocese of Sale .

The announcement follows more than four years of consultation and master planning for the site as the Diocese of Sale and Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) worked with the community and heritage experts on plans to restore the heritage listed buildings and rejuvenate the entire site for 21st century education use.

The $40 million redevelopment, supported by CDF, will deliver three distinct projects and create a state-of-the-art education precinct. The projects include:

A complex restoration and preservation of the heritage listed convent building
Construction of a purpose-built primary school facility
Incorporation of a separate education professional learning and leadership development centre to be known as the Ratisbonne Leadership Centre

The preservation and revitalisation of this much-loved Sale landmark has been recognised as a good heritage outcome that acknowledges the history and enhances the significance of the place. The Heritage Impact Statement makes note of this positive impact through 'the removal of unsympathetic elements, the reactivation of the heritage site through adaptive re-use and the forthcoming conservation works.'

St Thomas' Primary School, Sale will move into a state-of-the art primary school facility on the site and will be re-named Our Lady of Sion Catholic Primary School to honour the rich history of the Sisters of Sion. A strong link to St Thomas' will be maintained with a $12.5 million purpose-built. Learning Neighbourhood to be known as the St Thomas' Centre. The new building has been made possible with the support of a $3.6 million Capital Grant from the Australian Government.

The first two floors of the Sion convent building will be repurposed for contemporary primary education use for Years 4 to 6 and will include connected classrooms, along with STEM, Library, Art, multimedia, administration, and office spaces. The beautiful convent chapel will be an inspirational and prayerful space for students.

The Ratisbonne Leadership Centre will occupy the top floor of the convent building which will be refurbished and re-purposed as a specialised facility to deliver teacher and school leader professional learning programs to support Catholic schools across the Diocese of Sale. With independent access and carparking, it will support DOSCEL’s efforts to promote expert teacher practice and deliver teaching and learning excellence.

This exciting project is being led by Monto Project Managers, with Y2 Architecture as the lead Architects. Melbcon Builders are on-site, laying the groundwork for construction to begin, with a planned completion in early 2027.

St Thomas' Catholic Primary School Principal, Ms Jodie Ware:

“This new building is more than just bricks and mortar; it is a commitment to nurturing minds and shaping futures. This state-of-the-art building project represents a vision for the future. It will provide modern, safe, and inspiring spaces for staff and students to grow and thrive.”

Catholic Bishop of Sale, Most Reverend Greg Bennet:

“The preservation and revitalisation of this much-loved Sale landmark not only protects our heritage, but as custodians of the site we have been given the opportunity to create a beautiful new place of learning for our young people that will enable them to grow in their love of Jesus in an enriching environment. This learning environment is deeply connected to our mission to proclaim the good news

of Jesus Christ.”

Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Mr Paul Velton:

“St Thomas' Primary School was established by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion more than 50 years ago so this in many ways is a return to its spiritual roots. It is also a wonderful opportunity to honour the past and invest in this new state-of-the-art school building for our students and ensure Catholic education continues to thrive on this site for another 125 years.”

Architect concept images and video fly through below:

Media Inquiries: DOSCEL Media and Communications team: 0417534232

CDF Catholic Connect Helps Organisations Build Resilience Through Risk & Governance Workshop

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 01:00:12 GMT

On Thursday 18 September, CDF Catholic Connect gathered leaders from across education, health, aged care, and community services for a workshop on Navigating Tomorrow: Protecting Your Mission Through Strategic Risk & Governance .

The event explored how, in an era of increasing regulatory demands, emerging technologies, and societal change, organisations can protect their identity and mission while adapting and responding with agility.

Lessons and Learnings from Risk Experts

Three keynote presenters brought strong sector experience and deep insight:

Jacinta Munro (Partner, Regulatory & Compliance, KPMG Australia)
Funda Ozenc (Chief Quality Officer, Villa Maria Catholic Homes)
Jayesh Kapitan (Partner, Risk Advisory, RSM Australia)

Speakers (from left to right): Jayesh Kapitan, Funda Ozenc and Jacinta Munro

Embracing emerging technologies with prudence

Artificial intelligence was recognised as both a challenge and an opportunity. Jacinta Munro (KPMG) outlined how AI is reshaping compliance, data management, and regulatory landscapes. The theme was clear: organisations must establish guardrails to ensure privacy, accuracy, and ethical use, while exploring pilots that enhance efficiency and strengthen oversight. When guided by human judgment and mission, AI can be an enabler rather than a risk.

Preparing for reform with strategy and discipline

Reform in aged care, particularly the Aged Care Act 2025, was unpacked by Funda Ozenc (VMCH). Funda emphasised the importance of sequencing change—aligning policy updates, workforce education, client communications, and digital upgrades into a clear roadmap. The lesson was practical: approach reform as a staged improvement program, ensuring that compliance strengthens rather than distracts from mission and values.

Building cultures that sustain governance

Jayesh Kapitan (RSM Australia) stressed that governance frameworks succeed only when embedded in organisational culture. Beyond policies and systems, strong governance requires open reporting, constructive escalation, and shared responsibility across leadership and teams. The theme was proactive culture, where risk is seen as a pathway to resilience, not an obstacle to mission.

Staying true to mission

Across each theme, the message was consistent: risk and governance are not bureaucratic burdens, but essential supports for Catholic organisations seeking to live their mission with integrity. With disciplined strategies, prudent adoption of new technologies, and cultures that prioritise openness and accountability, organisations can navigate complexity while keeping purpose, values and mission at their core.

Learn more about CDF’s Catholic Connect series, and register your interest for the next event today.

Building Faith and Community: How a Tech-Savvy Teen Saint Inspired a New School

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:08:14 GMT

It's lunchtime at Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School in Wollert , part of Melbourne's northern growth corridor, and the sound of spirited play fills the air as children explore the grounds of their brand-new school. The red and blue of their uniforms, still fresh in the school’s foundation year, is a deliberate tribute to their patron's favorite colours.

Named after Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, who used his coding skills to document and celebrate Eucharistic Miracles before dying from leukemia in 2006 at just fifteen years old, the school embodies the spirit of a remarkable young man who will soon become the first of the 'influencer' generation to be canonised as a Saint on the 7th September 2025. 

"He lived a life of faith, of service, of generosity and courage, and these are the values that we take for the life of this school," says Foundation Principal Damian Howard, who traveled to Assisi in Italy where Carlo is buried and had the honor of meeting Carlo's mother to learn more about her son's qualities and discuss plans for the school. 

The primary school opened in February this year and was built with the assistance of a $10.3 million loan from CDF, creating a focus point for a new Catholic community.

“The mission of this school is to bring a sense of Catholic faith and mission to Wollert, and the great thing about the families here is that they understand we are building community together"

Damian Howard
Foundation Principal,
Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School in Wollert

Carlo's influence is visible throughout the school's thoughtful design. The five striking arches of the main entrance emulate those of the church in Assisi where he is buried, while panels of beautiful stained glass depict locations from Damian's journey to Italy to learn about Carlo's life. At the reception desk, a large photograph of Carlo, showing a friendly looking curly brown-haired young man in red jumper with a blue collar against a backdrop of clear blue sky, serves as a daily reminder of the school's inspiration. 

Comprising an administration wing, reception area, six modern classrooms, a spacious multi-purpose break-out area filled with color and light, basketball court and playground, the school has everything it currently needs. But as children play in the shadow of construction work happening a short distance away, the real growth story unfolds; progress is already underway on Stage Two developments. 

"We've started Stage Two immediately so we can continue to meet demand, and working with CDF has made life much easier because I can get on with running the school and doing what is important and that is the education of the children," says Damian. 

Just as Carlo used technology to serve his faith community online, the school continues to adapt and expand to serve its growing community in Wollert. Scheduled for completion at the beginning of the 2026 school year, Stage Two, which includes a further six classrooms, an admin extension, and two sports fields, doubles the school's enrollment capacity and is being built with the help of a $9.8 million loan from CDF. 

As a further indication of the strong demand for Catholic education in the area, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education (MACSEYE) is also building a kindergarten on the school site alongside the Stage Two expansion, providing a pathway for families to access Catholic education for their three- and four-year-olds from next year. 

"Carlo's story has been transformative for the school, everyone involved has been inspired by him, we'll be forever entwined with Carlo and Assisi," says Damian. 

When Carlo is canonised later this year, a further transformation will occur as the school becomes Saint Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School, after their patron. "It's a big moment in the life of the Church and the life of this school," says Damian, who has the 'Saint' lettering ready and waiting. 

With Wollert growing rapidly with new families and young children, Damian is already preparing for a time when the school can accommodate 550 students to meet demand, again with the assistance of CDF.

“It's been fabulous to have the support of CDF because creating a school has so many unknowns and you need trusted allies and partners to create a common vision and realise a new Catholic community"

Damian Howard

Foundation Principal,

Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School in Wallert

As lunchtime ends and children return to class, Damian passes by reception and pauses for a moment of reflection beside Carlo's photograph. The image, reproduced thousands of times by devotees all over the world, serves as a daily reminder that even a teenager's faith and innovation can inspire entire communities - and that his legacy continues to grow, just like the school that bears his name. 

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School, Wollert, and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

CDF Announcement: Chief Executive Officer Transition

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 06:13:52 GMT

Announcement: 1 August 2025

After ten years of dedicated service, Matthew Cassin has tendered his resignation as Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Development Fund and CDF Community Fund.

Under Matthew's leadership over the past decade, CDF has achieved exceptional lending growth, navigated several amalgamations, organisational transformation, and strengthened the Fund’s financial performance. His vision during this time has positioned CDF as a leading financial institution, serving Catholic communities in new and innovative ways.

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne and Chair of the CDF Board, stated:

“I wish to personally express my deep appreciation to Matthew for his stand-out and committed service to the Church in Melbourne, Victoria and beyond. Matthew’s leadership, combined with the hard work of the CDF team, has been a wonderful enabler of the Church’s mission. I wish Matthew every blessing in the next stage of his professional and personal journey.”

The solid foundation established under Matthew's leadership provides an excellent platform for the continued growth of CDF. The improvements to products, processes and account security which have been implemented over the years, will continue to evolve as the needs of our customers grow. Our commitment to this strategic direction and exceptional service remains our highest priority.

Andrew Carman, CDF's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Interim CEO, ensuring continuity during this transition, as the executive search for a permanent successor commences.

The CDF Board and Staff remain committed to maintaining stability for all customers and partners. Our mission of supporting Catholic endeavour continues unchanged, and we are well-equipped to deliver the trusted service you expect.

We are deeply grateful to Matthew for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and profound commitment to the mission of Church. His legacy of service has strengthened our organisation immeasurably, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.

Should you have any questions during this time, please contact your CDF Relationship Manager or our Client Services Group on Tel: 1800 134 135.

We thank you for your continued support and trust in Catholic Development Fund.

A New School Program Helps Bridge Generation Gap

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:26:39 GMT

A new program called Generations of Value has been introduced in Catholic primary schools across Australia at the start of Term 3, 2025. The program aims to help children appreciate the unique contributions of people at all stages of life, showing them how society is stronger and more vibrant with generations working together.

The program was developed by Mercy Health Foundation , Australian Catholic University (ACU) , Meaningful Ageing Australia and Catholic Health Australia , and sponsored by Catholic Development Fund (CDF). One of the main instigators, the foundation’s partnerships manager, Mark Trayli ng, says the thinking behind the program stemmed from a comment by his grandfather, a naval man, that when people lose their last parent, they become a ship without a rudder.

‘I appreciated the sentiment because it underscored how much we rely on previous generations for guidance ,’ Mr Trayling says.

‘ But upon reflection, I’d modify that image: while growing up, it’s helpful to have two hands on the tiller and someone pointing to the North Star—so that later in life, we’ll know how to steer on our own. Generations of Value is a reflection of this sentiment .’

Older people now are healthier, more educated and more involved than they ever have been.

ACU Professor of Healthy Ageing Laurie Buys is another of the program’s creators and explains that one of its goals is reshaping the narrative around ageing. ‘ A stereotypical way of looking at ageing is that ageing is a “deficit”—that when you grow older, you “decline”, physically and cognitively ,’ she says.

‘ And that’s a very traditional and old-world way of looking at ageing. In fact, older people now are healthier, more educated and more involved than they ever have been in the community. [Babies born now] are likely to have a hundred-year life, so we need to really challenge that view that you’re old at 65 .’

Generations of Value consists of eight sessions, each focusing on a Bible verse and activities that encourage reflection on the different roles and generations within a family.

Grandparents give a lot to their grandchildren, but they also get a lot.

‘ The Bible encourages mentorship and the sharing of wisdom, enabling older generations to guide and support the young ,’ says Mr Trayling. ‘ More than that, it honours both giving and receiving in relationships .'

‘ We don’t need to reinvent the wheel in our teachings. Christianity already offers rich, time-tested lessons .’

At the start of the program, children create a ‘Relationship Constellation Map’ to visualise their connections with friends and family. This unit revolves around a verse from the Psalms:

One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)

Children note the number of generations within their family group and discuss something they’ve learnt from an older member, whether parent or grandparent or, if they’re lucky, a great grandparent. For homework, they ask an older person to tell them a story about when they were young. Later sessions revolve around outings and games with their older relatives.

‘ A lot of the activities are designed so that the kids go out and interact with their grandparents and other older members of the community ,’ Professor Buys explains. ‘ It’s encouraging those really healthy and engaging conversations and reciprocal relationships—you give and you take and you create that bond .'

‘ Grandparents give a lot to their grandchildren, but they also get a lot from their grandchildren. [Building positive relationships] becomes a foundation of trust, a foundation of love and having someone who’s got your back, for both generations. ’

One key theme is questioning misconceptions about ageing. In a session about challenging stereotypes of ageing by contrasting myths with reality, students contemplate the meaning behind a passage in the Book of Samuel:

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

The curriculum creators say the passage directly counters that ‘deficit mindset’ about ageing—that it is about being diminished as a human, rather than just another phase of life.

Prof Buys says if this generation of children will be living hundred-year lives, that myth needs to be cast aside. ‘ Everyone needs meaning and purpose in their life. We really want to bring to the conversation with young people that meaning and purpose is vital to having a good life .’

She believes it is important to create that mindset from an early age, and that has to happen through intergenerational partnerships and relationships. ‘ You’ve got to be part of the community and be active and engaged basically your whole life. You could be well and truly living into your 100s, so it’s important to have something that gets you out of bed and get up in the morning .’

It really is around living your best life.

The program draws inspiration from the New Map of Life , developed in Stanford University’s Centre for Longevity, which reimagines ageing as a time of opportunity.

‘ Our life is no longer linear, ’ Prof Buys says, referring to the ‘traditional’ path of birth, school, work, marriage, death. ‘ That sort of trajectory no longer occurs in that there’s a lot of different transitions and pathways.

‘[Stanford researchers] say that learning doesn’t just occur in school and at uni, that it occurs throughout your life. The New Map of Life talks about the different ways we’re going to work, the different opportunities that will become available.

‘What I like about the New Map of Life is it doesn’t pit the generations against each other. It encourages everyone to work together. So it’s a really nice way of demonstrating that we all need each other.’

The program’s final session celebrates community, with children sharing their completed maps and envisioning ways to create spaces where people of all ages feel welcome. The intention, Prof Buys says, is to change the narrative around the opportunities that come with longevity.

‘And it’s exciting. It really is about living your best life up until the very, very end of it. ’

Article: Melbourne Catholic 24 July 2025

Want to learn more? Visit the Healthy Ageing website for more information.

Looking to register your school for the new program? Complete the Secondary School registration or Primary School registration today.

A Joyful Celebration of Faith: Consecration of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Parish South-East Melbourne

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 22:13:44 GMT

Saturday 12 July 2025 marked a moment of extraordinary joy and deep spiritual significance for Melbourne’s Syro-Malabar Catholic community, with the consecration of the new St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Parish in Dandenong South.

Located in the heart of Victoria’s growing south-eastern corridor, the newly built church is the culmination of years of prayer, planning and tireless effort from the devoted community. The consecration liturgy was led by His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and drew more than 2,000 faithfuls from across the state and beyond.

The Syro-Malabar community in Melbourne’s South-East has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, prompting the establishment of the St. Thomas Parish in 2015 to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of its faithful. In the early years, parishioners gathered for Masses and catechism in shared or rented spaces, all the while nurturing the hope of building a permanent church.

His Beatitude was joined by Eparchial Bishop John Panamthottathil and Emeritus Bishop Bosco Puthur, who each played an integral role in the development and leadership of the Syro-Malabar community in Australia. Also celebrating at the official proceedings was CDF Board member, Bishop Anthony J Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop for the Southern Region and Episcopal Vicar for Health, Aged and Disability Care, who wished the parish joy and prosperity in their new home.

The consecration was both a liturgical and communal milestone, celebrating the flourishing faith of a vibrant and growing community. For many parishioners, the day was the realisation of a long-awaited dream to have a permanent spiritual home for worship and community life.

The Catholic Development Fund (CDF) supported the vision for the new church with $9.5 million in funding, helping bring to life a space where generations will gather in faith for years to come.

Representing CDF on the day were Gerard Bibile, Ancita D'Cunha, and Brijo Joju, who joined the community in prayer and celebration. The event highlighted the power of collaboration between Diocesan leaders, parish communities, and values-aligned finance.

“This consecration is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community unites around faith and purpose. CDF is privileged to support projects like this that not only serve today’s needs but build the Church for future generations."

Gerard Bibile - Executive Manager, Client Relationships, CDF

We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Monsignor Francis Kolencherry and the entire St Thomas parish community for their faith, perseverance, and vision. May this new church continue to be a source of light and life in the south-east for many years to come.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist Parishes like St. Thomas Syro-Malabar, and other Catholic organisations and schools to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

$16 Million Campus Consolidation Unites the Emmanuel College Community in Warrnambool

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:06:14 GMT

On a sunny winter morning at Emmanuel College in the seaside town of Warrnambool in Victoria’s southwest, Principal Rachel McGennisken is chatting with a group of students outside the recently opened Edmund Rice Centre.

The building’s burgundy exterior glistens in the gentle light and lifts the spirits of those gathered out front.

“It’s such a great facility to offer our students. It’s so important to have spaces that people feel comfortable in and that enhances both learning and teaching”, says Rachel.

Opened in early 2025 and built with an $8 million loan from CDF, the $16 million Edmund Rice Centre is the final piece of the puzzle that unites the Emmanuel College community.

“The school’s been operating over two campuses for decades and it’s been the dream to bring everyone together on the one campus,” says Rachel.

Born in 1991 from the amalgamation of two established single-sex schools, St Ann’s and Christian Brothers College, Emmanuel College Warrnambool is now the largest school in the sweeping Diocese of Ballarat which covers most of western Victoria and is a beacon for modern Catholic education for its regional community.

“Our families range from farmers, small business owners, trades people, newly arrived refugees, office professionals and everything in between. We’re committed to providing Catholic education to all regardless of ability, background, or economic status"

Rachel McGennisken, Emmanuel College Principal

Emmanuel College continued to operate across the two campuses formally occupied by the founding schools, and from 2022 commenced relocating year levels to the one site, with only Year 9 remaining at the old CBC campus until the completion of the new Edmund Rice Centre.

“It was very disjointed and while it worked, the school knew there were long term benefits for education, safety, and the community in bringing everyone together”, says Rachel.

Aware that Year 9 can be a formative year for students the college introduced the 9@RICE program in 2022 that focusses on resilience, innovation, community, and exploration, through project-based learning where students respond to complex challenges with real-world connection.

Purpose built for Year 9s and the 9@RICE program, the Edmund Rice Centre features three flexible science labs, six general-purpose classrooms, three spacious breakout learning areas, an auditorium, and an indoor hard court.

The triangular steel struts of the building’s exterior are reminiscent of a bridge and symbolic of the centre’s role in transitioning Year 9 students from junior to senior levels of the school.

“We wanted to create a space that helps us capture student’s attention and nourish their mind, body, and spirit during this important period. The facilities that our teachers have access to allows them to develop learning that really engages them”, says Rachel.

With teaching areas dedicated to Wisdom, Communication, and Exploration, the Edmund Rice Centre facilitates interdisciplinary approaches and critical thinking by enabling team teaching and collaboration.

“When students complete their 9@RICE journey, they will become full-fledged members of the senior school ready to lead their own learning and complete their secondary education in a senior school environment”, says Rachel.

Representing the largest and most extensive construction project in the college’s history, the Edmund Rice Centre was completed on time and on budget with assistance from CDF, who worked closely with the college’s Business Manager, Stephen Kerr.

“Working with CDF was just easy because they have a deep knowledge of schools and our processes and understand it’s important for us to be able to access funds when we need them"

Stephen Kerr, Emmanual College Business Manager

More than just ‘bricks and mortar’ the Edmund Rice Centre unites the Emmanuel community and facilitates the college’s mission to nourish the mind, body, and spirit of its young people while continuing the tradition of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice in bringing to life the Gospel values of faith, hope, and love, all on the one campus.

“Without that funding, we wouldn't have been able to realise the dream of creating the facility that enables all those things we’re striving to achieve. We couldn’t have done this project without CDF,” says Rachel.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like Emmanual College, Warrnambool, and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

Strengthening Student Wellbeing: Paw Pals Extends Reach in Ballarat

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:10:43 GMT

In 2025, MacKillop Family Services will launch its first Paw Pals School Holiday Program in Ballarat; an expansion of the animal-assisted education initiative that has been quietly transforming the lives of students across Victoria since 2018.

The holiday program will complement Paw Pals’ existing school-based sessions by offering a more relaxed and engaging environment for students to continue developing emotional confidence, resilience and learning skills outside of the traditional classroom setting.

With growing rates of school refusal, classroom disruption, and learning challenges, particularly in the wake of COVID, this added layer of support is both timely and essential.

“ We’re seeing young people struggling to stay engaged in the classroom, increasing diagnoses of ADHD, ADD, anxiety and intellectual disorders, and many still scrambling to catch up on learning lost due to COVID. The opportunity to support students in a less structured, therapeutic setting will be invaluable."

Kathleen Anderson
Ballarat PawPals Facilitator

Currently, Paw Pals operates group programs in schools for students in Years 3 to 8, designed to meet a range of learning and behavioural needs. Delivered in partnership with Catholic schools, government and independent schools, the program uses trained facilitators and therapy dogs to support engagement and wellbeing. In addition, one-on-one sessions are available for young people who benefit from more individualised care, particularly those experiencing social and emotional challenges, or living in foster care, out-of-home care, or at home in vulnerable circumstances.

Since launching Paw Pals in Ballarat in 2022, the program has been embraced by 17 schools and supported more than 150 students. It reflects MacKillop’s deep commitment to trauma-informed practice and its focus on helping young people remain connected to education and community.

CDF has been proud to support the Paw Pals program for the past four years, as part of a broader and long-standing partnership with MacKillop Family Services.

The 2025 School Holiday Program will be delivered with the support of CDF, Diocese of Ballarat Foundation and through the generosity of the community. It’s designed to further the benefits of the standard school program by creating a more playful, flexible setting where students can build self-confidence and develop the skills to work more independently.

To learn more or to support the 2025 Paw Pals Appeal , visit: give.mackillop.org.au/paw-pals-appeal-2025

Catholic Connect Helps Set the Foundations for an AI Enabled Future

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:52:16 GMT

Last week's CDF Catholic Connect workshop brought together over 150 people from Catholic and mission-driven organisations to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can advance their purpose while maintaining human-centered values.

With presentations from three AI experts, the event provided insight and education on the fast-evolving technology and addressed both the transformative potential and critical challenges of AI adoption across a variety of industries.

The workshop's AI-expert speakers included:

Jordan France , Data and AI Technical Specialist at Microsoft, who works closely with Australian nonprofits and healthcare providers to enhance human impact
Dr Kunal Luthra , a former medical doctor who leads the Australian Health Care practice for global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company
Professor Karin Verspoor , Dean - School of Computing Technologies at RMIT and the Victorian Node Lead and co-founder of the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Health

Speakers (from left to right): Prof Karin Verspoor, Dr Kunal Luthra and Jordan France

Strong Interest, Pressing Challenges

The impressive turnout reflected the keen interest in understanding how AI can be harnessed responsibly. This comes in the face of mounting pressures; increased program demands, declining fundraising revenues, staffing challenges, and increasing customer demands. The efficiency gains promised by AI are particularly appealing, however, the speakers all emphasised that AI adoption must be approached with discernment and critical thinking.

Beyond Generative AI: A Broader Toolkit

A key message was that AI encompasses far more than the generative language models dominating headlines. While tools like ChatGPT capture attention, they carry higher risks and uncertainty. Machine learning models, which have been quietly serving healthcare and other sectors for decades, have been seen to provide reliable results for specific tasks, particularly in medical diagnostics where AI has demonstrated remarkable accuracy in analysing medical imagery.

Human-First Approach: Augmentation, Not Replacement

Throughout the presentations, the speakers emphasised that AI should augment human capabilities rather than replace them. As Microsoft's Jordan France shared, AI should help people in purpose-driven organisations spend " less time holding pens and more time holding hands ."

This philosophy extends to practical applications across various operational functions:

Leadership : assisting with strategic planning documents and data-driven insights
Program delivery : streamlining policy communications and training materials
Fundraising : enhancing donor conversations and analysing giving patterns
Operations : Simplifying financial reporting and identifying performance improvements

While appealing, it was reiterated that across these areas the human role remains essential. AI can surface patterns, but it cannot interpret context, understand nuance or account for the data it does not see. Human oversight ensures ethical use, critical evaluation, and alignment with mission and values.

The Governance Imperative

A recurring theme was the critical need for organisation-wide AI governance. With many employees using AI tools without formal approval, there bears questions around risk, particularly regardingdata privacy and security.

Organisations were encouraged to consider AI risk management, including data governance, staff training, and ethical guidelines that maintain human-centered values while leveraging AI capabilities.

Education Insights and Future Challenges

Professor Verspoor's education sector perspective offered valuable lessons, particularly the shift from "detecting cheating" to "detecting learning" – a mindset change that could benefit all organisations integrating AI.

While the event provided valuable insights, significant questions remain around creating organisational cultures willing to embrace AI, ensuring accessibility, and managing negative impacts such as environmental costs and human rights implications.

Moving Forward: Progression Over Perfection

The overarching message was clear: organisations should aim for progression rather than perfection. As Dr Kunal Luthra noted, " no one is really doing it well yet – we're on a steep learning curve as a society " where the importance lies in creating opportunities for thoughtful and safe experimentation and learning.

After a robust workshop discussion and question-filled Panel Session, the event emphasised the strong interest in AI and ongoing curiosity across all sectors. It was clear that AI won't solve everything, but when implemented thoughtfully, could ease the administrative burden, enable greater relationship-building and create space for greater service to everyday people and for those across the community who need it most.

Learn more about CDF’s Catholic Connect series, and register your interest for the next event today.

CDFpay to Enable Seamless School Payments with New Fee Management Feature

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 03:02:45 GMT

CDFpay New Feature Announcement - June 2025

Pictured above: Current CDFpay customer, St Joseph's Primary School, Warrnambool

Catholic Development Fund (CDF), in partnership with Flexischools , is pleased to announce an exciting new feature for CDFpay , designed to simplify school fee management for Catholic schools and families.

From 2026, CDFpay will enable parents and guardians to view, manage, and pay school and tuition fees directly within the same app they use for everyday school payments. This enhancement will bring greater convenience, flexibility, and transparency in fee payments while streamlining the process for schools and parents.

With an initial pilot to take place in Melbourne this year, the new fee feature adds to the already comprehensive CDFpay app which is currently facilitating cash-free payments across 140+ schools Australia-wide; for school tuck-shops, canteen, uniform, fundraising, camps, and special event purchases.

A Smarter Way to Pay

The new fee functionality will allow parents and guardians to:

View school and tuition fees in one place
Easily set up and manage payment plans
Make one-off payments as needed
Adjust existing payment arrangements with ease
Receive reminder notifications to complete a payment

For schools, CDFpay will integrate seamlessly with school management systems, automatically presenting fees to parents, issuing reminders, and reflecting payments made in real time. Smart notifications will further assist parents and guardians, helping them stay up-to-date on any expected actions. Schools will gain access to more intuitive dashboards, providing valuable insights into payment plan performance.

Expanding Payment Options

When launched, the CDFpay fee management feature will support payments via Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS, and direct bank transfers. Additional payment options, including PayTo and other emerging consumer payment technologies, are expected to be introduced as they become available.

Transforming School Payments

“The CDFpay promise is about delivering a more efficient, connected, and user-friendly payment solution for Catholic schools and families,” says Matthew Cassin, CEO, CDF. “By integrating school fee payments into our current service offering, we’re making fee management easier and more transparent while ensuring schools have a reliable and streamlined collection process. It’s been a real collaborative effort across the CDF team, Flexischools and Education Offices.”

Rachel Debeck, CEO of Flexischools , also stated: "CDFpay was built with the core purpose of making life simpler for parents and schools. The ability to manage fees in just a few clicks is a great new addition to this all-in-one school payment app".

The new functionality has been developed in close collaboration with the Catholic education community to make sure it meets their specific needs. “As the largest Catholic education organisation in Australia, MACS is excited to test the new features later this year,” says James Young, GM Finance Transformation, Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools (MACS) . “Fee collection is something that takes a considerable amount of administration time in the school environment. We see great potential with CDFpay and providing our parents with easy and accessible options to make payments.”

This exciting enhancement reinforces CDF’s commitment to supporting Catholic organisations with innovative, future-focused financial solutions.

For more information about CDFpay visit the CDFpay webpage or contact your CDF Relationship Manager today.

A $250 Million Expansion set to further transform Catholic Education in Melbourne’s North West as Salesian College Sunbury, looks to the future

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:01:44 GMT

Located on the historic Rupertswood Estate, Salesian College Sunbury is a school deeply ingrained in legacy – it is the oldest Salesian educational institute in Australia, with registration dating back to 1927.

At the heart of the College’s mission is the Salesian charism, founded by St John Bosco. Focused on the education and evangelisation of young people - especially those in need - it emphasises joy, family spirit, pastoral charity, and building communities based in faith.

As thousands of families settle into Melbourne’s fast growing north-west corridor, the demand for faith-based education continues to grow. Salesian College is meeting that need, with ongoing developments and a bold vision to uplift and expand their current footprint.

With projected enrolments set to grow from 1,754 students in 2025 to over 3,000 by 2041, Salesian College has invested in infrastructure, delivering more than extensive capital works projects in the past 12 years – each one helping further their strategic intent where each student and staff member is valued for their unique identity.

As Principal Mark Brockhus shares, “Salesian College Sunbury is proud to offer more than just excellent facilities. We offer a faith-filled learning environment where students become good Christians and honest citizens. That’s what our community is asking for, and that’s what we’re constantly striving to deliver.”

“Salesian College Sunbury is proud to offer more than just excellent facilities. We offer a faith-filled learning environment where students become good Christians and honest citizens. That’s what our community is asking for, and that’s what we’re constantly striving to deliver."

Mark Brockhus, Salesian College Principal

Many of these initiatives have been made possible through a long-standing, and valued partnership between the College and CDF. Over the past 2 years, CDF has loaned more than of $11 million to Salesian College Sunbury, to assist with the development of various capital projects, including:

A state-of-the-art STEAM Centre for integrated learning
The College’s STEAM Centre brings together science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics in a dynamic, cross-disciplinary environment. Students are now able to engage in hands-on projects that mirror real-world challenges; from 3D printing and robotics to digital design and environmental science. These modern facilities are not only driving academic excellence, but also inspiring creativity, critical thinking, and innovation for our future leaders.

A revitalised Agricultural Precinct that blends tradition and sustainability
Located on College grounds, the Agricultural Precinct connects students to nature, food systems, and sustainable living. With hands-on experiences in animal care, horticulture, and crop management, the precinct plays a vital role in supporting vocational learning and environmental stewardship. It seamlessly blends with the rural heritage of the Rupertswood estate, offering a real-world setting for learning across science, geography, and food technology.

Sports Pavilion, opened in 2025, is now a vibrant hub for school and community sport
The new $6.3 million Sports Pavilion marks a major milestone in the College’s ongoing development. Located on the historic grounds where the Ashes urn was born, the Sports Pavilion provides inclusive, multi-purpose facilities that support both student-athletes and local sporting clubs. It now serves as the home ground for community football, netball, cricket, and basketball teams, and is regularly used for interschool competitions, whole-year assemblies, and community events.

The Religious Education Facility and Community Chapel, a $5.85 million spiritual centre currently under construction
Expected completion in 2027 to mark the College’s centenary, the new Chapel will be the spiritual heart of the campus. Designed as a sacred and reflective space, it will host Masses, Eucharistic festivals, prayer services, retreats, and religious education programs. More than a school facility, the Chapel will be a place of encounter and community gathering - welcoming alumni, parish groups, and families for special occasions.

“CDF is more than a lender. They understand our mission and walk with us to make it happen. Their support has allowed us to move forward with confidence and build in response to real community need. We’re moving at a rapid pace and working with trusted partners has made all the difference."

Paul Hillas, Salesian College Business Manager

Last year the College launched its exciting new campus masterplan, Towards 2040, a $250 million investment in Catholic education located close by in Villawood’s Kimberley community. The new site, with Phase 1 funding from CDF, will include:

Contemporary learning spaces for senior students
A co-located TAFE training hub with Kangan Institute
Facilities designed for wellbeing, innovation, and vocational pathways

“This is about more than education,” says Mark Brockhus. “It’s about forming young people who know who they are, who contribute to their communities, and who live with hope and integrity. We couldn’t do this without our supportive community, and of course CDF. Together we can keep pace with growth while staying grounded in our Salesian spirit.”

" Our Salesian College Sunbury Board is fully committed to partnering with CDF to provide exemplary facilities to drive student learning, ’’ says Peter Dwyer, Board Chair.

From the historic Rupertswood estate, where cricketing history was made, to the cutting-edge STEAM labs and future Chapel, Salesian College continues to blend heritage with progress. Through education, sport, pastoral care or community outreach, the College is living out Don Bosco’s dream - a home, a school, a church, and a playground, all in one.

CDF is proud to partner with Salesian College Sunbury on this journey of growth – creating spaces where the lives, faith, and futures of young people can continue to flourish.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like Salesian College, Sunbury, and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

Walking Together on Wardandi Country: A special day for Bunbury Catholic Primary Schools

Fri, 30 May 2025 01:13:43 GMT

CDF was proud to support Bunbury Catholic College and local Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Bunbury through sponsorship of the Wardandi Gift - an annual celebration of Aboriginal culture, language, and learning on Noongar Country.

Held at Bunbury Catholic College , the event brought together over 200 students from five Catholic primary schools across the region. Now in its third year, the Wardandi Gift is becoming a recognised fixture in the Bunbury Diocese—an opportunity for young people to engage deeply with the stories, languages, and traditions of the First Peoples of the Southwest of Australia.

The day offered a living example of how faith and culture can meet through shared experience and learning. Students were assigned to a Noongar language group; such as Koreng, Minang or Wagyl Kaip, which they studied throughout Term 1. They arrived at the event ready to present their learnings, wearing group-designed shirts that reflected the strength of cultural identity and connection to Country.

Highlights included traditional Noongar sports led by the Stephen Michael Foundation, a yarning circle exploring care for Country, and art and storytelling activities grounded in local Aboriginal knowledge. The event concluded with the spirited 4x4 relay race—where St Mary’s Catholic Primary School once again claimed the trophy, representing the Koreng group.

CDF’s Relationship Manager, Sally Brand, presented St Mary’s with the winners trophy on the day.

“It was wonderful to witness such a vibrant celebration of education, culture and faith across the Bunbury school. The level of participation was amazing – I'm in awe of the children from all the various Catholic schools and so proud to be part of this community,"

Sally Brand, CDF Relationship Manager

If you’d like to help CDF continue supporting the growth of Catholic communities, you can put your faith into action by investing in the CDF Community Fund. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will help finance schools across the Diocese of Bunbury, and beyond, to continue the work the Gospel calls us all to do.

Learn more and apply today.

20 Years of Impact: CDF Joins the 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout

Tue, 13 May 2025 01:00:25 GMT

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout with more than $100 million raised so far to combat homelessness across Australia. It also marks 50 years of the Vinnies Soup Van program, which offers meals, care, and hope to those doing it tough.

On Thursday 19 June 2025, Catholic Development Fund (CDF) will once again join leaders across Victoria for the annual event — sleeping out at South Melbourne Market — in a night of solidarity, reflection, and action.

Following on from last years’ success, the CDF team is stepping up to sleep rough. Among them is David Brown, CDF’s General Manager IT and Products, who reflected on his experience last year: " Hearing the stories of a young woman fleeing domestic violence and a man who had fallen through every safety net reminded me that homelessness can happen to anyone. That night gave me a deep appreciation for the support services that Vinnies provides—and how much more is needed.”

"...homeless can happen to anyone. That night [2024] gave me a deep appreciation for the support services that Vinnies provides - and how much more is needed."

David Brown, CDF

Homelessness continues to escalate. In the last census period, between 2016 and 2021, homelessness saw an increase of over 5%, following a 14% increase in the previous census period. Today, more than 30,000 people are also awaiting access to public housing. Demand for food security support has also reached alarming levels:

Vinnies' Soup Vans now deliver over 800,000 meals annually
Demand for meals has surged by 65% in Melton, 50% in Berwick, and 35% across Southeast Victoria
Nine out of ten calls to Vinnies Victoria’s call centre relate to urgent food insecurity needs

All funds raised through this year’s CEO Sleepout will support the expansion of Vinnies Soup Vans, ensuring they can reach even more vulnerable people across the state.

In addition to taking part in the CEO Sleepout, CDF remains committed to funding more than $90 million in loans to VincentCare (St Vincent de Paul Society) to support the delivery of vital community housing projects in Bendigo, Epping, Footscray, Sunshine, and Maribyrnong. These developments will provide safe, long-term housing for individuals and families experiencing hardship—reinforcing our shared commitment to practical, lasting solutions that provide access to save housing, nutritious food and support the dignity of life.

If you’d like to help CDF continue supporting the growth of Catholic communities, you can put your faith into action by investing in the CDF Community Fund. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will help finance projects like those at VincentCare, and enable Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls us all to do. Learn more and apply today.

A new Catholic Education Hub at Mt. Atkinson in Melbourne’s West, is set to Build Foundations of Faith and Learning

Wed, 07 May 2025 01:38:14 GMT

Located just 25km from Melbourne CBD, Mt Atkinson is part of the broader Melton growth corridor in Truganina, which sits within the fast-developing Western region of Victoria. While birth rates have declined across the state in recent years – this region remains an outlier with one of the highest birth rates in the state, averaging 23 babies born each day.

The boom in population has corresponded to an increased demand for schools, early learning centres and community services in the grassroots estate. Meeting the needs of the community is St Marianne Cope Catholic Primary School which is set to open in 2026. The new education precinct will not only house the new school, but also a MACSEYE Children’s Hub, delivering faith-based learning and early years education to growing families. This state-of-the-art development will be supported by a $10.6 million loan from CDF.

Fr Alex Clemente, Parish Priest St Anthony of Padua Parish, Melton South , recently led the blessing and sod-turning ceremony for the new Mt Atkinson education hub site, joined by key stakeholders including Foundation Principal Jackie Byrne, MACS Executive Director Dr Edward Simons, and MACSEYE CEO Heather Finlayson. The event marked a significant milestone for Catholic education in the Truganina area, which will now feature six Catholic primary schools and two Catholic college campuses to support local families.

The new school is named in honour of St Marianne Cope, a courageous 19th-century Franciscan sister who devoted her life to caring for people with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) in Hawaii. Canonised in 2012, St Marianne’s legacy of compassion, courage, and service remains a powerful inspiration for this new school community - one that seeks to nurture the same spirit of care and welcome.

St Marianne Cope Catholic Primary School is expecting to welcome 126 students in its opening year, with enrolments forecast to grow to 536 students by 2030. The school will be co-located with an integrated Children’s Hub, operated by MACSEYE, that will provide:

Three- and four-year-old kindergarten programs
Outside school hours care (OSHC)
Shared spaces for planning, consultation, and community engagement

Designed with flexibility in mind, the Hub’s shared facilities will be made available for Parish, School, and community events outside of service hours—fostering a sense of connection and making the Hub a true centre for local families.

This project forms part of MACSEYE’s commitment to open 12 new Catholic kindergartens by 2029, building on its current network of early years programs across Victoria.

“CDF have been an invaluable partner and supporter of MACSEYE. They continue to demonstrate interest and care in everything we’re doing, deliver us with modern easy banking solutions, and back it up with good old-fashioned customer care and service. As our partner, they have joined the collective commitment to exceptional care and education for young children.”

Heather Finlayson, Managing Director, MACSEYE

The completed school campus will include:

13 general learning areas
A dedicated space for specialist subjects
Two car parks
A bike shed, two basketball courts, a soccer field, a playground, and a sandpit

As one of the first purpose-built, co-located Catholic children’s hubs in metropolitan Melbourne, St Marianne Cope represents a forward-thinking model of education - offering a seamless journey from early years through to primary school within a Catholic context. Designed to strengthen family ties, support faith formation, and provide high-quality care and education from the very beginning, 2026 will bring a new era of Catholic education to Mt. Atkinson, Victoria.

If you’d like to help CDF continue supporting the growth of Catholic communities, you can put your faith into action by investing in the CDF Community Fund. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will help finance projects like St Marianne Cope Catholic Primary School, and enable Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls us all to do. Learn more and apply today.

Staying Fraud Safe: A Recent Case Study

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:25:50 GMT

In a world where the threat of fraud is constantly evolving, staying safe online is not just good practice — it’s essential. CDF recently helped identify and stop a fraud attempt on a client account that could have led to the loss of a significant amount of money.

Here’s how it unfolded and what you can learn to protect your own digital security at home and at work. 

The power of human firewalls

This situation, involving a current CDF customer, showcases a recent prevented fraud attempt:

CDF received a transfer request from a registered client’s email address
The transfer request involved making a payment to a new account, which the client had not previously transacted to
CDF staff followed internal processes, requesting additional verification from the client
When the fraudster couldn't provide further information, the staff member called the client directly
This phone call revealed the email account had been compromised

In this attempt, it was the human element that added the extra layer of security to an already robust internal process – it demonstrates the importance of proper security procedures when handling transfer requests, especially to new bank accounts.

" Technology like emails can be compromised and used for fraud. Staying proactive, adhering to processes, and maintaining regular training is critical ," says CDF Information Security Manager, David Huang.

Practical Tips to Boost Your Security 

CDFs approach to fraud is a combination of systems, processes, and training. Regardless of an organisation size, complexity or industry, there are many practical ways to enhance security in the workplace or at home:

1. Verify before you act: If you receive an e-mail to complete a request, like making a payment, always verify the instruction using a second medium (e.g. phone number that is held on file) to contact the sender and verify the instruction – refrain from using contact details included in the e-mail just in case it is fraudulent.

2. Look for red flags: When you receive an email, requiring you to take an action, look for the following red flags before responding:

3. Remember that fraudsters try to look legitimate: Fraudsters will replicate e-mails, invoices and even websites to trick people into making payments or entering online credentials. Always pay attention to the sender of an e-mail or the address of a website before responding or entering any information.

4. Text messages can also be used against you: Text messages or third-party messaging services like WhatsApp, can also be used to convince people to provide their details. This is usually by creating urgency or enticing people through deals that are too good to be true. Never click on links sent in text messages no matter how convincing the text may be. If you’re concerned about a text you have received, contact the provider on a trusted number available on their website to authenticate the text.

5. Regularly review your accounts: Frequently check bank statements and transaction histories. Early detection is key to stopping fraud before it becomes a bigger issue.

6. Keep systems updated: Software updates often include important security patches. Whether it’s a computer, smartphone, or office network, ensure that all systems are up to date, through trusted providers.

7. Train your team: Keep your team informed of the growing threat of fraud by ensuring they have appropriate training to understand the types of fraud (such as social engineering, smishing, phishing or identify theft) and how to identify potential threats to keep the organisation they work for and themselves safe.

For more information visit the Australian Signals Directorate website to learn about current threats and what you can do to protect yourself.

New National Platform for Catholic Events Launches: Introducing CathEvents Australia

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:49:55 GMT

Media Release

A new online hub for Catholic events, CathEvents, has officially launched, providing a central platform for Catholics across Australia to find, share, and promote events that foster connection, faith, and Catholic leadership.

CathEvents has been developed through the foresight and leadership of the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP), in partnership with and supported by the Catholic Development Fund (CDF). This innovative initiative is designed to serve as Australia’s pre-eminent site for Catholic events, creating new opportunities for individuals and organisations to engage with one another and grow in their fa ith.

For some years, Catholic events have been promoted to members on the AMPJP website, but in response to the call of the Plenary Council and Synod on Synodality to increase formation, AMPJP has established CathEvents as a national service to all Catholics and Catholic organisations.

"CathEvents represents an important step in connecting Catholic communities around Australia. It is a place where anyone—whether from a parish, school, ministry, or community group—can easily find and share events that bring many more people together in faith and fellowship," said Moira Najdecki, Chair of AMPJP.

The platform features a wide variety of events, including retreats, workshops, conferences, faith formation sessions, leadership training and special celebrations. It is designed to be user-friendly, enabling organisations to submit events for free and allowing visitors to search by category, location, and date.

"We are proud to support CathEvents as part of our commitment to strengthening Catholic communities," said Brendan Hoy, General Manger Client Services at CDF. " This platform will provide a valuable resource for all those across the sector seeking to learn, grow and engage more deeply with their faith or one another."

Key Features of CathEvents:

Comprehensive listing of Catholic events nationwide.
Easy-to-use search and filter functions.
Free event submission for Catholic organisations and groups.
Focus on community connection, faith formation and leadership development.

CathEvents is now live and can be accessed at: www.cathevents.org.au

Catholic organisations, parishes, schools, and individuals are warmly invited to visit the site, explore upcoming events, and contribute their own events to share with the wider community.

Please note - CathEvents is not associated with CathNews, and is a separate service to the Australian Catholic community.

About AMPJP

The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) is a national association of Catholic entities entrusted with the mission of governance and leadership within the Church. Its member organisations minister in health, aged care, community services and education. AMPJP promotes collaboration, formation, and shared mission among Catholic organisations.

About Catholic Development Fund (CDF)

CDF provides financial solutions to Catholic organisations that balance margin and mission for the common good. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching, CDF supports Catholic schools, parishes, healthcare, aged care, and social service facilities, primarily through funding capital development projects, that strengthen the Church’s mission and ensure its lasting impact on the community.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Martin Teulan
Executive Director, AMPJP
0408 867 046
executive.director@ampjp.org.au

For website enquiries and advertising, please contact:

Tony Biviano
Project Leader
0448 465 128
cathevents@ampjp.org.au

Congratulations to Bishop George Kolodziej, the new Bishop of Bunbury

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:39:53 GMT

Catholic Development Fund (CDF) congratulates Bishop George Kolodziej SDS on his ordination and installation as the fifth Bishop of Bunbury. The ceremony took place on March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), presided over the ceremony as principal consecrator, and was joined by more than 19 bishops from across Australia, including CDF’s Board Member Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. Tim O’Leary, CDF Deputy Chair of the Board, and Matthew Cassin, CDF Chief Executive Officer, were also in attendance amongst distinguished guests.

Apostolic Nuncio Charles Balvo presented the Papal Bull during the ceremony, which brought together the entire Bunbury Catholic community—clergy, seminarians, acolytes, altar servers, musicians, choir members, Salvatorian priests from across Australia, and representatives from Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd and Catholic Religious Australia.

In his poignant homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted the significance of Bishop George's middle name being Joseph, noting, "Perhaps today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we might look to him as a model of this tender and compassionate presence to others, a model especially, though not only, for our soon-to-be Bishop George."

Drawing parallels between Saint Joseph's responsiveness to God's call and Bishop George's acceptance of Pope Francis' invitation, Archbishop Costelloe remarked, "When he 'awoke' – that is when he recovered from the shock of Archbishop Balvo's phone call – he did what the Lord was asking, through the request of Pope Francis. He said yes to the Pope's invitation to become your bishop."

As part of the episcopal ordination, each parish representative presented soil from their region as a symbol of unity, which was then presented to the new Bishop.

Bishop George, 56, brings extensive pastoral experience to his new role. Born in Dobra, Poland, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1994 by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski of Krakow. He has been the Superior of the Salvatorians in Australia since October 2018 and directed the Salvatorian Spirituality Centre in Perth. His ministry has included roles as a member of the Council of Catholic Religious Australia and chaplain for Catholic Education Western Australia.

His previous service spans both the Archdiocese of Perth and the Diocese of Bunbury, as well as significant pastoral work in the Diocese of Broken Bay in New South Wales, where he served as school chaplain at St Leo's Catholic College, assistant priest at Pymble and East Gosford parishes, and parish priest of Pittwater Parish.

Archbishop Costelloe also spoke about Pope Francis' teachings on the essential qualities of a bishop, emphasizing closeness to God, brother bishops, priests, and the people of God as foundational for effective ministry.

The Diocese of Bunbury, which Bishop George now leads, covers the south-western regions of Western Australia and spans an area one and a half times the size of England.

We at CDF join Archbishop Costelloe in praying that "the 'Fatherliness' of Saint Joseph, expressed through tenderness and compassion, but also through courage and fidelity, will be a source of inspiration and hope" for Bishop George as he begins his episcopal ministry.

Read the special report on The Record from the Archdiocese of Perth or the Media Release from the ACBC .

Photography credits: Michelle Tan

Transforming STEAM at St Columba's College's new Foxford Innovation Centre

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:07:38 GMT

Last month, St Columba’s College celebrated the blessing and official opening of its brand new Foxford Innovation Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a 20-year vision, designed to transform educational opportunities for students through a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education.

Supported by a $13 million loan from CDF, the Centre blends modern innovation with the heritage architecture of the College campus; it features cutting-edge facilities, including food technology kitchens, maker spaces, arts and science classrooms, specialist labs, a canteen, and a competition-grade sports court.

The Centre is named after the Foxford Woollen Mills in Ireland, honouring the legacy of Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, a Sister of Charity who founded the mills in 1892. Her vision and leadership transformed a struggling community, embodying the values of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.

Principal Rita Grima reflected on the significance of the Centre, stating, “The Foxford Innovation Centre embodies the spirit of Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, whose courage and vision brought hope and opportunity to her community. At St Columba’s College, we share this commitment to creating a learning environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity, preparing our students for their unfolding futures.”

“Our relationship with CDF has been strengthened by the professionalism and problem-solving capacity of the CDF team as we have collectively worked together on the funding requirements for the College's biggest building project.”

Malcolm Finger, Business Manager, St Columba's College

The Foxford Innovation Centre is a valuable addition to St Columba’s College, providing modern facilities and resources that will support students' learning and development for years to come.

Catholic Connect Workshop Bridges Leadership and Hope

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 02:56:01 GMT

Catholic Development Fund (CDF), recently hosted its first Catholic Connect Workshop for 2025 exploring ' Leading with Hope in Uncertain Times.' The event, brought together in partnership with Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) , united Catholic organisation leaders to explore the intersection of leadership, formation, and hope.

The workshop's theme aligned perfectly with both International Women's Day and the Jubilee Year theme "Pilgrims of Hope," creating a timely opportunity to reflect on cultivating hope within communities and organisations.

The heart of the event featured an impressive panel moderated by Josh Lourensz, Executive Director of CSSV. The distinguished speakers included:

Micaela Cronin , the Inaugural Federal Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, whose career began in social work with organisations like St. Vincent De Paul Society and MacKillop Family Services,
Annie Carrett , the Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Melbourne and first female Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, bringing over 35 years of experience within the Catholic Church; and
Sr. Joan Healy , a 90-year-old author, activist, and pioneer in family and child support models whose work over five decades continues to influence current practices.

Speakers (from left to right): Annie Carrett, Sr. Joan Healy RSM AO and Micaela Cronin

The workshop component of the afternoon created space for attendees to engage with these leaders' insights and wisdom while exploring the profound question: "Where do we find hope, and what role does hope play in leadership?"

After much discussion and thought-provoking conversation, the messages emphasised that Catholic organisations will continue to cultivate hope, and by coming together through shared values, reflection and storytelling, we each can build leadership capacity grounded in hope during uncertain times.

Learn more about CDF’s Catholic Connect series, and to register your interest for the next event today.

“It’s great to see how this collaborative workshop series has grown from a small customer connection program into a vibrant community-building platform. We are looking forward to bringing more insightful topics and valuable opportunities to our clients and those from the broader Catholic sector this year.”

Matthew Cassin
CDF Chief Executive Officer

Read more about the latest Catholic Connect event from Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne's latest blog post, ' ‘The wind in your sail’: women leaders on nurturing hope in uncertain times' .

A symbol of hope and opportunity; St Josephine Bakhita Primary School opens its doors for the very first time

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 04:09:03 GMT

In Clyde North, a new chapter in Catholic education has begun with the recent opening of St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School . As the second primary school within the Parish of St Thomas the Apostle and the 39th operated by Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) , this school was built in response to the growing need for quality, faith-based education in an area experiencing rapid residential development.

Recognising this need, Catholic education leaders, in collaboration with parish and community stakeholders came together to create a school that would serve local families. The chosen location in the Five Farms residential estate was ideal due to its modern infrastructure, transport links, and potential for future expansion as the community grows.

The school is built on a clear vision ‘ to provide a safe and inclusive environment where students can learn and grow both academically and spiritually ’. The story of St Josephine Bakhita, the first contemporary female saint from Africa who overcame severe hardships to become a symbol of resilience and compassion, is an important part of the school’s identity. Her words , “The Lord had loved me so much: we must love everyone…we must be compassionate,” serve as a daily reminder of the values the school aims to instill.

“As a symbol of hope and opportunity, St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School embodies resilience and determination. It's a celebration of diversity, and a symbol of community. It represents a chance for all students to receive a high-quality education, unlocking doors to future opportunities and a brighter tomorrow. This is our calling, and my calling as an educator.”

Principal Kathryn Pepper

In total, CDF is provisioning $31.5 million in loans for Stages 1 and 2 of the project, covering the purchase of land and partial construction costs. The Victorian Government also provided grant support to the project.

"The financial support from CDF helped enable us to cover key expenses and move the project forward.”

Dicoese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd

The new school facility includes an administration building, a teaching and learning centre with eight general learning areas, collaborative spaces, outdoor learning zones, and a hardcourt. During the official opening ceremony, which coincided with the Feast Day of St Josephine Bakhita, community members, school staff, and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the school’s launch. Principal Mrs. Kathryn Pepper shared her excitement, noting that the project was a true team effort, and expressed her gratitude for the support received throughout the planning and building process.

With an initial enrolment of 115 students, the school is already making a positive impact on the community, aiming to accommodate up to 700 students in the future. With Stage 1 now complete, Stage 2 of the school project set to start later this year, will add eight more learning areas, a STEM facility, an oval, additional playground space, an undercover hardcourt, and an extended car park.

The school, built to serve not just the academic needs of students, but also to provide a space where faith is lived and shared and will continue to provide accessible, faith-filled education that enables families and young people to flourish.

In its first few weeks since opening, Principal Kathryn Pepper shared: ‘Meeting the amazing families within our diverse community has been the most memorable experience to date. From initial meetings at St Thomas the Apostle Parish and School to then welcoming the families into our beautiful new school, it has been extremely heartwarming and something that I will cherish forever. A building, no matter how grand or well-designed, is just a physical structure. It's the inspiring people within those walls who bring it to life, create meaningful connections, and make lasting memories.’

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Recognising deserving secondary school students through the 2024 CDF Father James Wall Bursary

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 02:58:27 GMT

For over two decades, CDF has directly supported the next generation of Catholic leaders through the Father James Wall Bursary . The award, established in honour of CDF’s founder, Father James ‘Jim’ Wall, continues his legacy of fostering faith, leadership, and service within our Catholic school communities.

Each year, seven Year 10 students from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale, Bunbury, and Ballarat are recognised for their outstanding contributions to their schools and communities. The bursary provides each recipient with $5,000 to support their Year 11 and 12 school fees, helping the students continue their education journey in a Catholic secondary school.

This year seven remarkable students, who embody the values of service, commitment, and faith-filled leadership were celebrated at school presentation ceremonies across the country. Notably, this year marks another milestone for the bursary as CDF extended the award to the Diocese of Ballarat.

Meet the 2024 Recipients

Mitchell – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill

Mitchell’s passion for literature and academic excellence is matched by his deep commitment to service. Whether assisting the elderly, volunteering at his local club, or contributing to school initiatives, he leads with humility and a strong sense of purpose.

Pictured : Mitchell and his father with Michelle Heusler (Principal St Mary MacKillop College), Matthew Byrne (Deputy Director DOBCEL), and Michelle Ross-FitzGerald (CDF Partnerships Manager).

Jemma – Marist-Sion College, Warragul

Jemma’s leadership extends beyond her school as she actively engages in social justice initiatives and parish events. Her participation in the Santa Teresa Immersion experience has inspired her to pursue a future in education, with a focus on working in Aboriginal communities.

Pictured : Brendan Hoy (CDF General Manager, Client Services), Jemma and Lisa (Principal, Marist Sion College).

Owen – St Ignatius College, Geelong

A dedicated leader and all-rounder, Owen has served as Ignatian Leader, Student Council Representative, and Academic Captain. His commitment to social justice is evident through his involvement in the Vinnies Sleep Out and Indigenous Immersion, while his dedication to coaching and charity work further showcases his servant-hearted leadership.

Pictured : Gerard Bibile (CDF Executive Manager, Client Relationships) and Phil Gard (CDF Relationship Manager) and Michael Exton (Principal, St Ignatis College).

Anria – Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill

Anria lives her school’s motto, “Truth in Love,” through her leadership roles in social justice, St Vincent de Paul, and liturgical services. Her talents span across academics, music, and community service, making a lasting impact in every space she enters.

Pictured : Anria with Brendan Hoy (CDF General Manager Client Services) and Milton Balazs (CDF Relationship Manager)

Cacharel – Bunbury Catholic College, Bunbury

Cacharel has been a passionate advocate for her peers, leading initiatives such as the Push-Up Challenge and "Give a Damn, Give a Can." She is also deeply involved in tutoring, coaching, and youth ministry, embodying servant leadership through her unwavering commitment to her school and local community.

Pictured : Cacharel and her family with Kerrie Merritt (CEWA), Deb Garbutt (Vice Principal, Bunbury Catholic College), Sally Brand (CDF Relationship Manager).

Aira – St Monica’s College, Epping

Aira’s leadership is rooted in inclusivity and service, from coaching and championing social causes to welcoming international students. Her contributions to sustainability initiatives and advocacy for Autism awareness reflect her dedication to creating positive change.

Pictured : Aira with Matthew Cassin (CDF CEO), and Nic La Rosa (St Monica's Business Manager).

Elaina – Sacred Heart Girls College, Hughesdale

Guided by her school’s motto, "Always Striving Upwards," Elaina is a dedicated leader involved in faith, liturgy, and social justice initiatives. From supporting the elderly to mentoring young swimmers, she consistently uplifts those around her.

Pictured : Elaina and her parents with Brendan Hoy (CDF, General Manager, Client Services)

Congratulations to all the 2024 CDF Father Wall Bursary recipients. We look forward to witnessing the continued impact of your leadership in the years to come.

As we celebrate this year’s recipients and their achievements, we invite you to learn more about the Father James Wall Bursary and the impact it continues to have on young Catholic leaders. Visit the official bursary page: Father James Wall Bursary .

Hearts filled with joy, confidence and immense gratitude at the Diocese of Sale 2025 Assembly

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:17:34 GMT

'A gathering of the four winds' in the Diocese of Sale.

Two hundred and twenty delegates from Catholic parishes, schools, and organizations across the Diocese of Sale gathered at Federation University in Churchill on February 14, and 15 for a Diocesan Assembly focused on defining the pastoral priorities and actions for the next five years. The Diocese of Sale covers a vast and diverse geographic area, extending from Narre Warren in Melbourne's outer southeast through Cranbourne and Phillip Island and across Gippsland to Orbost and Mallacoota in eastern Victoria.

In addition to the delegates, the assembly gathering was blessed with the presence of four special observer who participated in the Assembly process, and contributed their personal, theological and ecumenical insights. These were the Right Reverend Dr. Richard Treloar, Anglican Bishop of Gippsland; Rev. Fiona Morrison, Uniting Church, Presbytery Chairperson for Gippsland; Dr Trudy Dantis, Director of the National Centre for Pastoral Research (NCPR) ; and Rev. Dr. Max Vodola, Parish Priest of All Saints Fitzroy & Research Coordinator and Lecturer at Catholic Theological College .

The 2025 Diocesan Assembly marked the culmination of a seven-month consultation process initiated at Pentecost in May 2024 by Bishop Greg Bennet, the Bishop of Sale. The consultation process was conducted in two phases. The first phase asked everyone in the Diocese to reflect on where God’s Spirit has been active among them over the past five years. The second phase asked people to identify which pastoral priorities and actions the Holy Spirit is calling the Diocese to put into action during the next five years for the Diocese to grow as a Christ-centred, synodal and missionary church. Feedback was received from 65 parish groups, 25 individual submissions, and approximately 1,200 student responses. The feedback was then synthesised into an Assembly Working Document and shared with the assembly delegates prior to the assembly to aid their reflection, discernment & preparation.

In his opening address, Bishop Greg Bennet stated , "We gather from the four winds of the Diocese. We come before the God of wind and fire. We come before the burning bush to encounter the Holy One whose promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ in whom we find our stories, our church, our mission." He also reflected on significant developments since the last Diocesan Assembly in 2019, including leadership transitions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parish and community life. He highlighted that this Assembly was a response to the recommendations of the Australian Plenary Council and Pope Francis' call for a synodal church.

“The experience has given me hope that we will be moving in a direction
to secure the future of the Church.”

2025 Assembly Delegate

Over the two-day Assembly, delegates engaged in prayerful listening and spiritual conversations in 27 table groups to acknowledge and affirm the strengths and best practices of the Diocese, identify the significant challenges being faced, and discern which pastoral priorities needed to be given priority to leverage the movement toward becoming a more Christ-centred, synodal and missionary Church.

The fruits of the two days were evident in the strong sense of communion, grace, positivity and renewed hope expressed by the delegates. “My heart is filled with joy, confidence and immense gratitude”. “A wonderful two days filled with richness, faith and friendship beyond my expectations”. “The experience has given me hope that we will be moving in a direction to secure the future of the Church.” “Let’s walk in unity as a Diocese and bring these priorities to life through considered action.”

At the closing Mass, Bishop Greg urged delegates to carry forward the spirit of the Assembly, stating, "We have stood on holy ground; now it is time to put our shoes back on and go forth as pilgrims of hope to others."

The recommendations from the Assembly will be presented to Bishop Greg and the Diocesan Mission Council to help form a Diocesan Pastoral Plan to guide the Diocese over the next five years. One table group in its final message to the Bishop and Council said, “Be bold in how you throw open the doors of the Church and step outside. Have courage, engage, listen. When you set sail, know that the holy spirit will provide the wind. Keep communication regular to keep the Spirit of the Assembly alive”.

CDF were proud to sponsor the event, and look forward to carrying forward the spirit of the Assembly across the many organisations we support throughout the Diocese.

FULL STORY: Hearts filled with joy, confidence and immense gratitude – The Diocese of Sale 2025 Assembly

Diocese of Sale, Media Enquires

Cathy Dugan

Media Liaison Officer

Po Box 1410, Warragul

Victoria 3820

Phone # 61 3 5622 6600
Email: pa@sale.catholic.org.au

A CDF Christmas of Giving: Spreading hope and joy together with our clients

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 02:38:23 GMT

At the end of 2024, CDF had the privilege of working alongside our clients, Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH), CatholicCare Victoria, MacKillop Family Serivces and Sacred Heart Mission, to spread Christmas joy, hope, and compassion to individuals and families in need.

Each year, our clients rely on donations from everyday people, and corporate partners like CDF, to help ensure that the festive season is a time of care and connection across communities.

Villa Maria Catholic Homes’ (VMCH) annual Hamper Appeal was their largest yet with 850 hampers distributed to those in need across their network of affordable homes, home care, and disability services. These hampers, filled with essential items and festive treats, brought comfort and joy to those most in need.

“We all (residents) really appreciated the hampers and were very pleased to get one. I think it means a lot to a lot of people, especially if they’re alone (around Christmas). There is a beautiful saying that goes a bit like this … Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always.”
says VMCH affordable homes resident Bobbie.

CDF not only contributed towards the hampers, but team members took the time out of their day to personally deliver the hampers alon g side VMCH staff.

“We are very grateful to the support CDF gave us and very excited that the team enjoyed the experience.”

Elizabeth Winston, VMCH, Pastoral Care & Mission Support Manager

At CatholicCare Victoria , the annual Carry-a-Can campaign mobilised community support to address food insecurity across the state. Staff from CDF dedicated their time to pack over 580 hampers containing a variety of pantry staples, these were sourced and donated by various individuals, schools and organisations. The hampers were distributed across the CatholicCare Victoria network, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Epping, Geelong, Horsham, Melton, Mildura, Shepparton, Warragul, Warrnambool and Wyndham Vale.

“Each food hamper, filled with love and care, is a beacon of hope for families struggling during this festive season. CDF’s contributions have made a tangible impact on our community. Thank you for embodying the true spirit of Christmas and for being a part of something truly special. We couldn't have done it without you!”

Agnes Sheehan, CEO CatholicCare Victoria

MacKillop Family Services also made Christmas brighter for children and teens in foster care through their Christmas Gift Appeal. Over 700 families received the magic of Christmas through donated items, highlighting MacKillop’s commitment to creating nurturing and joyful environments for vulnerable children.

Sacred Heart Mission’s Dining Hall in St. Kilda provided meals to people experiencing homelessness and social disadvantage throughout the festive season. During the Christmas season, CDF staff volunteered to serve meals, offering not only food but also a sense of connection and community. Sacred Heart Mission’s commitment to supporting individuals through their Dining Hall, 365 days a year , is a reminder of the importance of dignity and care for all.

Building on the spirit of our Christmas giving campaign, we invite you to put your faith into action with CDF. Your savings will not only earn a competitive rate of interest but also support organisations like VMCH, CatholicCare Victoria, MacKillop Family Services, and Sacred Heart Mission to continue their vital work in the community. Together, we can empower these vital missions to live out the Gospel’s call to serve and bring hope to those in need.

Learn more and apply today.

Staying Cyber-safe this Christmas: Protect your Accounts with Multi Factor Authentication

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:16:16 GMT

As the Christmas holiday season approaches, many of us are planning festive celebrations, shopping for loved ones, and looking forward to well-deserved breaks. However, it’s also a time when cybercriminals ramp up their activities, taking advantage of busy online traffic and the seasonal increase in digital transactions. This Christmas, make cybersecurity a priority by fortifying your online accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to keep your personal information safe.

Why MFA is Essential for Your Cybersecurity

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber threats are ever-present, and recent headlines about online scams and data breaches highlight just how vulnerable personal information can be. In Australia, cyber incidents continue to rise, underscoring the need for proactive measures. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a powerful tool that provides an added layer of security, making it more challenging for cybercriminals to access your sensitive information.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication (2FA) or two-step verification, is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more authentication factors to verify their identity before gaining access to a system or account. These factors typically fall into three categories:

Something you know: This includes passwords, PINs, or security questions.
Something you have: Such as a mobile device, smart card, or token.
Something you are: Biometric identifiers like fingerprint scans, facial recognition, or iris scans.

By combining two or more of these factors, MFA adds an additional layer of security that makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access, even if they manage to obtain one factor, such as a password.

Tips for Implementing MFA This Season

Just as you double-check your holiday shopping list, here are some key tips for setting up and using MFA to protect your accounts this season:

Enable MFA on all accounts: Whenever possible, enable MFA on all your online accounts, including email, banking, social media, and cloud services. Most major online platforms and services offer MFA options, making it easy to enhance security across various digital environments.
Choose strong authentication methods: Opt for authentication methods that offer the highest level of security and convenience based on your preferences and available options. While SMS-based codes are commonly used, authenticator apps, hardware tokens, and biometric authentication methods are generally more secure alternatives.
Setup backup authentication methods: It’s essential to have backup authentication methods in place to ensure access to your accounts in case your primary method is unavailable or compromised. This could involve setting up multiple authentication factors, such as a secondary device or backup codes provided by the service.
Stay informed and vigilant: Remain vigilant against phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to bypass MFA protections. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for authentication codes or attempts to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links

Be cautious of sign-in links sent via SMS or email. Scammers often impersonate legitimate organisations to steal sensitive information like account numbers and passwords. If in doubt, visit the official website of the organisation directly to log in or find contact information.

Don’t Share MFA Codes or Approve Unknown Sign-Ins

Never share your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes or approve login attempts you don’t recognize. These security features protect your accounts, and sharing or approving unauthorised access could compromise your security.

5. Regularly review account activity: Monitor your accounts regularly for any suspicious or unauthorised activity. Many online services offer features that allow users to review recent login attempts and device activity, enabling early detection of potential security threats.

Make Cybersecurity Part of Your Holiday Plans

The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, and with the right precautions, you can enjoy them without worry. Adopting MFA is a simple yet powerful step to secure your personal information. Proactive measures like these help you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals who may try to take advantage of the busy season.

For more information on how to stay secure online, visit trusted sources like the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch website . These resources offer valuable tips to enhance your cybersecurity posture all year long.

Is My Data Safe? - Lessons to Learn from the CrowdStrike Outage

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:00:50 GMT

A Major IT Outage: What Happened?

On July 19, 2024, a significant IT outage disrupted services worldwide. Banks, healthcare facilities, emergency services, and payment systems faced interruptions, causing widespread business closures and even flight cancellations. This global incident left many travelers stranded and businesses scrambling to restore operations.

What is CrowdStrike?

CrowdStrike is a leading American cybersecurity company specialising in software to monitor and detect cyber threats. Their flagship product, Falcon EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), acts like a powerful antivirus tool. It detects and mitigates security threats, alerting of potential hackers.

During a recent update, it caused many computers to crash, resulting in the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on Windows systems. Given that Microsoft systems constitute about 70% of desktop operating systems worldwide, the effects of this outage were extensive, impacting millions globally. *

Is My Computer Safe?

The good news is that CrowdStrike's products are primarily used by organisations, not individual home users. If you are using regular antivirus and anti-malware programs, you would not have been affected by this outage. However, it raises an important question: what can I do to prepare for future outages?

Lessons Learned for Businesses

1. Review Redundancy and Single Point Failures

Relying on a Single Source: If your organisation depends heavily on one cybersecurity provider, it can be risky when things go wrong.
Diversify Your Vendors: By using multiple service providers, you reduce the impact of any one service experiencing issues.
Redundant Security Measures: Always have backup security solutions ready to deploy during outages.

2. Enhance Incident Response

Effective Plans: A well-prepared incident response plan can greatly reduce the impact of outages. When was the last time you tested yours?
Scenario Planning: Ensure your incident response plans cover various disruption scenarios.
Communication Plans: Clear communication is crucial during outages. What will your messaging be?

3. Employee Training

Build a Culture of Resilience: The Australian Cybersecurity Center (ACSC) reported that during the outage, malicious websites and unofficial code attempted to exploit the situation; training staff to recognise these risks is essential.**
Handle Disruptions: Well-trained employees can better manage disruptions and outages.
Regular Drills: Conduct regular training sessions and simulated drills to ensure your team is prepared to handle real incidents efficiently. This includes recognising phishing attempts and social engineering attacks that often follow major disruptions.

4. Organisational Resilience

The recent CrowdStrike outage was not caused by a cyber-attack, but it serves as a valuable learning opportunity. You can use this experience to strengthen your business culture of resilience and improve your preparedness for future incidents. The ability to maintain and quickly recover normal operations during a disaster is crucial.

Lessons Learned for Individuals

As a reminder to remain vigilant, and as noted by the ACSC, unofficial websites and sources of help were released to take advantage of the CrowdStrike incident**, here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Communications:

Be extra cautious if your primary security tool is down. Always be skeptical of unsolicited messages that ask for personal information or urge you to act quickly. Avoid clicking on suspicious links and directly verify any requests for personal information or payments.

2. Have a recovery plan and backup your data:

Ensure your important files are backed up so that you are not reliant on a single source. In the event an outage occurs prepare a recovery plan.

3. Verify the Source:

During worldly events, if you receive a suspicious call or message, verify the caller’s identity. Be aware of tools like voice cloning and number spoofing that make calls appear legitimate. If in doubt, hang up and contact the entity directly.

4. Secure Your Information:

Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and consider a password manager. Enable multi-factor authentication to increase security.

5. Monitor and report Suspicious Activity:

Regularly check bank and other sensitive accounts for unauthorised transactions and alerts. Report suspicious activity to relevant organisations immediately. If you suspect a cyber-attack, report it to https://www.cyber.gov.au/

Saint Ignatius College, Geelong embraces the flame and follows the footsteps of Mary MacKillop with the opening of a new senior learning centre

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:37:36 GMT

On the third floor of the MacKillop Senior Centre at Saint Ignatius College Drysdale, on the Bellarine Peninsula, a small group of students take up positions in a comfortable alcove outside the main classrooms. Some pull tables together and spread-out folders and books, others face each other in pairs in animated discussion, while others work in contented independence on their laptops. The centre, completed in March 2024, and its many well-designed informal and formal learning spaces, is part of a broader vision that helps achieve the college’s mission to provide the best quality co-educational Catholic education in the Geelong region. “It’s a beacon of opportunity and collaboration”, says College Principal Michael Exton.

Built with the assistance of CDF through a $17.4 million loan, the $24 million Centre, which opened in 2024, is the fifth building completed in four years on the spacious 12.4-hectare campus.

The centre takes its name from Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop who firmly believed in the transformative power of education, seeing it as a means to empower individuals, enrich communities and bring about positive change in society. Catering for year 10, 11 and 12 students, the centre is a key pillar of the College Master Plan, and a plan that aims to build a community of better learners through belonging and connection.

"Education is about body, mind and spirit and we strive to provide opportunities for students to experience a range of areas in which they can flourish and realise their potential"

Michael Exton, St. Ignatius College, Geelong Principal

With light filled stairwells, timber finishings, study nooks, collaboration spaces and integrated technology, the centre is an enhanced learning environment and inspiration for future success.

“We wanted a senior school feel, like a university, and for it to be the launching pad for students’ next steps – be it university, TAFE, or the workforce - and a place for the older students to be somewhere they belong and connect with each other and their teachers”

Michael Exton, St. Ignatius College, Geelong Principal

Incorporating Christian symbolism in its design, including a prominent cross on its central tower, the building emphasises the Ignatian tradition of faith-based education that strives for the development of a well-rounded person of competence, conscience, and compassion.

“We want our students to be of service to the world and have a generosity to make a contribution to the best of their ability, whatever that may be,” says Michael.

To help in their search for God in all things, the College also provides opportunities for students across all year levels to broaden their worldview through participation in local and overseas immersions, Outdoor Education and Community Service programs. Partnering with local community groups like Rotary, Lions, Geelong Mums, Feed Me Bellarine, and the Salvation Army, students are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of St Ignatius and strive for ‘Magis’.

“Magis is the ‘the more’”, explains the college’s Director of Community Engagement, Elana Cole.

“It’s a search for the greater, the more effective. It means to be of service to the community, to find God in all things, and to seek more effective action and impact”

Elena Cole, St. Ignatius College, Geelong Director for Community Engagement

To further encourage students to engage in the world beyond the school grounds, the college also opens its doors and grounds to the wider community.

“Our local Catholic primary schools, and community groups use the gym, basketball courts, and oval and we extend invitations to a wide range of groups for our events”, says Elana.

The Learning Centre’s 400-seat theatre is a perfect place to invite guests and has already hosted career forums, indigenous talks, alumni presentations, and companion nights that foster a three-way journey between student, parent/ carer and school.

“It’s important to share these spaces and make our community feel welcome”, says Elana.

“CDF has helped ensure we have the financing we need to realise the Master Plan and create the facilities we need to achieve our mission”

Michael Exton, St. Ignatius College, Principal

The spacious grounds mean there is ample room for future development to meet a growing population and the school’s vision to support a positive and caring Christian community, and Michael knows CDF will be there when required.

“We’re very grateful for our relationship with CDF. We’re mission aligned and the team has been supportive and ensure the finance is there for the betterment of the school and offer a quality Catholic education for our families in our community”.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Ignatius College, Geelong and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Celebrating Unity and Culture: 2024 CDF Wardandi Gift

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:54:37 GMT

At the heart of the vibrant South West region of Western Australia, a special event unfolded on May 9, 2024, that showcased the beauty of unity, culture, and community spirit.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bunbury emerged victorious in the CDF Wardandi Gift, held on the grounds of Bunbury Catholic College . Created in 2023 to celebrate Bunbury Catholic College’s 50th anniversary, this year’s event was a wonderful culmination of hard work by college event coordinator Michael Chappel and Indigenous Student Coordinator Tobie Watson.

The CDF Wardandi Gift was more than just a relay race. It was a celebration that brought together approximately 200 students from five primary schools: St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Schools in Bunbury , Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Dardanup , St Mary’s Primary School in Donnybrook , and Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School in Bunbury . These schools gathered on Albert Oval for a day filled with activities that honored Aboriginal culture.

The event was not just a celebration of culture, but also a reflection of Catholic values. It emphasised the importance of community, respect, and inclusivity, core tenets of our faith. As Pope Francis often reminds us , "The Church is a community of those who have encountered Jesus Christ and have made a commitment to follow him."

The CDF Wardandi Gift embodied this spirit of community and commitment. It was a day where many came together to honor the rich cultural heritage of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, recognising the divine presence in every culture and tradition.

“This year’s CDF Wardandi Gift was a testament to our collective effort in promoting a culture of love, respect, and unity. Celebrating Aboriginal languages and culture at our College, which stands on beautiful Wardandi country, reinforces our commitment to inclusivity and community.”

Micheal Pepper, Bunbury Catholic College Principal

"Sponsoring the CDF Wardandi Gift has allowed us to collectively deliver a day that celebrates all cultures and the community". "Hearing the students embrace Aboriginal culture on Country and enjoy each other’s company has made this event truly valuable. CDF looks forward to the next CDF Wardandi Gift."

Ella Valois, CDF Relationship Manager highlighted the importance of the event in fostering a united community

In the spirit of our Catholic faith, we look forward to continuing our support for the Bunbury Diocese and community, ensuring that events like these continue to thrive and inspire future generations. Together, we build a future where all cultures are celebrated, and every community member feels valued and included. Here's to many more successful Wardandi Gifts and the continued celebration of our vibrant, diverse heritage.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Patrick's College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Fostering Community, Faith and Excellence in Arts at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:36:03 GMT

A long-held dream to have a dedicated space fostering community, faith and excellence in the arts has been realised at St Patrick’s College Ballarat in regional Victoria.

The College officially opened its state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre on Monday 29 April 2024, heralding a vibrant new chapter of education at the College.

The $20 million facility was brought to fruition with the financial support of CDF. A partnership between St Patrick’s College and CDF that is rooted in shared values and a vision for holistic education.

St Patrick’s College Business Manager, Andrew Jirik said the new Performing Arts Centre, which features an 800-seat auditorium with cutting-edge theatre and AV technologies, Black Box Theatre, Ensemble, Percussion and Band Rooms, and five individual tuition studios, represented the single biggest investment in the arts in the College’s history.

“The opening of our new Performing Arts Centre marks a transformational moment in our school's journey, and we are profoundly grateful to the Catholic Development Fund for their responsive support. This Centre will serve as a hub for creativity, innovation, and community engagement for generations to come,"

"The partnership between our school and the Catholic Development Fund gives witness to the CDF’s purpose to maximise the use of resources within the Catholic community to provide the means of promoting the pastoral and educational needs of the Diocese”.

Andrew Jirik, St Patrick's College Ballarat Business Manager

The St Patrick’s College community has wasted no time embracing the new space, presenting its first major production of School of Rock The Musical in May.

Head of Drama Monique Allen said the impact of having a dedicated space to perform was profound.

“It is inspiring to step into a space as magnificent as our new Performing Arts Centre and the incredible sense of belonging that our cast and crew have fostered is an important outcome of having their own space within the College that is dedicated to their craft,” she said.

“I feel so lucky to be able to teach and direct shows in this facility and I see firsthand the very real connection it draws between our students and their place in the traditions of St Patrick’s College.”

“St Pat’s is really excited about our new Performing Arts Centre and the incredible opportunities this facility

will provide our students for generations to come”

Steven O'Connor, St Patrick's College Ballarat Principal

Principal Steven O’Connor said the College was committed to providing students with the best possible opportunities to reach their potential academically, spiritually, and socially.

The need for a multi-purpose Performing Arts Centre at the College was first identified in late 2018 as part of a comprehensive Master Planning process. Construction began in early 2022 and was completed in December 2023.

Several Old Collegians contributed to the design and construction of the facility, as well as the delivery of the project, bringing a real sense of community to the development.

It is hoped the Performing Arts Centre will be a sanctuary of creativity and inspiration, where talents flourish, voices resonate, and hearts are uplifted for future generations.

The performing arts centre fronted by an inspiring art piece depicting Catholic missionary and educationalist Edmund Ignatius Rice, and his friend Mary Power, has also recently received a commendation at the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Patrick's College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

Fortify Your Digital Fortress: The Power of Strong Passwords

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Tue, 21 May 2024 01:21:20 GMT

In the vast expanse of the digital world, our passwords are the gatekeepers standing between our sensitive information and the prying eyes of cybercriminals. Yet, as we navigate through the virtual landscape, it's alarmingly easy to overlook the importance of fortifying our passwords on a regular basis.

The Vulnerability of Weak Passwords

Weak passwords, akin to flimsy locks on a treasure chest, invite trouble with open arms. Here's a stark reality: a mere 7-character password can be cracked in a mind-bogglingly short span of 2 seconds. Add a few symbols, and you extend that to a meager 4 seconds. In the blink of an eye, your fortress is breached, leaving your personal data exposed to malicious intent.

Reusing passwords across multiple accounts is akin to employing the same key for every door in your house. Once a cybercriminal unlocks one door, they have access to the entire residence of your digital identity. It's a convenience we cannot afford.

The Armor of Strong Passwords

Imagine your password as a robust fortress, impervious to the relentless onslaught of cyber threats. Strengthening your digital defenses begins with the adoption of strong passwords. Here's where the numbers tell a compelling tale: a 12-character password transforms the game entirely, turning the tables on potential hackers. With such a fortress in place, it would take a staggering 53 years to crack the code.

Recommendations for Reinforcement

1. Passphrases: Gone are the days of cryptic combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Embrace the simplicity and strength of passphrases – strings of words that are easy to remember but hard to crack

Some example passphrases to get you thinking:

MayTheForceBeWithYou - is a passphrase, but also a movie quote, not ideal

MayThe4thBw1thY0u - is stronger but this is complicated and difficult to remember

Isn't Baby Yoda the cutest green alien in the galaxy? - this passphrase is lengthy yet robust and much easier to remember. Incorporating random words also enhances security

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Elevate your security measures with the addition of MFA. By requiring multiple forms of verification, such as a password combined with a fingerprint or a one-time code, you create an additional layer of defense against unauthorised access.

3. Password Managers: Bid farewell to the chaos of remembering numerous passwords for various accounts. Harness the power of password managers to securely store and generate complex passwords, granting you peace of mind without sacrificing convenience.

Padua College: Cultivating educational excellence on the Mornington Peninsula whilst nurturing minds and inspiring spirits

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Mon, 20 May 2024 00:13:32 GMT

In education, investment in infrastructure and facilities can profoundly shape the learning experience for students and educators. Padua College , nestled in the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, has been on a journey to offer the community not only state-of-the-art facilities but also a place for community and spiritual growth.

The College's journey of transformation owes much to funding provided by Catholic Development Fund (CDF), allowing the College to continue to modernise and grow.

Recently, Padua College marked a significant milestone with the official opening and blessing of its Coolock Learning Centre for students in years 7 and 8. The $17 million project, realised with the support of CDF, underscores the College's dedication to nurturing young minds. Inspired by the principles of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, the Coolock Learning Centre is more than just a building; it's a testament to collaborative learning, innovation, and digital literacy, preparing students for the challenges ahead.

At the heart of Padua College's ethos is the belief that education transcends mere academics. Principal Kelly McGurn, speaking at the blessing ceremony, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of empowering students to engage with the realities of their lives. She highlighted how the vision of Catherine McAuley has been woven into the very fabric of the Coolock Learning Centre, ensuring that education is a holistic experience that fosters growth and character formation.

Integral to this holistic approach is the College's commitment to spiritual development. Padua College strives to instill in its students a deep sense of social responsibility and a living faith. Guided by the 2024 College theme, inspired by the words of St. Clare of Assisi, students are encouraged to embody values of love, mercy, and justice, becoming compassionate leaders and agents of positive change.

" Padua College has enjoyed a long relationship with CDF and is grateful for the support at each step of the building and construction expansion, from the Tyabb Campus in 2014 through to the recently completed Coolock Learning Centre at Mornington in 2023. ”

Kelly McGurn, Padua College Principal

Looking ahead, Padua College is poised for further expansion, with plans for a dedicated Science and Technology precinct, senior campus expansion, and a sporting precinct. The College will continue to focus on community partnerships, embracing opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and social impact, nurturing the hearts and minds of students, and shaping the future of education on the Mornington Peninsula.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist school’s like Padua College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
Learn more and apply today .

Aligning in mission as CDF helps fund a world class retirement development.

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:02:08 GMT

An exciting, world-class, unique retirement development – funded by CDF – is coming soon to Melbourne’s East.

St Clare , on Studley Park Road in Kew, will offer a new standard of living for over 55’s and retirees within 102 premium apartments across the historical site. Thanks to a substantial $185m loan from CDF, Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) will breathe new life into the long-held 1.4ha site and meet critical demand for retirement housing options across the $200m project.

The precinct, which has been used to-date by VMCH for a variety of services, will make way for the residential dwellings in several multi-level structures, including the restoration of three historic buildings, a café and community garden all integrated with state-of-the-art sustainability features and infrastructure.

Not only will St Clare help address the needs of a rapidly ageing population in Melbourne, but the expansive development will also help generate capital to fund ongoing mission-based projects for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable, including affordable housing and specialist disability housing.

“We have a long history with this site and the Kew community,” says VMCH Chief Executive Officer Sonya Smart. “This project will form the next part of our history in allowing the people of Kew and surrounds to age-in-place at the centre of the community they know and love.

"Not only will this project continue VMCH’s legacy with [this] site, but the proceeds will financially support the continued delivery of mission-based activities including our specialist aged care services, disability accommodation and affordable housing portfolios.”

“We believe this project will be unlike anything delivered in the retirement living space in Australia”

Sonya Smart, CEO, VMCH

VMCH currently offers affordable homes to more than 430 older people on low incomes and people with disability across 21 communities. They are committed to creating genuine places of belonging through service and compassion for all aged, disadvantages and people with disabilities.

Taking its name from Clare of Assisi, Patron Saint and original follower of St Francis, the St Clare site is set to open its doors in 2026.

For more information visit the St Clare Website .

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist organisations like VMCH to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
Learn more and apply today.

Collaboration and social justice take precedence at the 2024 Catholic Social Services National Conference

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:35:05 GMT

Amidst the vibrant discussions at the 2024 Catholic Social Services Australia National Conference, one overarching theme emerged: the importance of collaboration and social justice within today’s societal framework. Against the backdrop of 'commons, commonality, common good’, over 230 delegates from diverse sectors and faith-based backgrounds across Australia came together to explore innovative ways and approaches to addressing pressing challenges and ways to foster sustainable development into the future.

As a conference partner and presenter, Catholic Development Fund (CDF) was a proud contributor to the conversation. CDF CEO, Matthew Cassin, participated in the panel discussion ‘Responding to changing times: the possibilities of leading and collaborating’. The panel, which included representatives from Mental Health Vic (Marcel Mogg), NATSIC (Craig Arthur), and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (Dr Edward Simons) and CatholicCare Cairns (Anita Veivers) facilitating the discussion, the panel commented on the challenges and opportunities in collaborating for the common good. Matthew highlighted CDF's mission and purpose, which focuses on funding from within to meet societal needs. The discussion also highlighted why CDF is willing and able to fund initiatives that other financial institutions may overlook, emphasising the Fund’s commitment to Catholic Social Teaching and the common good.

Amidst many conversations and presentations part of the conference program, including that of Prof Mark Considine , CDF also hosted a workshop titled ‘Big Communities of Peace, Respect, and Equality - Creative Funding Solutions for Social Impact’. Facilitated by Brendan Hoy (CDF General Manager Client Services) and featuring speakers from Sacred Heart Mission , Suzanne Findlay and previous employee Catherine Harris, along with CEO of CatholicCare Victoria Housing Fiona Williams, the workshop unpacked innovative funding approaches for developments promoting social equality. Attendees gained insights into successful funding strategies and challenges, including Sacred Heart Mission’s Journey to Social Inclusion , contributing to a broader discussion on sustainable social development trends and future strategies.

The national event offered an important platform to showcase service and practical models, while critically reflecting on the impact and broader social context from which many Catholic social services along with other faith-based and non-for-profit organisations operate together.

As delivered by keynote speaker Bishop Vincent Long Van Ngyuen , the conference clearly highlighted the need for solidarity in the face of growing individualism. A continued and aligned collaborative approach along with a shift towards prioritising the common good and dignity for all will help further a society where each and every person can lead fulfilling lives.

For more information about the conference, including links to notes and resources, visit:

Celebrating over 20 years of emerging student leaders with the CDF Fr James Wall Bursary

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:31:02 GMT

Pictured: Bede and his mother with Brendan Hoy; CDF GM Client Services and Aaron Gupta; CDF Relationship Manager.

For over 20 years the CDF Fr James Wall Bursary has recognised the achievements of students in the Catholic community.

Year 10 students from Catholic colleges in Melbourne, Sale and Bunbury have had an opportunity to demonstrate not only excellence in academics and sport but also leadership and social service in their local community.

In 2023, CDF was proud to award six students with a $5,000 bursary to assist with school fees and expenses in the final two years of Catholic education.

The six students were recognised by the CDF team at college award ceremonies, not only to present the Fr James Wall Bursary but also learn about the outstanding achievements of many students across the community.

Congratulations to all the 2023 Fr James Wall Bursary recipients:

2023 Recipient Highlights:

Bede (pictured at top) from Nagle College, Bairnsdale has taken an active role volunteering in the community where he assists with activity at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School – his community involvement saw him raise an incredible $10,000 for the Leukemia Foundation on his own merit. While keeping busy with high-school studies, Bede also challenged himself on a special project, working alongside professors and staff at Swinburne University astrophysics department.

Callum from St Joseph’s College, Geelong is a member of the St Joseph’s Inclusive Community team, where he has been working with a disability inclusion coach to help create a more inclusive and accessible school environment for all students, including those with physical or mental impairments. A worthy recipient of the Bursary.

Jake from Padua College, Mornington , is an active leader in the Respectful Relationships Team at the college. He played a pivotal role in working with the school’s leadership team to develop a program aimed at assisting students to better care for their health and wellbeing – mirroring the values of compassion and empathy that underpin the College’s philosophy.

Maddison from Caroline Chisholm College, Braybrook is a college ambassador, campus captain and has displayed great passion and dedication to the College’s leadership and faith portfolio. Whilst keeping herself busy with an array of activities she also actively volunteers with St Vincent De Paul, MacKillop Paw Pals and Friends of Kororoit Creek in her local community.

Preston from St Mary MacKillop College, Busselton , not only excels academically but also passionately participates in sporting and community engagements, including volunteering at local Iron Man events and the Disabled Surfing Australia Assocation. Whilst also playing an active role in the College’s SRC, Preston took charge with the student voice survey, leading a collegiate culture of inclusion, cooperation and community development.

Sienna from Clonard College, Geelong is a passionate social justice leader and has been the driving force behind the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Program Food Drive, the Winter Coat Appeal, Justice Meal Deal, Clean Up Wadawurrung Country, and the St Thomas Reading Program. In 2023 Sienna was also chosen to represent her College at World Youth Day in Portugal.

Congratulations to all the 2023 recipients!

Pictured: Sienna with GM Client Services Brendan Hoy and CDF Relationship Manager Aaron Gupta.

Since 2002, CDF has sponsored a total of 105 bursaries, for deserving Catholic secondary school students.

Learn more about the CDF Fr Wall Bursary .

What is Laudate Deum? Pope Francis’ appeal to world leaders – and to us – to save our suffering planet.

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 07:02:36 GMT

In one of the most powerful and hard-hitting documents of his pontificate, Pope Francis has challenged humanity to address the “indubitable impact of climate change” on “our suffering planet” that he fears will devastate the lives of people around the world, and particularly the poorest.

From Laudato Si’ to Laudate Deum

Entitled Laudate Deum, which means “Praise God,” the pope’s new apostolic exhortation comes on the eight-year anniversary of his groundbreaking 2015 environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, which he fears has not had the impact initially intended.

“With the passage of time,” Francis laments, “I have realised that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.”

Key themes in Laudate Deum:

A challenge for world leaders and all: Laudate Deum is addressed to “all people of good will,” in other words those of all faiths or even none. While insisting that everyone must contribute to solving the “climate crisis,” Pope Francis clearly hopes to make his message heard by world leaders at Climate Conferences (i.e. COP28 ) who have been questioned about their capability to create real change.

Doubt is no longer possible: “It is no longer possible to doubt the human – ‘anthropic’ – origin of climate change,” Pope Francis states. “Let us finally admit that it is a human and social problem on any number of levels.” Change requires “involvement on the part of all,” moreover, “every family ought to realise that the future of their children is at stake.”

An urgent appeal to act decisively: Pope Francis reminds us that “the most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone, but above all from major political decisions on the national and international level.” Climate change is “a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life,” he explains. “Attacks on nature have consequences for people’s lives,” he observes. Vulnerable people will feel their effects “in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.”

It is not right to blame the poor: “The reality is that a low, richer percentage of the planet contaminates more than the poorest 50% of the total world population,” Pope Francis notes. “Per capita emissions of the richer countries are much greater than those of the poorer ones.”
Here he points again to the “technocratic paradigm” that underlies the current “environmental decay.” This, he explains, is a “way of understanding human life and activity [that] has gone awry, to the serious detriment of the world around us.”

Towards a new perspective: A fresh approach is necessary in which we will see “the world that surrounds us is not an object of exploitation, unbridled use and unlimited ambition” nor even “a mere ‘setting’ in which we develop our lives and our projects.”
Instead, we must understand that “we are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it.” And so, we need to look at the world not from without “but from within.”
He then continues to cite the example of Indigenous cultures which enable us to comprehend that “a healthy ecology is also the result of interaction between human beings and the environment.

Confidence in human capacity: Pope Francis concludes on a promising note for all, “if we are confident in the capacity of human beings to transcend their petty interests and to think in bigger terms, reminded that as people of faith we each have a responsibility to care of our common home.

What is Laudate Deum asking of us?

For international politicians, the call from Laudate Deum is clear – efforts at global climate gatherings (COP28) must be channelled towards change and policy that creates a more sustainable future for all. This includes a move toward ceasing the extraction of fossil fuels and transitioning to an economy based on renewable energy.

The Pope also invites Catholics and those of other faiths to recall their “spiritual motivations” for addressing the climate crisis, asking all to “accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home” reminding us that this “commitment has to do with our personal dignity and highest values.”

Catholic organisations are also encouraged to engage with the Laudato Si’ action planning process in response to these calls to action.

For more information, visit the below resources:

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today .

A new model of Aged Care living at Mercy Place Mentone

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 04:14:41 GMT

Mercy Health is expanding its commitment to healthy ageing in the City of Kingston , Victoria, with the development of a new aged care facility, Mercy Place Mentone, with $22m in funding from CDF.

Once complete, the new $40m establishment will be home to 128 residents, who will live across 16 small households. Each household will be shared by eight residents, featuring bedrooms with private ensuites, a kitchen, living and dining areas and laundry. The unique care model, characterised by small household living, has a primary objective to enhance resident independence through mission-driven aged care service in the Bayside region of Victoria.

"Mercy Health is committed to affording all older Australians the right to healthy ageing through this innovative and cutting-edge approach to aged care with homes like Mercy Place Mentone."

Angela Nolan, CEO, Mercy Health Group

For family, friends and the broader bayside community, the precinct will also play host to a café, cinema, salon, gym, lounge car and chapel – not only providing residents with amenities they may require but facilitating greater community engagement and connection.

“Our small household homes are the spaces and sense of place in which people can make satisfying and fulfilling new memories, friendships and to do the things that make each day enjoyable, with care at hand that allows that to happen in a seamless and natural way,” says Angela.

Commencing operations in early 2025, Mercy Place Mentone will represent a significant milestone in providing cutting-edge residential care inspired by the Sisters of Mercy who aim to offer care for all, that is equitable and unwavering. The project also contributes positively to the welfare of the local community by expanding the availability of care services to its current residents.

Pictured: Mercy Health Board Chair Virginia Bourke (left), Mercy Health Group CEO Angela Nolan (right) with Auxiliary Bishop for Melbourne and CDF Board Member, Anthony Ireland, at the Blessing and Turning of the Sod at Mercy Place Mentone.

"This blessing and sod turning commits us again to the mission of Mercy – and to realise the great gift we channel through our connection with older people, who together with us, will make this place a place of healthy ageing."

Virginia Bourke
Board Chair, Mercy Health Group

With funding from CDF, the new aged care facility represents a strategic, long-term investment in the mission of Mercy Health. It will help meet increasing demand for aged care living, see the implementation of innovative care models, positively impact the community, and enable planning for the long-term fulfilment of Mercy Health's mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to older Australians.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist organisations like Mercy Health Australia to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today .

Spreading joy and alleviating hunger with partner organisations this Christmas at CDF

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 03:40:02 GMT

In the spirit of ‘disrupting disadvantage’, CatholicCare Victoria once again embarked on its annual Giving Tree and Carry-a-Can appeal in 2023. These initiatives have become synonymous with spreading joy during the festive season and helping those struggling to put food on the table this Christmas.

This year the hampers were distributed across CatholicCare Victoria program teams to regions including Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Epping, Footscray, Geelong, Horsham, Melton, Mildura, Pakenham, Shepparton Wangaratta and Warragul. Not only will the hampers provide material support, but also foster a sense of belonging and community spirit across CatholicCare clients. The joy on the faces of recipients, many of whom are experiencing hardship, is a testament to the success of the initiative in bringing smiles and warmth to the hearts of those who need it most.

‘Our families absolutely love receiving the hampers. As we deliver them, we have the pure pleasure of sharing in the joy of families receiving and unpacking them too. Such a heart-warming experience and also an incredible practical help to vulnerable families, who are really struggling to make ends meet, in very challenging economic times.’

Sally-Anne Petrie, CatholicCare Victoria Staff

2023 saw Catholic school students also supported the Carry-a-Can campaign and collected items to be shared in hampers ahead of Christmas, via their school communities. A true sense of community was felt across the Catholic network as CDF staff too donated non-perishable items, bringing the total of canned food donations to over 3,000 this year. Alongside the CatholicCare Victoria team, CDF staff helped create an impressive 620 food-hampers for the disadvantaged this year. In addition to this, a donation from CDF helped boost the number of items purchased for the hampers this year – items included rolled oats, pancake mix, cereal, rice, biscuits and crackers.

CDF staff and CCV staff creating and distributing 2023 Giving-Tree Hampers.

In the spirit of Christmas, CDF staff also took time to participate in the MacKillop Family Services Gift Drive and Sacred Heart Mission Dining Hall Volunteer shifts. The impact of these programs extended far beyond filling stomachs and supporting children this Christmas; it calls on the collective responsibility of a community to support the vulnerable and disadvantaged, as highlighted in Catholic Social Teaching.

By addressing basic societal needs through Catholic organisations, like CatholicCare Victoria , MacKillop Family Services and Sacred Heart Mission , we are all contributing to the overall well-being of individuals and families, creating a foundation for them to thrive while feeling valued and supported.

CDF staff, clients and friends donating their time at the Sacred Heart Mission Dining Hall.

CDF CEO, Matthew Cassin and CDF General Manager Client Services, Brendan Hoy, delivering donated gifts and vouchers to MacKillop Family Services for the 2023 Gift Drive.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist organisations like CatholicCare Victoria, MacKillop Family Services and Sacred Heart Mission to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
Learn more and apply today .

A transformative change with the opening of Stage 19 at Mandurah Catholic College

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:25:25 GMT

Mandurah Catholic College – set amongst 12 hectares of natural bushland in the coastal suburb of Mandurah in the Peel Region, south of Perth – has recently undergone a transformative change with the completion of its Stage 19 capital development plan.

The opening of the new building marked a significant milestone in the College’s commitment to creating an environment where students can grow in their Catholic faith, and Christian values, while promoting the optimal development of each individual.

The positive impacts of the new facility extend far beyond the physical structure itself, influencing various aspects of academic life, student experience and community engagement. ‘ The new build aligns with the college mission as it facilitates an increase in the opportunities that will be made available to the students and provides them with modern and engaging learning spaces, ’ says the College Principal, Troy Francesconi.

With over 1,700 students and 200 staff on campus, the new building features a commercial kitchen, café servery and cafeteria seating for students and staff, four general purpose classrooms, flexible study spaces and a modern Library which houses Information Learning Technology (ILT) services.

‘Our students and staff are excited to use the new space – it will not only serve as a place to learn but it also has the capacity to host functions. The industrial kitchen is state-of-the-art and will play a big part in bringing together the College community, while also providing opportunities for student training and on-site learning, ’ says Mr Francesconi.

Following the College’s 30-year anniversary last year (2022), plans for growth continue beyond the Stage 19 completion. Next year, the College will make way for a retrofit of the old library building with the addition of two classrooms for primary students. There will also be a secondary student services hub, which will house the leadership and wellbeing teams, alongside a new student health services hub and staffroom.

As the school continues to evolve, the new building will play a central role in shaping the future success of Mandurah Catholic College, its students and the coastal community. ‘ The loan from CDF provided the resources required to complete a quality build. We would not have been able to complete the build without CDF and look forward to working in partnership to fulfil our future capital development plans, ’ says Mr Francesconi.

[The building] will play a big part in bringing together the College community, while also providing opportunities for student training and on-site learning,’ says Mr Francesconi.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist school’s like Mandurah Catholic College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
Learn more and apply today .

CDF Ballarat Merger Announcement

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:15:33 GMT

The Ballarat Catholic Development Fund (BCDF) and the Melbourne, Sale and Bunbury Catholic Development Fund (CDF) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a binding agreement to merge the two Funds. This comes after an extensive due diligence process, with the merger expected to take effect on 1 January 2024.

Both Funds have a 50+ year history of working together and sharing resources to offer customers in the respective Dioceses strong and competitive financial solutions. This merger will assist in delivering greater benefits to customers across one, larger Fund.

In recent years, mergers with Bunbury and Sale CDFs, have proven successful in delivering a range of additional benefits to their local communities. The expanded CDF will continue to meet local demands whilst maintaining a prudentially sound and sustainable Fund into the future and continue to make a positive impact toward delivering on the collective mission of the Church.

The Bishops of the Dioceses, together with the respective Boards and Executive Teams look forward to the new partnership and the potential it has to add value for customers and communities across the Diocese of Ballarat, Diocese of Bunbury, Archdiocese of Melbourne and Diocese of Sale.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

St Johns Regional College Dandenong, giving back to its community through science and sport

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 05:25:39 GMT

It’s match day at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong and four soccer games are underway on the school’s bright green, full-sized synthetic turf pitch. The verdant surface shines in midday sun as students dribble, pass and let fly goalward with unabashed enthusiasm.

Watching from the sidelines is Shelley Isles, St John’s Business Manager.

“The creek used to run through this part of the school and most of the time it was just mud,” recalls Shelley.

All that changed in 2019 with completion of Stage 1 of a Masterplan redevelopment, that includes new administration facilities, a staff lounge, and the all-weather soccer pitch.

Opened in 1958 as a boys’ college by the De La Salle Brothers, St Johns Regional College became co-educational after amalgamation with the Presentation Sister’s St Angela’s Girls School in 1974, and for 65 years has been a valued member of its community.

Covering approximately 20 hectares, the school serves families from five parishes in Melbourne’s multicultural southeast and incorporates about twenty students from St Mary’s School for the Deaf.

Sharing their facilities is part of the school’s ethos and the soccer ground development, facilitated with a $6.35 million loan from CDF, has led to further community engagement; including hosting the Paul Wade Cup (named after former St John’s Regional College school captain and Australian Socceroo), where over 200 primary school students come together from St Mary’s Dandenong, Holy Family Doveton, St Paul Apostle North and St Paul Apostle South Endeavour Hills, St Anthony’s Noble Park, Resurrection Keysborough, St Gerards Dandenong North, St Kevin’s Hampton Park and St Francis De Sales Lynbrook.

"Dandenong City have partnered with us to run our vocational Sports and Recreation learning programs where students work with professional coaches and gain experience refereeing, it’s an amazing experience for them."

Shelley Isles, Business Manager at St John's Regional College

“A gala day like that is only possible because of the quality of the pitch, so it’s great to see the wider community enjoying the ground,” says Shelley.

The development has also enabled partnerships with Olympicos Melbourne , a philanthropic program that facilitates young players create connections with European leagues, and local professional outfit Dandenong City Soccer Club .

“Dandenong City have partnered with us to run our vocational Sports and Recreation learning programs where students work with professional coaches and gain experience refereeing, it’s an amazing experience for them,” says Shelley.

As the college moves through its Master Plan redevelopment, opportunities for meaningful community engagement have flourished, and Paul Colvin, St John’s Head of STEM, positively beams as he walks through the school’s new Junior STEM hub.

Completed in 2022 the $5million two-storey glass, steel, and brick Stage 2 development features two ‘super labs’ – large spaces with room for a class at each end and a central collaboration area for hands on work.

“The buildings support our focus on project-based learning where students have access to all sorts of materials and apply their knowledge from a range of disciplines when completing a task” , says Paul.

Polished concrete floors encourage mess making in the name of learning and the affectionally known ‘Wall of Everything’ provides an array of materials for students to choose from when building their projects.

“Having it laid out this way means kids are willing to take risks - they have all sorts of material on hand so they can go large, they can imagine a bigger result, they build something. Even the kids who might have normally struggled a bit go above and beyond, it’s great for their confidence,” says Paul.

Supported by CDF, the new facilities have created further opportunities for the school to give back to its community by holding ‘science days’ for local primary schools.

“We do cool experiments with them to fire their imagination around science and technology. It’s aimed right at their level and excites them about coming to high school and staying engaged,” explains Paul.

St John’s willingness to share its facilities with the broader community is central to its mission of providing young people with opportunities to challenge themselves.

“The buildings support our focus on project-based learning where students have access to all sorts of materials and apply their knowledge from a range of disciplines when completing a task”

Paul Colvin, Head of STEM at St John's Regional College

Aware that education cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ approach the school believes all pathways are valid including VCE and Vocational Majors.

Stage 3 of the Master Plan includes a refurbishment of an existing two-storey building to support vocational learning programs, again with the support of CDF.

“It starts with careers counselling and is about partnerships with industry. We want to recognise individual abilities, keep kids at school and support them to be life ready no matter what learning pathway they choose,” says Shelley.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist college's like St John's Regional and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
Learn more and apply today .

Cyber Safety: Avoiding Phishing Scams

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:49:51 GMT

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:

Building futures: Catholic Primary Schools pioneering education in Melbourne's rapidly expanding Northern Corridor

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:32:47 GMT

Pictured: Students at Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham

Melbourne’s outer north is currently experiencing a once-in-a-generation growth phase, with two newly constructed Catholic Primary Schools to help meet the needs of their communities.

Built with funding assistance from CDF, Holy Cross in Mickleham and Mary Queen of Heaven in Greenvale have welcomed students to brand new facilities and provided a sense of belonging to families.

Holy Cross is the only Catholic primary school servicing Mickleham, Donnybrook, and Kalkallo where large green-field developments will see the area’s population double in under 20 years.

Since opening its doors in February 2022 with 140 students from Prep to Year 6, enrolments reached 156 within a year, and are expected to reach 680 in five years time, exceeding forecasts and helping meet strong demand for Catholic education in the area. CDF will again provide funding support for Stage 2 of development to ensure there are facilities to meet the the growth in enrolments.

Reflective of the area’s demographics, the school features a large proportion of Iraqi-Chaldean, Indian, and Sri Lankan families, and Mark Miatello, Foundation Principal, is aware of the importance a school can have on the lives of families, many of whom are recent arrivals to Australia.

“A school is such an important place in a young family’s life. I wanted to make sure our co-educators speak the mother-tongue of our students so they can come to the school for the help they need navigating a new life. It’s about building trust and being of service,” says Mark.

Mark Miatello, Foundation Principal at Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham

As a first-time Foundation Principal, Mark has relished the chance to draw upon years of experience to create a culture of well-being and is aware that many parents took a leap of faith when enrolling their children in the school before the construction was completed.

"We are present around the school every morning and afternoon as we believe that being visible is crucial in establishing trust. We also value celebrating with our families as a way of building relationships and making connections" , explains Mark.

The result is that Holy Cross is now the heart of its community and a place where students and parents can find the support they need and make it a positive part of their lives.

“I met a refugee family last year that did not feel connected to anyone. The kids were not engaged, but our school was not yet open, so we kept in touch and built trust. We’ve supported them financially, and now they are great advocates of the school as a welcoming place where people feel connected. We build strong relationships and show how we can bring hope, love, and unity to everything we do.”

Pictured: Class activity at Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham

Strong relationships are also at the centre of the newly built Mary Queen of Heaven Primary School in Greenvale , led by another first-time Foundation Principal, Renae Gentile.

The third school in the Good Shepherd Gladstone Park Parish, Mary Queen of Heaven opened at the beginning of 2023 to meet growing demand in the local area.

Inspired by Mary MacKillop who ‘never saw a need without doing something about it’, Renae left a comfortable role at an established school to embrace the challenge of leading a new one in its foundational years.

“I looked heavily to Mary as a person of inspiration, her values of courage, respect, humility, and love really resonate here at school. We’re a school that was built on humble beginnings, many people showed real courage to make Mary Queen of Heaven happen, and we show love to everyone who comes into our school,” says Renae.

A more established suburb where often both parents are working professionals, Renae and her team turned to technology to help connect with families, often conducting interviews and tours online to meet the needs of parents.

“ Everything we did in term one we celebrated. The first day of school was not just for the students, it was a first for everyone, so we really ensured we reflected on the best way to do things, keeping the community up to date with school events and made ourselves available to our families” says Renae.

While an impressive two-storey building with flexible teaching spaces, library, playground and admin facilities now complete, the Stage 1 development, arguably the most important component, is the dedicated sacred space where Mass is celebrated each week, and where parishioners can attend for private prayer and reflection.

“We have Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim families - not everyone is Catholic - it’s a faith filled community and they are deeply spiritual and have respect and reverence for religious practice and have really embraced the space - the prep mass was filled to overflowing,”

Renae Gentile, Principal at Mary Queen of Heaven Primary School

With enrolments expected to exceed 500 within five years, further capital investment with the help of CDF will ensure the Primary School continues meeting the needs of their growing community.

“We have a shared vision to see a need and do something about it and shared values to preserve the dignity of each person who comes into the school. It’s a great partnership with CDF and we serve a wonderful community,” says Renae.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like Mary Queen of Heaven Greenvale and Holy Cross Mickleham, along other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today .

Exploring Spiritual Leadership: Emerging Leaders journey to WYD Lisbon 2023

mfitzgerald@melbcdf.org.au (Michelle Ross-FitzGerald) — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:05:09 GMT

Pictured: CDF World Youth Day Pilgrims – Aaron, Brendan, David, Rohan and Ancita with Archbishop Peter A Comensoli and Timothy O’Leary (Chair & Deputy Chair of the CDF Board)

In an era characterized by rapid transformations and continuous advancements, the role of leadership has taken on an unparalleled significance. Amidst this dynamic backdrop, a group of 85 emerging leaders from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne , including 5 CDF staff members, embarked on a transformative journey through the spiritual epicenters of Rome, Assisi, and Lisbon, all part of World Youth Day 2023 Melbourne pilgrimage.

Guided by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, these professionals, from diverse sectors such as media, education, parishes, health, and social services, have returned home after completing the intensive 'Emerging Leaders Program’; designed to illuminate a path towards faith leadership and the Church.

Walking in the Footsteps of Saints and Visionaries

The schedule of activities, beginning in Rome, saw pilgrims immerse themselves in the living history of the faith-filled city; following in the footsteps of great saints, leaders, thinkers, and artists. As they meandered through the ancient cobblestone streets and witnessed the grandeur of the Vatican City, pilgrims were reminded of the enduring legacy of those who shaped the Church's narrative.

A highlight was an unexpected and awe-inspiring surprise – a private audience with Pope Francis. In an intimate gathering, Pope Francis delivered a powerful message of unwavering support and companionship: "The main message I want to get across is that the Lord is always by your side—always. Even in the most difficult moments, he is always with us. He never tires of walking with us!"

“I am deeply grateful for the experience of listening to Pope Francis preach about inclusivity and how everyone, everyone, everyone was welcome in his church!”

Ancita D’Cunha, Executive Assistant to CDF CEO

Pictured: Images from pilgrims during the visit to Rome, featuring a private audience with Pope Francis.

"To walk in the footsteps of St Peter and Paul and experience the challenges that they went through to create the Catholic Faith in Rome has left me in awe."

Brendan Hoy, General Manager Client Services at CDF

Guidance from Spiritual Mentors

Also in Rome, Rev Dr Stephen Wang, Rector of the Venerable English College in Rome, added another layer of insight to the experience. He conducted a seminar on the living history of Rome, emphasizing the idea that this pilgrimage was an opportunity for divine grace to touch each participant's life. "God wants to give each of you a special grace on this trip," he affirmed.

A Connection Between Nations and Faiths

The Emerging Leaders group also visited the Australian Embassy to the Holy See. This encounter served as an important reminder of the bridge between the Australian government and the Vatican, offering a glimpse into the dynamic relationship between nations and faith communities. Meeting with Chiara Porro, Ambassador to the Holy See, highlighted the significance of collaboration in the realm of spiritual leadership and global connectivity.

Pictured: CDF staff member, Ancita, with Chiara Porro (Ambassador to the Holy See)

Discovering Tranquility in Assisi

From Rome, the journey continued to Assisi, a town steeped in history and serenity. This idyllic location, the birthplace and resting place of St. Francis, served as a symbol of peace and tranquility, much different to the fast-paced nature of home, in Melbourne. As pilgrims walked the same paths that St. Francis once did, they found themselves immersed in an atmosphere that encouraged spiritual reflection and transformation. The Assisi statue, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spoke to its enduring influence on faith and culture.

Pictured: Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, and emerging leaders exploring the streets of Assisi

“Of particular significance to me was the presence of the clergy, seminarians, sisters and Archbishop Peter throughout our pilgrimage. I was strongly encouraged by their openness and availability to just chat about life, faith, vocation and everything in between.”

Aaron Gupta, Senior Relationship Manager, CDF

World Youth Day: A Gathering of Souls

From Assisi, the pilgrims finally arrived at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Over 354,000 pilgrims from 143 countries attended the global event; the largest gathering seen in the city for years. Cardinal Manuel Clemente, the patriarch of Lisbon, led the opening liturgy, emphasizing the significance of human connection and the exchange of sincere greetings in creating a new world.

As the celebration of culture and faith continued, more than hundreds of thousands of pilgrims took to the streets to meet the Holy Father, symbolizing the global reach and impact of the Church. The event culminated in a vigil and adoration, where pilgrims spent the night under the stars at Campo de Graca, watching the sunrise before joining a final mass with Pope Francis and an astonishing 1.5 million people. His message echoed hope and empowerment: "Don't be afraid to change the world."

Pictured: Sunrise at the final WYD mass in Lisbon

“The adoration on the last night of WYD was remarkable, to have 1.5 million people together reflecting in absolute silence for almost 20 minutes is something I will keep with me for a lifetime”

Rohan Lemos, Senior IT Project Manager, CDF

As the sun sets on an unforgettable journey, the pilgrims returned home with much to reflect upon, and a renewed sense of purpose and an invigorated commitment to their roles as leaders within the community and the Church.

Looking ahead, World Youth Day 2027 promises to continue this legacy of faith and unity, with the announcement that South Korea will be the host. The torch of spiritual leadership is being passed to the next generation, ensuring that the Church's message of hope and transformation will continue to flourish in the years to come.

“I did not expect this trip to have such a profound effect on me spiritually. I have been moved by the overwhelming connection and love displayed during WYD with the journey through Assisi and Fatima solidifying, my decision to now be baptised in the Catholic Faith.”

David Brown, General Manager IT and Product, CDF

Cyber Safety: Preventing Invoice Fraud

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:08:37 GMT

As cybercrime continues to evolve, one concerning trend impacting CDF clients is the rise of Invoice Fraud, also known as Invoice Hacking or Invoice Redirection.

Invoice Fraud occurs when cybercriminals impersonate legitimate businesses and suppliers, intercepting emails containing invoices. These criminals send altered emails with invoices bearing their own bank account details, tricking recipients into making payments to fraudulent accounts.

The impact of Invoice Fraud has been significant. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Scamwatch has reported that Australia's small businesses suffered losses of $14 million due to Invoice Fraud scams.

What makes Invoice Fraud particularly challenging to detect is its sophisticated nature, as there may be no obvious signs of a scam. Unlike traditional email scams, these fraudulent invoices often do not contain spelling mistakes or fake email addresses that would raise suspicions. Victims may remain unaware of the deception until weeks later when the genuine supplier contacts them to request payment, by which time their money has already been lost to cybercriminals.

To help safeguard your business against invoice fraud:

1. Always verify changes

When you receive requests to alter bank account details, email addresses, or payment information, take the time to verify these changes over the phone, using a contact number you already know or from the supplier's official website. Avoid using the contact information provided in the invoice, as it could be fraudulent. Human interaction during verification can minimize the risk of falling victim to invoice hacking.

2. Exercise caution and diligence

Avoid rushing or being pressured into making payments quickly; instead, carry out due diligence by double-checking the legitimacy and accuracy of the provided account details.

3. Review email addresses

Closely scrutinize any change requests to ensure they are not spoof emails. Look for any anomalies or inconsistencies in the email addresses, font or language, which could be indicative of fraudulent activity.

For more information, visit:

Commemorating Australia's first Saint with MacKillop Family Services

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 23:19:32 GMT

This August MacKillop Family Services is commemorating the remarkable life of Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop.

MacKillop Family Services history extends back to 1854 when the Sisters of Mercy, Christian Brothers and Sisters of St Joseph began their work in Australia, establishing homes for children who were orphaned, destitute or neglected, and for families in need of care and support.

Today, MacKillop Family Services continues to embody Mary MacKillop’s passion for social justice and concern for children who experience disadvantage.

"Caring for vulnerable families was the impetus that drove Mary MacKillop to find a place in her heart for those most challenged by life’s circumstances. That compassion has come full circle when a sixth cousin of Mary MacKillop continued the legacy of caring for others by opening her home to children who are unable to live with their families through the foster program offered by Mackillop Family Services."

To celebrate Mary MacKillop’s legacy and commemorate her Feast Day on August 8;

Catholic organisations can:

• Book a speaker from MacKillop Family Services.

• Run a special appeal in support of MacKillop Family Serivces’ work to keep children engaged with education.

In Saint Mary MacKillop's words, "Never see a human need without doing something about it." Through MacKillop Family Services, you can help make a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families and honor the remarkable life and legacy of Saint Mary MacKillop.

For more information, contact:

Susan Parajuli

Community Engagement Officer

susan.parajuli@mackillop.org.au

(03) 8687 07552

500 pilgrims, including CDF, prepare for World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon.

ksikora@melbcdf.org.au (Kristen Sikora) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:30:45 GMT

From Sunday 23 July 2023, over 500 pilgrims will be led by Archbishop Peter and the auxiliary bishops of Melbourne as the journey to World Youth Day 2023 begins.

World Youth Day was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and has since become a significant gathering of Catholics from around the world. It aims to provide an opportunity of fellowship, celebration of faith, and deepening of spiritual lives. This year will mark the largest ever pilgrimage from Melbourne to a World Youth Day overseas; and CDF is proud to be involved.

For the first time, the Archdiocese is offering an Emerging Leaders Program, which is a unique opportunity for approximately 80 Catholic school teachers and leaders from parishes and organisations to be formed in the way of Christian discipleship and leadership. Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts in their fields, both Australian and international, who will join the group in Rome and Assisi to present guest lectures and workshops, before pilgrims make their way to Portugal.

CDF's very own Brendan Hoy (General Manager Client Services), David Brown (General Manager IT), Aaron Gupta (Senior Relationship Manager) and Rohan Lemos (Executive Manager National Core Banking) will take part in the intensive 17-day formation program. The preparation has already begun, with pre-pilgrimage activities, ensuring a comprehensive and holistic formation experience for all those involved.

“The dedication from our team has been inspiring as they prepare to immerse themselves in this once-in-a-lifetime experience and share it with us upon their return."

Matthew Cassin, CEO of Catholic Development Fund

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Emerging Leader's program this year. I’m excited to be in such historic locations and look forward to learning, growing and challenging myself through the activities planned,” says Rohan.

Also among the pilgrim group are people who will lead and support young pilgrims as leaders, musicians, medical personnel and administration staff. CDF’s Ancita D’Cunha (Executive Assistant to CEO) has been assisting the administration team over the past few months and will also be joining the CDF team in Portugal this year.

CDF CEO, Matthew Cassin says, “We are proud to have five members of the CDF community travel to World Youth Day this year and gather with pilgrims from across the world in a celebration of faith. The dedication from this team has been inspiring as they prepare to immerse themselves in this once-in-a-lifetime experience and share it with us upon their return.”

We wish the CDF pilgrims every blessing in the coming weeks as they embark on the formation program and World Youth Day 2023 experience.

Follow their journey at @CatholicDevelopmentFund or @MelbWYD

Supporting over 650 students disengaged from school classrooms

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:39:51 GMT

Have you heard of Paw Pals?
Through the use of canine friends, MacKillop Family Services is helping transform the lives of youth in our community.

CDF was once again proud to be a Matching Partner for this year’s Paws4Kids campaign. The month-long initiative aims to raise funds for MacKillop Family Services ’ Paw Pals program.

Paw Pals , an Animal Assisted Education Program, is 100% community funded and helps children find their way back into classrooms and education. The structured student intervention was developed in 2019 and assists children and youth between the ages of 5 to 21 years to increase social confidence, develop emotional intelligence, improve behavioural management skills, increase engagement in learning activities and deliver positive learning experiences and opportunities for students who have been affected by trauma.

Since 2019 over 2,600 Paw Pals sessions have been held, helping more than 650 students across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. The 2023 campaign will enable the Paw Pals team to reach more than 200 students in the year ahead.

Program founder, Sarah Castle, says “ the program is reaching students in a way that teachers, on their own, cannot. It’s presenting a solution to the challenge of engaging kids who are struggling to learn in school, something that we’re seeing more and more, particularly as schools have transitioned from home-learning back into the classroom. ”

This year, through the generosity of the community – including CDF – over $285,000 has been raised to support the life-changing work of the Paw Pals team throughout Victoria.

For more information, or to donate, visit Paws4Kids .

Pictured above: The MacKillop Family Services team at CDF Melbourne head office.

“The program is reaching students in a way that teachers, on their own, cannot."

Sarah Castle, Program Founder

Pictured above: The CDF team at the Paws4Kids Matched Giving Day.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist social services like MacKillop Family Services and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today .

A ‘top out’ for St Ignatius College, who eagerly await the completion of their $24m MacKillop Senior Centre

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:06:04 GMT

The CDF team celebrated with St Ignatius College, Geelong , at their ‘top out’ ceremony, for the eagerly anticipated MacKillop Senior Centre. The ceremony, a construction tradition, marked the completion of the building frame, with the final structural beam being raised into place.

The College’s Senior Centre, due to be completed in August 2024, will consist of a 400-seat lecture theatre. 16 general learning areas, a dedicated ‘maker space’, gallery and breakout areas, a learning deck and staff offices alongside additional student amenities.

The project will help the College fulfil its mission in creating compassionate future community leaders, who have social justice at the heart of their education. Michael Exton, Principal explains “our young women and men share educational experiences and leadership opportunities and, in the process, they learn to understand, respect and appreciate each other in a co-educational environment which prepares them for life beyond school.”

CDF bared witness to this earlier in the year, where St Ignatius Year 11 Student, Curtis, was selected and awarded the CDF Father James Wall Bursary for 2022. Curtis was a very deserving recipient, and only one of four students who were awarded the bursary in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The scale of the Senior Centre development is one of the largest in the area at present and also the largest undertaken by the college. Totalling $24 million, predominantly funded by CDF, the project will see Stage Three of the school master plan come to life; supporting the community and students of the growing Bellarine Peninsula community.

Mr Exton reflected on the ongoing construction and the opportunities it will present. “ Each day, with over 1400 students and 170 staff, I look across at the construction site, curious and excited about the changes happening before our eyes, as the Plan Group team and their workers add new pieces to the puzzle that will become a striking landmark and impressive front presentation of our school. The additional facilities and amenities this project will provide will enhance student learning outcomes. ”

Representatives from Plan Group , architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke , Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and CDF, together with Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant MP, visited the college for the ceremony.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist Colleges like St Ignatius and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today .

After an 11-year wait and mass services in classrooms, a growing Clyde North Parish finally opens its new Church doors

Wed, 31 May 2023 12:33:53 GMT

Good News for the Clyde North Parish community

It all began back on Sunday 8 July 2012, where a Foundation Mass was held in the Diocese of Sale for a new Parish in Clyde North. Named St Thomas the Apostle , after the local Primary School, and with just 30 founding members, fast forward 11 years to Sunday 23 April 2023, the doors of a brand-new St Thomas the Apostle Church were finally opened to a bustling community of over 1,000 people.

Parish Priest, Fr Denis, photographed by CDF in 2018, holding the St Thomas the Apostle Church master-plans ahead of construction commencing.

The dedication and blessing ceremony for the new Church building was celebrated with parishioners, local Bunurong Elders, founding Parish Priest Fr Denis O’Bryan, Bishop of Sale Gregory Bennet and Archbishop of Adelaide Patrick O’Regan (former Bishop of Sale). The proceedings not only marked the beginning of a new chapter for the parish community but also a sign of new life and growth for the Diocese of Sale who welcomed the new Church opening – one of the few of its kind in 40 years.

"...now it is about building the real Church:
The People of God."
Fr Denis O'Bryan

The community procession ahead of the Dedication and Blessing of St Thomas the Apostle Church.

For over a decade, parishioners were helping to set-up and pack-down Masses in classrooms at St Peter’s College in Cranbourne. Now with a new Church building, Parish Priest Fr Denis O’Bryan says, “the new building is the enabler to bring our Parish together. For almost 11 years, we were restricted in how many we could have at Mass, so many went to other parishes, or maybe not at all. So now it is about building the real Church: The People of God.”

The $6 million Church building project, part-funded by CDF, will accommodate over 450 people at each Mass in the worship space, with room for an additional 200 in adjoining overflow areas. “ Our Mass attendances have almost doubled within weeks of moving into the new Church building. On Good Friday we had over 1,100 people attend the afternoon Liturgy. We also have many parishioners re-join now that the building works are complete; this is precisely why Churches are crucial to our Mission of Evangelisation,” says Fr Denis.

Fr Denis, finally opening the new Church doors.

"We also have many parishioners re-join now that the building works are complete; this is precisely why Churches are crucial to our Mission of Evangelisation..."
Fr Denis O'Bryan

The growing community has approximately 2,000 families registered as parishioners; however, the population growth is set to rise from 70,000 to more than 150,000 in the next decade alone.

Fr Denis says, “ We are now able to start planning a whole range of ministries and services which were restricted for some time due to the lack of physical space. Simple things like meetings, workshops and prayer groups are now possible. The adjoining St Thomas Primary School and St Peter’s College have been very generous in the lead-up to the Church opening, and we are proud to now welcome them to our Church for various school Masses and Sacraments.”

"To put it simply: there would not have been any building program without CDF. Our future was enabled, and we are very grateful for the CDF loan.”

“We have realised just how much the new Church serves as an identity for the Parish. Whilst most felt that they belonged to the parish, it is not easy when our main Worship environment is a set of converted classrooms,” says Fr Denis. “To put it simply: there would not have been any building program without CDF. Our future was enabled, and we are very grateful for the CDF loan.”

Bishop of Sale Gregory Bennet greeting Parishioners after Mass.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist parishes like St Thomas the Apostle and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today .

Changing the lives of the most vulnerable one meal at a time

Thu, 18 May 2023 23:04:47 GMT

Catholic Development Fund is proud to continue its partnership with Sacred Heart Mission to support the Dine with Heart fundraiser this year.

Held annually, Dine with Heart raises much needed funds for Sacred Heart Mission's St Kilda Dining Hall. Open 365 days, the Dining Hall provides food, shelter and ongoing support to the most vulnerable members of the Melbourne community. As homelessness become a reality for many more and winter months draw near, the importance and comfort of receiving a meal can help change a life.

Every $5 raised for Sacred Heart Mission will provide 1 nutritious meal to someone in need. Choose your food adventure and find out more about Dine with Heart today .

The Good News is your impact doesn't need to stop there. Did you know that by simply opening a savings or term investment account with CDF Community Fund , you can help ensure support for organisations like Sacred Heart Mission continues?

The partnership between CDF and Sacred Heart Mission has seen monumental projects come to life, while transforming the lives of real people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. CDF helped fund Sacred Heart Mission's Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI) program and Project 101 building redevelopments on Grey Street; both good examples of how accounts held with us continue to do good in the community.

Find out more and open an account with CDF Community Fund today.

Pictured above: CDF staff, Michelle and Ancita volunteering at Sacred Heart Mission’s famous St Kilda Dining Hall.

Above: Volunteers inside the St Kilda Dining Hall preparing meals. Image courtesy of Sacred Heart Mission.

Embracing Equity in schools and workplaces during the month of March.

ksikora@melbcdf.org.au (Kristen Sikora) — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:49:17 GMT

During the month of March, members of the CDF community gathered at various events to celebrate International Women’s Day, a day that raises awareness and recognises achievements of women across the globe.

The first International Womens Day gathering was recorded in 1911 and supported by over one million people. Today International Women’s Day is acknowledged in many ways and belongs to us all.

The global theme of ‘Embracing Equity’ highlights the role that bold, transformative ideas, inclusive systems and accessible education can play in combatting discrimination and the marginalization of women.

Here's how our various CDF clients, including our head office team, acknowledged the international day:

De La Salle College hosted an event for 65 staff and student leaders featuring Dr Ashleigh Spittle, a young female doctor currently working in Darwin Hospital and pursuing a career in the male dominated world of surgery. She shared highlights and learnings from her career journey and work experiences, along with insights into the medical world.

At Genazzno College , over 220 students, mothers and teachers packed in the college’s Centenary Hall to listen to guest speaker and alumna, Isabelle Zupan who graduated Dux in 2017. Now a doctor, she spoke powerfully of her experience being a young woman training to practice medicine. She reflected on the importance of resilience and how to pick oneself up following setbacks and failures. The morning breakfast raised over $1200 for the Sisters at Faithful Companions of Jesus working with women in Manila.

Left: De La Salle College students listen to guest speaker Dr. Ashleigh Spittle.

Right: Genazzo College morning breakfast, featuring 2017 Dux, Isabelle Zupan.

The global theme of ‘Embracing Equity’ highlights the role that bold, transformative ideas, inclusive systems and accessible education can play in combatting discrimination and the marginalization of women.

Loreto Mandeville Hall welcomed Aaumna Alexandra Saundry, 2010 school captain, as guest speaker for their annual International Womens Day breakfast. Alexandra spoke of her experience as a former AFLW player and her sports management business, More Than Management , where she represents more than 80 female and gender-diverse athletes. Regarded as one of the leading women in Australian sport, she advocates for female and gender diverse athletes to receive the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

An International Women’s Day breakfast at Killester College , in partnership with The City of Greater Dandenong, was opened by Elder, Murrundindi, and his granddaughters, current Killester students, Ava, Grace and Matilda leading the Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners and Welcome to Country. Killester alumni and keynote speaker, Jackie Nugara, shared her experience of complex trauma at an early age growing up with extreme domestic violence. Through her own journey of healing, and in her many years as a therapist, Jackie‘s message is one of hope and healing that despite adversity and obstacles you can still succeed. The breakfast raised $1535 for the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Program .

Loreto Mandeville Hall students enjoying their annual International Women's Day breakfast.

CDF also played host to a fundraising morning tea supporting one of our social service clients, Good Samaritan Inn . Executive Director Felicity Rorke and Senior Case Worker Nardine Keriakos shared information and stories of the inspiring work they undertake providing crisis, short-term and transitional accommodation and support for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence or homelessness. Over $1000 was raised by staff members across the CDF office and partner agencies.

Spreading hope, joy and love with 595 hampers for those in need.

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 11:19:38 GMT

In 2022, CatholicCare Victoria embarked on their five-year strategic plan to focus efforts on initiatives that will have the greatest impact to promote fullness of life for all, and to disrupt the cycle of disadvantage for those who are most vulnerable and/or marginalised across the state of Victoria.

Their team brought a remarkable calendar year to a close by delivering 595 food-hampers to individuals and families in need, thanks to their annual Giving Tree Appeal.

The special event, which takes place each year, aims to provide support and assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged families and individuals during the holiday season; including those affected by the 2022 floods in regional Victoria.

The hampers are designed to bring comfort and joy to those facing hardship during the holiday season, providing them with basic necessities and a sense of community support. Items within the hampers are catered to all types of community groups and are collected through generous donations along with the ‘Carry A Can’ initiative which CDF were proud to be a part of.

"Providing these hampers not only helped [them] with food items at a difficult time, but also helped to break the barrier between the families and myself as the worker."

Helly Hios
Family Mental Health Support Case Worker

The impact of the hampers could be felt across the state and CatholicCare community.

Helly Hios, Family Mental Health Support Case Worker from Catholic Care shared: “I work with two boys who are in Australia on a Humanitarian visa. I gave them 2 hampers. Providing these hampers not only helped them with food items at a difficult time, but also helped to break the barrier between the families and myself as the worker.

I was communicating through the interpreter at the child’s school to contact the parent due to the language barrier. After delivering the food hampers, I now have direct contact with the parent when required and they now contact me directly when needed.

I have also been invited into the home on two occasions, when delivering the food hampers and when delivering presents I organised through Family Care for the children for Christmas.

The child’s mother has expressed her gratitude for the help on so many occasions and stated, ‘you are a good sister to help so much’ with her hand held to her chest. "

CDF Staff helping pack essential items for the 2022 CatholicCare Victoria Giving Appeal.

From the hampers created:

45 were delivered to Wise Well Women for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including some refugee families.
10 were delivered to Luftiyes who provide support to the homeless, in particular those who are sleeping rough.
45 were delivered to Uniting Care Settlement Services for refugee and asylum seekers across Greater Shepparton.
60 were delivered directly to CatholicCare Victoria families and children who are dealing with an array of complex issues.
15 were delivered to the Ethnic Council of Greater Shepparton who have contact with a range of individuals and families.
10 were delivered to Amos Care who provide disability support.
15 were delivered directly to known families in need who were experiencing food insecurity.

"One of the best feelings I had when giving out food to people was the smiles on their faces and the kind words they said to me when I handed it over to them.

It made me feel proud of myself and the organisation I work for."

Haroun Kafi
Cultural Advisor - Shepparton Family Relationship Centre

CatholicCare Victoria staff distributing hampers ahead of Christmas.

Cultural Advisor, Haroun Kafi, from the Shepparton Family Relationship Centre said, “it’s always good to give things to people, especially food, to those who need it and enjoy happiness with them. One of the best feelings I had when giving out food to people was the smiles on their faces and the kind words they said to me when I handed it over to them.

It made me feel proud of myself and the organisation I work for because happiness and the smiles we provide to people’s faces were why CatholicCare existed. Things like food Hampers are significant for an organisation like CatholicCare because many people there need our support.”

Find out more about CatholicCare Victoria and their Giving Tree Appeal .

Together in Mission with our Partner Organisations

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 03:53:52 GMT

On Thursday 27 October, St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne celebrated its 125 ^th Anniversary since it’s consecration in 1897. The event was marked with a High Mass led by Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, followed by the launch of a new Cathedral Walking App. The service was well attended by CDF clients and staff who enjoyed reconnecting along with a variety of other Catholic organisations, each showcasing how, in the words of the Archbishop, 'the Church is more than a noun... but a living reality.'

In November, CDF was proud to sponsor the Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) Annual Dinner. The Dinner brings together CSSV’s 40 members, and affiliated organisations within Victoria, along with staff, supporters and community members to celebrate and acknowledge the efforts and activity over the past year. The event featured a panel discussion focusing on ‘Mental Health as Chameleon’, with guest speakers Marcelle Mogg, Chief Executive of Mental Health Victoria and Dr Mark Furlong, Thinker-in-residence at the Bouverie Centre (LaTrobe University).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne also launched its inaugural Melbourne Catholic Professionals Network Luncheon in November. Over 200 guests attended the event which aims to connect a strong community of professional leaders, motivated to further the mission of the Church in an atmosphere of fellowship and faith. The Team at CDF enjoyed reconnecting with clients and members of our community at the inaugural event, and look forward to the future of the Professionals Network in Melbourne.

Photos by Casamento Photography, courtesy of Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Cyber Safety: Steps to Secure your Devices

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 07:59:22 GMT

As cybercrime continues to rise each year in Australia, taking additional, proactive steps to secure your devices against cybercriminals is no longer an option, but a necessity.

In addition to using emails, text messages and phone calls to trick unsuspecting individuals into opening attachments, visiting a website, or revealing login credentials; cybercriminals are now actively exploiting weaknesses in systems and applications to access and steal personal information. In fact, cybercriminals have become so highly skilled, they continue to successfully infiltrate the systems of major organisations such as Optus and Medibank, stealing highly confidential, personal data and selling it online.

You might be asking yourself, “If Optus and Medibank can get hacked, what chance do I stand?” The good news is you don’t need the resources of an entire IT department to protect yourself against cybercriminals. In fact, you can successfully secure your devices by following these practical, simple steps:

1. Update your devices with the latest software or operating system

Devices are often hacked by cybercriminals using known weaknesses in operating systems or applications. This is easy to avoid by ensuring your device software and applications are updated on a regular basis. Not only do updates provide new features and improvements, but they almost always provide upgrades that fix security flaws. It is important to update devices as soon as a new software update becomes available. This can be done automatically by simply turning on automatic updates in your device settings.

To turn on automatic updates, look at the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) step-by-step guides for:

2. Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA improves your device security by acting as a ‘second key’ and proving you are the person requesting access. An example of a ‘second key’ is an SMS, prompting a unique password each time to you try to login to an online account.
This second key, or second-factor, makes it very difficult for cybercriminals to log into your account without your unique 2FA code. However, for 2FA to remain secure and unique to you, it must never be shared and treated like an important ID document. To reduce the likelihood of unauthorised access to your device or accounts, activate 2FA, starting with your most important accounts such as computer login and emails.

To activate 2FA, follow these guides for popular platforms:

3. Create Secure Login Credentials

In addition to two-factor authentication, a secure password can make a big different when protecting your data from cybercriminals. Cybersecurity experts recommend creating passphrases by using a combination of four or more random words. You can create a secure password by ensuring it contains these features:

· Combination of upper and lowercase characters.

· Combination of numbers and symbols.

· Is at least 14 characters in length.

· Is unpredictable and unique to each of your accounts.

For more tips on how to build strong Login Credentials, see the ACSC.

4. Setup Device Backups

In the worst-case scenario where your device has been hacked, and your data is lost, it can help to have a backup in place. A backup is a saved copy of the data stored on your device such as: files, images, documents and so on. It is usually backed-up on an online cloud, but it can also be saved to an external hard drive or device. Having a reliable backup in place means that critical files can be restored if your device is ever lost, stolen, or damaged.

To set up secure, automatic backups, read the ACSC guides for :

Apple Mac external storage backup and cloud backup .
Apple iPhone cloud backup .
Microsoft Windows 10 external storage backup and cloud backup .

For more information about cyber safety and fraud prevention, you can visit:

Cyber Safety: Protecting your personal information

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:27:55 GMT

Over the past few weeks, online scams and cyber security have become front-page news as personal information was compromised in online, fraudulent activity. While the news about these large telecommunication companies being targeted may be worrying, it also serves as a stark reminder that cyber-crime in Australia is continuing to rise.

Personal Information Online

The true cost of scams can pose more than a financial risk – they can have life-changing consequences for many.

When it comes to your personal information, it is important to remember that scammers can use personal details to commit fraudulent activities, such as changing account details or opening new accounts in your name, so it is important to stay vigilant. When an offender steals another person’s identity for financial gain or other benefits, it is known as identity theft .

Common signs of identity theft include:

Phishing

Phishing is a type of fraud where the scammer delivers an electronic communication that appears to come from a legitimate service or reputable source. The scammer may contact you by email, phone or SMS, or also on social media.

The offender aims to con recipients into revealing confidential information that can then be used for their financial advantage e.g., online login details or passwords.

Signs of a phishing scam include:

The email address does not match the company name or domain.
Check that the email address of the sender is authentic. If you’re unsure, contact the business directly using the contact details that you have sourced independently and are legitimate.
There are spelling and grammatical errors.
Written mistakes are often signs that the communication could be a scam.
You are asked to update or to confirm personal details.
If you are requested to act or do something, the offender is trying to obtain your personal details. Think twice before handing important personal details across.
You are asked for immediate action.
Scammers aim to create a sense of urgency to encourage immediate response. Take time to consider and check if the communication is real.

Hacking

Hacking is the activity that gains unauthorised access to systems and data. This access may have been gained via your computer, mobile device or network.

When a scammer hacks your device or network, they will use your personal details to commit more fraudulent activity, such directly accessing banking accounts and details.

While this type of identity theft is more direct, it is equally concerning as fraudsters can obtain direct access to important accounts. Common signs of compromise include:

Inability to log-in to computer, device or online account.
Unusual or new icons appear on your device.
Pop-up boxes appear on your screen, offering help or asking you to ‘close’ the message.
Unexpected, large phone, data or internet bills.
Unusual banking transactions.
No phone reception.

What more can you do to protect yourself and your personal information?

With cyber offenders becoming more sophisticated and active, keeping alert and knowing what to look for may help you spot and prevent suspicious activity. Here are tips to stay ahead of scammers:

Stay aware and understand the different types of scams
Ensure your personal details are secure and difficult to guess
Keep passwords, login details and PINs safe. Never share this information with anyone, including your service providers. Choose passwords and PINs that are difficult to guess or use a password manager to manage and create difficult passwords. Where possible also ensure you opt-in for multi-factor authentication where two proof points are used to confirm your identity e.g., email and phone number.
Remain cautious of requests for information
If the request doesn’t seem right, speak to someone you can trust, or try a different method of communication to double-check your concerns.

For detailed information regarding the Optus data breach visit: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/recent-scam-activity/optus-data-breach-scams.

To learn more about phishing scams or how to protect your personal information, visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch website: www.scamwatch.gov.au .

From principals to parishes and healthcare in between, CDF experiences an Event-Full few months

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:21:47 GMT

After a near three-year hiatus, the events calendar was back in full swing with a surge of pent-up demand for face-to-face interactions. August through to October, proved to be the busiest event period for CDF in recent memory, with attendance and sponsorship of three major events alone, and with more events still on the horizon.

The season kicked started in August at the Principals Association of Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) Conference which took place in Healesville. CDF was proud to be a Premium Sponsor where we reconnected with the College Principals across Victoria, delving into the theme of ‘Church Renewal’ and sharing new initiatives with the group. With the PAVCSS Conference reverting back to regular programming next year, we look forward to meeting our Secondary School clients again at the event in 2023.

In the same week as the PAVCSS Conference, CDF sponsored the 22nd Annual Archbishop’s Dinner, an initiative of The Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC) Victoria, to support seminarians and the post-ordination of priests across the Archdiocese.

CDF have proudly supported the event for over 20 years and we are excited to participate again as a Gold Sponsor this year. It was a great evening, with over 400 in attendance, and was concluded with a silent auction and raffle generating over $85,000 for the Priests Support and Education Fund – the largest sum ever raised at the dinner event. You can read more about the work of the Knights of the Southern Cross here .

From Brisbane back to Melbourne, the CDF team enjoyed meeting with many Priests and Parish Staff at the Parish Administration Forum at Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne. It was not only great to meet our community face-to-face, but also hear first-hand the stories, challenges and opportunities, faced by many parishes across the Archdiocese. We look forward to similar conversations within the Diocese of Sale and Bunbury in the coming months.

CDF’s event-spree continued into September at the Syro Malabar Cultural Centre Festival, held at South Morang Marymede College. The festival began with a church service at the college auditorium, followed by the symbolic creation of a large flower garden by the parishioners before concluding with plenty of dancing, music and delicious food. It was a fun-filled and culture-packed event hosted by the Syro Malabar community, who currently have a loan with the Fund for their new Cathedral, which is set to open in 2023.

The month of October has seen CDF continue its partnership with the Catholic Education Business Administrators (CEBA) group at their biannual conference which took place at Centrepiece, a newly constructed, state-of-the-art venue in the heart of the Melbourne Olympic Park Precinct. CDF is proud to be a Silver Partner with the CEBA group and is looking forward to continuing conversations and future engagement with members in the coming months.

Keep up with all the Good News and events from CDF on our social media channels. You can find us on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn .

Fr Wall Bursary Applications for 2022 are closing soon

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:08:38 GMT

The annual Father James Wall Bursary provides six leadership achievement awards of $4,000, to Year 10 Catholic secondary school students who demonstrate leadership potential across a range of areas. These include science, arts, public speaking, sporting activities, community service and social justice activities.

The bursary, sponsored by Catholic Development Fund, assists with school fees and other expenses incurred during the student’s Year 11 and 12 studies. The 2021 recipients were nominated by their respective schools at the end of 2021 and once determined, were recognised in several presentation and award ceremonies held over the course of this year.

CDF staff assisted in the presentations and personally congratulated each of the students in front of peers, teaching staff and proud families. In 2021, four bursaries were awarded to students from the Melbourne Archdiocese, one from the Diocese of Sale and one from the Diocese of Bunbury.

Applications for the 2022 CDF Fr Wall Bursary will be closing on 31 October 2022. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://catholicdevelopmentfund.org.au/fr-james-wall-bursary/

Cyber Safety & Fraud Prevention: Where to begin?

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 05:21:34 GMT

Today businesses of all shapes and sizes rely on connecting with people digitally and as a result depend heavily on the internet, which continues to rapidly transform our world. It is an important part of how we operate, communicate and interact with each other every day.

According to the 2020 Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Annual Cyber Threat Report , the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly increased dependance on the internet for both individuals and organisations; which has correlated to the increase in opportunities for malicious cyber actors to take advantage of those online who may be more vulnerable.

Online criminal activity is getting more advanced as data and financial systems are compromised, taking us away from important business activity. While losses can be significant, your business or organisation’s reputation could be changed in an instant with losses far greater than those recorded on the balance sheet.

The 2020 NAB Cyber Security Survey found that 6 in 10 Australian businesses have been victims of a cyber security incident in the last year, and fewer than 20% are confident that they have the right controls in place to prevent and handle such situations.

The good news is that you and your organisation can stay safe online without a large investment in resources, tools or money. Some measures can be easy, such as reviewing procedures and operations; others involve some investment in hardware and expertise and many risks can be lowered significantly by educating those within your organisation.

While it may seem overwhelming at first, experts recommend not to get caught in the complexities of hardware and software first-off, instead aim to make those in your organisation alert to the dangers of online fraud by creating awareness.

What can you do to raise awareness of cyber-crime and fraud in your workplace?

A good first step is encouraging staff to be vigilant.

Regardless of the size of your organiation, every employee needs to understand how to protect data and use the internet, including email, safely.

An unprepared or uninformed team can introduce threats into your systems without realising. Aim to encourage all suspicious activity, regardless of how small or trivial it may seem, to be reported as soon as possible. Cyber-crimes and cyber security incidents can be reported directly to Reportcyber . This is the central place to report a cyber security incident, cybercrime, or a cyber security vulnerability from any organisation or individual across Australia.

Cyber-crimes take place every day. As reported in the ASCS Annual Cyber Threat Report 2020-21, during the 2020-21 financial year, over 67,500 cybercrime reports were made via ReportCyber , an increase of nearly 13% from the previous financial year. One cybercrime report is made approximately every eight minutes in Australia.

Emphasise why it’s important to remain vigilant through education

A fraudulent activity or cyber-attack on the workplace can cause more harm than anticipated. While many may think only the employee responsible will face consequences, the ripple effect does make its way across the organisation.

Everyone in your organisation needs to understand the effect an attack can have. More often than not, there are monetary consequences, but attacks also affect colleagues, clients and most importantly reputation. The trust between your organisation and customers may be compromised as people begin to question the security of their data.

Share learnings and make cyber security part of regular conversations. Education and training will help minimise the risk. There are a variety of cyber safety organisations who can provide resources and training to help. Visit the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner website for free e-resources or take a look at the NAB online training module for small businesses .

As with everything digital, cyber security is continuously changing. Keeping your organisation up-to-date might seem a low priority task, but it could be the difference between your systems, accounts or data being compromised or not.

Be prepared and ready with a plan and practice

Despite the best of efforts, your organisation may fall victim of a cyber-crime. Preparation is the key to ensuring you and your team are ready to mitigate further risk and safely navigate the tricky situation.

Practice with scenarios and work through possible steps as a team. Start by assessing the incident – how did the attack occur? What systems have been affected? What is the extent of the incident?

No matter the size of the organisation, making someone responsible for managing incidents as they arise. It doesn’t have to be the most senior individual; it should be the best person to deal with a cyber security incident – this would ideally be someone who has a good understanding of the practical yet technical impacts of the incident and translate between the two.

Regardless of the type of crime, it’s important to act quickly to either stop the crime escalating or fix the problem at the source. There are many partners and resources to help you as needed. Cyber-crimes should be reported directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASCS) and similarly, data or privacy breaches to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) .

Most importantly, after the incident has occurred, re-group as an organisation and assess the findings, amend plans for the future and implement the changes for better protection.

For more information about cyber safety and fraud prevention, visit:

MacKillop Family Services helping disengaged students re-enter classrooms with four-legged friends

Mon, 09 May 2022 09:39:31 GMT

MacKillop Family Services currently operate across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, offering programs including out of home care, disability services, youth support services, education services and family services/support. They have been a CDF client for the past 25 years and during this time, CDF has provided a number of transactional banking solutions across their extensive network. A rather new initiative from MacKillop Family Services is their Paw Pals program. It was developed to keep vulnerable young people (5 – 18 years of age) engaged with education. Through the use of therapy dogs, these young people are provided a safe and supportive learning environment where they can enhance their academic, social, and emotional skills. Currently in place across 55 schools, MacKillop Family Services has seen great success with many students, like Ethan (see story below), now back in classrooms thanks to the canine-assisted learning program. Their team has also identified a real need for this program in many un-serviced areas, which is why they’re raising funds to extend its reach. Have a read of Ethan’s story below to understand the positive impact of the Paw Pals program. On Thursday 28 April, MacKillop Family Services will be holding its fourth annual Paws4Kids Matched Giving Day . This year CDF is proud to be a Matching Partner and help MacKillop reach their goal of $330,000, which will support students in need across Melbourne and Geelong and see the expansion of the program to Ballarat. All donations made on the day will have triple the impact. That means for every $50 donated, funds will be tripled to $150 by MacKillop’s Paws4Kids partners, which includes CDF.

How can you get involved?

You can help support MacKillop Family Services and the work of the Paw Pals team. As COVID-19 continues to cause disrupted learning and social disconnection, the waitlist of students seeking to access Paw Pals is growing. By getting involved in this year’s Paws4Kids Matched Giving Day you will directly help this program. Here’s how you can get involved:

Share the Paws4Kids School Pack with your school: MacKillop Family Services has developed a Paws4Kids interactive school pack filled with a range of classroom activities and fundraising ideas that can be used with school communities. The activities are designed to help students understand the Paw Pals program and get involved. Click here to download the pack .
Help fundraise: Whether you can fundraise in the lead-up to the Paws4Kids matched giving day on Thursday 28 April or donate on the day, you will be helping to create awareness and support for a program that makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people. Donations are open now at www.paws4kids.org.au or phone 1300 218 935.
Contact MacKillop Family Services about their Paw Pals program: if you think your school community could benefit from the MacKillop Paw Pals program, contact Susan Susan Parajuli, Community Engagement Officer, today (E: susan.parajuli@mackillop.org.au or P: 03 8687 7552).

Ethan’s PawPals Story: Six-year-old Ethan* was let down by the people who were supposed to look out for him. He was given every reason not to trust the adults in his life, because everyone he trusted had let him down. At his mum’s house Ethan was ignored, yelled at, physically disciplined, neglected and told he was unwanted. He went in and out of his mum’s care until he could no longer safely live at home, and was eventually removed. Because of everything that was happening at home, Ethan couldn’t concentrate at school. When he misbehaved, he was sent to the back of the classroom to sit by himself and was neglected. He was labelled as the naughty boy and eventually his attendance dropped. This led Ethan to falling behind in his schoolwork; embarrassed that he couldn’t keep up with the other kids, so he stopped trying. There were several attempts to place Ethan with a foster family, and every time Ethan got his hopes up, believing he had found the place where he belonged. But because of his challenging behaviour, every single placement fell through. Eventually Ethan was placed in a residential care home with no other children. It was at this point that Ethan stopped going to school all together.

When Ethan was connected with Paw Pals Coordinator, Sarah Castle, she discovered that he was feeling so rejected that unwanted pain came out in big emotional outbursts: “When Ethan started at Paw Pals he couldn’t regulate his emotions. There were times where he would lash out and couldn’t control himself because these are the behaviours that he learned growing up.” Sarah and the team started with the basics; they worked with Ethan on how to interact in a safe and friendly way using the Paw Pals therapy dogs. Ethan learned how to calmly behave with a dog, how to gently pat a dog, and how to play nicely with a dog.

Watching his four-legged Paw Pal, Indie, through her body language and reactions helped Ethan understand his own behaviours and reactions. Ethan could see that situations that made him stressed or anxious caused him to lose control of his emotions. He learned how to identify these feelings when they happened and learned the steps he could take to calm down.

Similarly canine commands and tricks increased Ethan’s self-esteem by making him feel confident in his ability to teach others. These activities required a high level of focus from Ethan, which also helped prepare him for concentrating in the classroom. Ethan eventually got to the point where he could manage his behaviour so well that MacKillop Family Services offered him a place at the MacKillop School in Maidstone. Ethan was so excited to be going to a school where he could see his Paw Pals every day.

What Sarah found was that Ethan was not an angry, naughty kid who hated school. He was a smart, kind boy who just needed a program like Paw Pals to bring out the best in him, and help him realise his own potential. Now, as a full-time student in MacKillop’s Maidstone campus, Ethan is an empowered student in his class. “He feels safe, he feels welcomed, he feels wanted, he’s made friends, and he’s able now to participate in the classroom,” says Sarah If Ethan had never found Paw Pals, he would have continued the path that reinforced his feelings of being unwanted, unworthy, and unloved. He would have been caught in this cycle until he disengaged from school completely. Children like Ethan who are struggling at home and at school are at risk of falling through the cracks and being left behind. For more information about the Paw Pals program please click here .

*Name changed and model image used to protect privacy.

CDF announces appointment of Andrew Carman as Chief Financial Officer and farewells Ward Italiano, GM Finance, Risk & Administration

Mon, 09 May 2022 00:06:49 GMT

Catholic Development Fund (CDF) is pleased to announce that Andrew Carman has joined the organisation’s leadership team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will contribute to the growth, strategic direction, and leadership of CDF while driving financial and operational performance and reporting to the Board, Committees and CEO.

Andrew brings with him over two decades of experience in the private and public sectors. Prior to joining CDF, he served as the CFO at BankVic; a member-owned mutual bank with a customer base of 120,000 and assets of $2.8B. He was also a previous Board Member of the Emergency Services Foundation, previous CDF Board Member and former Chair of the CDF Community Fund Australian Financial Services License holder, CDFCF AFSL Ltd.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting, Economics & Finance, is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD). Andrew was educated at Whitefriars College in Donvale.

‘We are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew to the role of Chief Financial Officer for Catholic Development Fund. Andrew’s experience with purpose driven organisations, combined with his financial expertise will ensure CDF continues to balance margin and mission for the common good. He will be an invaluable addition to the organisation and leadership team,’ says Matthew Cassin, Chief Executive Officer.

Andrew will take over from Ward Italiano who has decided to return to Western Australia after five years with CDF in Melbourne. To ensure a smooth transition, Ward will remain with CDF until the end of May to help Andrew settle into the role.

‘I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ward for his significant contribution to CDF. He has been a stalwart of the CDF executive team and a significant enabler of change across the organisation during his time at CDF. The quality and quantity of his contribution to CDF and the wider Church reflects his deep commitment to the Mission of the Church, his strong technical expertise and his exceptional industriousness. On behalf of the CDF Board and staff I would like to wish Ward and his family every blessing for the future,’ says Matthew Cassin.

GOOD NEWS from Iona College, Geelong

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 04:28:59 GMT

A $60 million investment sees brand new Iona College set to grow with its community, thanks to support from CDF

From farmland to state-of-the-art facilities, Iona College is on track to become the heart of Charlemont.

The brand new, co-educational Catholic secondary school, which opened in 2020 with 150 Year 7 students, is situated in Charlemont, part of Geelong’s Armstrong Creek, the largest contiguous growth area in Victoria. With plans to grow to approximately 1,400 students from Year 7 to 12 within the next six years thanks to funding from CDF, Iona College will meet the demands of a booming population by providing quality education and a sense of community for young families.

Foundation Principal Damian McKew, who is in his sixteenth year of principalship, believes schools are the heart of any community.

“I think families in the area are looking to the school to be a really important part of their lives and the lives of their children,” Damian says. “We’re really excited that we can play that role for our young people and their families into the future.”

Building a new school from the ground up, Damian says, offers a wonderful opportunity to grow and flourish alongside the students and instil important Catholic values.

“Everything starts from scratch,” he says, “so we can work with our young people on what it means to be a modern Catholic school and the values of being a Catholic today, such as being compassionate and empathetic towards others.”

With stage one of the development complete, current students can enjoy a three-storey, multi-purpose facility which offers an environment to study a broad curriculum including subjects such as science, IT and wood technology. The $25 million investment also contributed to the creation of an MCG-sized football oval, which is intended to be a resource for daily sport, inter-school sports days and the entire Charlemont community.

“It’s a wonderful facility that will benefit our existing students and many students into the future,” Damian says.

Further stages of the project, starting this year, will involve building specialist arts and science spaces, a college gymnasium, food technology facilities and more. Once complete, the investment will total approximately $60 million.

Iona College Business Manager Tom Harriott says it’s worth every dollar.

“It’s a significant investment not only from Iona College and the students but for our community,” he says, “particularly as it becomes a destination school for the Torquay, Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove areas.”

Iona College’s partnership with the CDF has played a vital role in its establishment.

“Our relationship with the CDF has been brilliant,” Tom says. “To be able to work with them like we have over the past two years has allowed us to build at the rate we want and to have access to the funds we need, when we need them.”

Principal Damian agrees.

“We’ve been really blessed to have a partnership with an organisation that has similar values,” he says. “Both being Catholic entities has enabled an element of trust and cooperation from the outset, which has brought this project to fruition.”

GOOD NEWS from Christ Our Holy Redeemer, Oakleigh East

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 04:38:49 GMT

Strength in Community

Meet Brendan Welsford (pictured), the Principal of Christ Our Holy Redeemer in Oakleigh East . Brendan proudly represents a primary school that has a strong history of outstanding community and deep connection.

Whilst Brendan has been the Principal at Christ Our Holy Redeemer for four years, his personal history and love for the school goes back much further. Brendan himself was once a much-loved pupil at the primary school which he attended for the duration of his junior years.

Having a long and rich history with the school has provided Brendan with the knowledge of the importance of sustaining connection and growing community within his beloved ‘old’ primary school.

Within this thriving and active school there was an urgent need for expanding the space to cater for more students. Every classroom was being utilised to full capacity including the library that needed to be turned into a classroom because of classroom shortages. The constraints on space and classrooms being stretched meant the space could not meet the demands of a growing school.

CDF was able to step in and assist with a loan to refurnish the school giving the 254 students 9 new learning spaces. This included breakout areas, multi–purpose spaces, a performing arts room and a brand new “sensational library” as described by Brendan. In addition to this the children have gained a purpose–built Italian room, whilst the teachers have gained a professional teaching and meeting space that acts as a second staff room.

This refurbishment has been described as a “purposeful place” with the highlight being the multi–purpose area that can be transformed into a pop-up play area for Lego groups, faith development classes and social justice activities.

The new refurbishment and upgrade of Christ Our Holy Redeemer has not only created more space, but it is also Brendan’s hope is that it will continue to strengthen and connect the school’s community in new ways. He says, ‘This building project will serve the school by continuing to connect students, parents and friends fostering a stronger community through friendships and relationships.”

Brendan’s emotional connection with the school has allowed him to bridge the old and new. During the refurbishment an antique desk was found and promptly restored so it could be showcased as historic memento, giving a nod to the past while being housed in the new hope for the school’s future.

For Brendan it is an honour to be back at his old primary school in service as the Principal. Over the past four years he is thankful he’s been able to sustain a strong sense of community and a huge amount of parent involvement. He’s proud of the project that has come to fruition, offering many new opportunities for students and the broader community.

Christ our Holy Redeemer is grateful to CDF for the loan and the support of Relationship Manager, Aaron Gupta, throughout the process. Brendan says, “CDF has always been willing to step into supporting school projects. They are not just another business partner, but instead are an extension of our community.”

Pictured right: Christ Our Holy Redeemer, Oakleigh East

GOOD NEWS from the Capuchins Friars in South Melbourne

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 04:54:04 GMT

Nourishing body and soul within our community

The Capuchin Friars are a Catholic Religious Order of priests and brothers committed to living the Gospel as a brotherhood. There are over 10,500 friars across the world in 100 countries. Inspired by the life and writings of St Francis of Assisi, they strive to authentically live a life of prayer, fraternity and ministry as brothers in simplicity, humility and joy.

Melbourne is blessed to have the presence of the Capuchin Friars located in Hawthorn and South Melbourne. For the past three years, Bro. Michael O Dwyer OFMCAP, along with this fellow Capuchins and parish volunteers, have been assisting the poor and homeless.

The Friars prepare between 40 and 70 nourishing, delicious and wholesome meals each day at the Open House Kitchen. This is a space where they welcome the poor and marginalised to share food, hot drinks and fellowship. Bro. Michael and the team believe that the time spent talking with people and acknowledging them, is as important as the meals themselves.

In addition to Open House Kitchen, the Friars also serve food to the homeless on the streets twice a week from their soup van. Working together they create a place of welcome, conversation and human comfort for all who need support.

The Capuchin Friars have had a savings account with CDF for nearly 20 years. Fr John Spiteri is impressed with the efficient, quick and positive service they experience, every time they contact their Relationship Manager, Aaron Gupta.

Fr John says, “The values of CDF align to ours, and it gives us peace of mind knowing our money is secure. I know that by placing our funds with CDF, these will in turn be used for loans that support others, like us, who are helping others in the community.

Pictures: Capuchin Franciscans Australia

GOOD NEWS: Celebrating a thriving community with rich traditions

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 04:38:29 GMT

The Syro Malabar Catholic Church is a major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Apostolic See of Rome. It is one of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic communion and follows the East-Syriac liturgy that dates back to the third century.

Known for its deep-rooted spirituality and high rate of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the Syro Malabar Church is one of the most vibrant Catholic communities in the world, with over four million members with rich, and fascinating history and traditions.

The community was inspired in India through the missionary efforts of St. Thomas the Apostle. On the 23 December 2013 Pope Francis established the Syro Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne.

Their Eparchy within Australia comprises of 50 communities, 29 priests and over 65,000 parishioners across Australia. With Melbourne as the headquarters of the Syro Malabar Eparchy, there are four parishes, a chancery office and 12,000 active parishioners in Melbourne alone.

All parishes within the Syro Malabar Eparchy in Melbourne have chosen to place their surplus funds with CDF. Fr. Francis Kolencherry the Vicar General of the Eparchy says, “the CDF service is excellent, and we are happy to be able to speak with someone we know, anytime we may have a question.”

The Syro Malabar communities, through the support of CDF are building a Cathedral, two parish churches and have also purchased a chancery office. This trusted partnership with CDF, allows the community’s vision to expand and meet the demands of an ever growing and thriving church community.

GOOD NEWS: The ongoing impact of investments with the Salesian Sisters

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 04:31:19 GMT

Living in the suburbs of Melbourne are 13 Salesian Sisters dedicated to a life of prayer and service. They are part of the South Pacific Province of Salesians comprising of Australia, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands. They have been in Australia since 1954 and are extremely active in serving our community.

They provide ministry to young people who are disadvantaged and marginalised, including migrants and people who come from homes where money is tight. They also run retreats and conduct university chaplaincy work.

The Salesian Sisters also generously support communities in the Solomon Islands and Samoa. The missionary work in this region provides a hostel for girls, development and education centers for women and catechesis classes. In addition to this the Sisters also run two primary schools in Samoa.

For the past 20 years the Salesian Sisters have had term deposits with CDF. Sr Helen McMahon says, “it’s because we know CDF uses the funds for the benefit of the wider Archdiocese. It is important for us to know that the money we invest is used for the benefit of the broader community, assisting Catholic churches, schools, parishes and communities.”

“We enjoy the personal experience and connection that we have in dealing with CDF. They are always efficient, positive and helpful. We have complete trust and confidence in the service and capacity of CDF.”

The Salesian Sisters have impacted thousands of lives through their great mission work. Sr Ljudmila Anzic believes that their mission goes beyond the Salesian sisters, “By using CDF we know that our mission is continued through the investments and how they are used. There is a human impact behind our term investment account and this is the reason why we use CDF”.

Sr Helen, says “It allows us to continue our work in a different way. We all help each other and we are all connected. It is all about starting a chain of change for our mission and work to continue into the future.”

GOOD NEWS: Called to Serve at St Angela of the Cross, Warragul

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 02:31:31 GMT

We’d like to congratulate the foundational class of St Angela of the Cross Warragul, who begin school this week.

The brand-new school is named after St Angela, a Spanish saint known for helping the poor and sick, and whose ethos is reflected in the school’s motto ‘Called to Serve.’

CDF is proud to have provided the loan that built the school. The initial development consists of five new classrooms, an administration facility, a sports facility oval and a netball court; all completed in time to welcome the new students in 2021. The design of the school is multi-level, and it is painted in vibrant colours, offering a sense of energy and possibility to all who enter the grounds.

Justin Greenwood, the newly appointed School Principal is looking forward to the start of term. His vision for the school is to create a strong academic environment, alongside an emphasis on personal development. Flexible learning spaces will be prominent throughout the school providing an environment where children can learn from one another as well as from their teachers.

In addition to academic results there is a strong focus on establishing a community that will follow in the footsteps of St Angela. There will be regular social justice initiatives and an already strong committee that will be oversee fundraisers, ongoing partnerships with charities and helping those in need within the local community.

Justin says, ‘as the foundation principal of St Angela’s Primary School, I’m excited to work with others to build our community, following in the spirit of St Angela of the Cross. I’m thankful for CDF’s support that meant our vision has become reality this week.’

GOOD NEWS: A rich history, builds a foundation for the future in St Kilda

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 02:23:59 GMT

Christian Brothers College (CBC), located in St Kilda, is stepping into a reimagined future. After 142-years of rich history as an all–boys school, it will open the doors this week as a coeducational school and be renamed St Mary’s College.

This significant step in the school’s history has been spurred on by the growing demand in the inner South East of Melbourne for co-educational schools, alongside the opportunity that presented itself with the closure of sister school, Presentation College.

St Mary’s College will continue to foster a strong community where everyone knows one another. The four touchstones of (1) inclusive community, (2) liberating education, (3) social justice and (4) gospel spirituality will continue to be the heartbeat of the school. Students from different backgrounds and life experiences will always be embraced.

To support the college in their new chapter, Catholic Development Fund (CDF) provided a loan for a much needed and impressive school renovation. Andrew O’Brien, college business manager, says “the presentation of the campus is very important in living out the deep values that the school stands for and this renovation, gave us space for greater connections.”

The upgrade included a multi-purpose room, air-conditioning throughout the building, a student plaza, classrooms and a very special space dedicated to teachers. The renovation of the staffroom was particularly important to the school to show staff appreciation for their leadership.

Andrew says, “we wanted to give back to teachers because they go through a lot. Staff work hard so we wanted to show them our support through this renovation by giving them modern amenities and a nice environment to walk into each day.”

Classrooms were redesigned, so they became modernised, yet at the same time the paid homage to the history of college. The most impressive aspect of the school upgrade is the student plaza. An area that was once dark and dingy has now been transformed into a lively, bright and light space. This versatile and flexible area acts not only as an assembly area but has multi-purpose rooms, a commercial grade kitchen, tuck shop and is adaptable for community group use.

CDF has had a long-standing relationship with CBC and now looks forward to the future with St Mary’s College. Andrew O’Brien says, “CDF has gone above and beyond in giving us guidance, advice and support. Personally, in my professional career, working with CDF has been one of my best experiences.”

“There is no doubt that the school has greatly benefited and transformed from the refurbishment. We are a school not just about numbers but about our community, and the school upgrade and re-enlivened learning spaces reflect this ideal. CDF has been our key partner in achieving our redevelopment goals. Being a Catholic organisation, they understand our Catholic ethos and values”, he says.

GOOD NEWS: Introducing CDFpay to St Patrick’s Cathedral

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 23:08:48 GMT

With Melbourne in lockdown St Patrick’s Cathedral , like many other parishes have been live streaming daily Mass for the past nine months. This has enabled people from all over Melbourne and further afield to participate in daily Mass, whilst still being nourished by the word of God.

Parishioners, asked for a way they could continue to make offerings to the Church or presbytery accounts during this difficult time, because they knew support would be needed by many in the community, more than ever.

CDF was able to help with this through the development of CDFpay , an online giving platform allowing parishioners and the wider faith community to easily make an offering to the Cathedral or their local parish. Parishioners simply go to the link provided and make their contributions to either the Church account or the presbytery account.

Fr Werner, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral has been thankful for the generosity of the community and the effectiveness of the tool that CDF has developed. He said many locals, people from across Australia as well from around the globe have digitally visited the Cathedral this year and have given using CDFpay. One gentleman living Italy said it helped him to have a connection back to Melbourne, knowing he was providing funds for much needed local support.

Fr Werner said, “CDFpay is an excellent and very worthwhile initiative in times of crisis. It is a great way to connect to people and allow people to contribute.”

Click here to find out more about CDFpay for Parishes .

Catholicism; the heart and foundations of Australian society

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 04:59:33 GMT

Our world is filled with so much goodness that many of us tend to overlook and forget.

This taints our perception of a lot of things, and we sometimes end up focusing on negative thoughts even if we don’t mean to. Hence why it’s important that we open our eyes to the positive things that our world offers – from the beauty of God’s creation to the small acts of kindness to our neighbours.

The same can be said about Catholicism. As the biggest branch of Christianity in the world, Catholicism has always been front and centre in news relating to religion.

Our Catholic community now stands on new ground — one that is fresh and ever-evolving to suit our times, but nonetheless one that also remembers its foundations and continues the good that it has done for the world over hundreds and thousands of years.

In Australia alone, the breadth and depth of the Catholic community has impacted the lives of many people in a variety of ways — whether they realise it or not.

Comprising 22.6% of the Australian population today, since the early 1800’s Catholics have contributed to improving education, helping the sick and elderly, supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable, and building communities that strengthen our sense of belonging across the country.

It’s these contributions that tend to be overlooked, but they shouldn’t. If we keep ourselves conscious of the good work of our fellow Catholics, we will not only have a greater appreciation of our faith, but we’ll also be reminded to do our part in spreading positivity, sharing the Good News, and working for the common good and dignity for all.

Focused on education

Catholic schools have been in Australia for nearly 200 years and are a vital part of our country’s educational landscape.

The history books report that approximately ten Catholic schools existed by the year 1833 within Australia. Up until the 1860’s, Catholic schools received partial government financial assistance, under a variety of schemes, but this wasn’t the case for much longer. In the late 1800’s, each Australian state passed an act which saw the removal of government aid to schools of faith.

This was a turning point in our history, not only for the many students and families seeking a Catholic education, but also for the communities who were soon to call Australia home.

The leaders of the Church in Australia at that time, determined it was important to continue and preserve Catholic education, proceeding with no money to pay teachers in extremely difficult circumstances. It was at this time that an appeal took place aimed at religious orders in Ireland and part of Europe, inviting brothers and sisters to respond to the crisis.

From here, the development of many schools and colleges we know today, grew to be what they are, thanks to the dedication and determination of many Catholic bodies including the Jesuits, Sisters of Good Samaritan, Christian Brothers, Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy, Domenican Sisters, Marist Brothers, Sisters of Saint Joseph and many others who placed the utmost important on the education of future generations.

Today, the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) records a total of 1,751 Catholic schools across the country, which educate more than 768,000 students and employ over 98,000 staff, both teaching and non-teaching. This makes Catholic schools Australia’s largest non-government education provider, with one in five Australian students a product of the Catholic education sector.

The Catholic school system remains holistic and balanced, with the religious influence encouraging school leaders to focus their attention and ensure that each student is led in a direction where they can find identity, purpose, and connection to the community and humanitarian values.

Values like peace and compassion are taught and demonstrated, not only by word, but also by action. In line with Catholic values there is no discrimination, so schools are able to offer affordable education, practice religious freedom, and remain inclusive, welcoming students from all backgrounds, including the disadvantaged.

The 2019 report by NCEC highlights that:

34% of students in Catholic schools are non-Catholic
40% of Catholic schools are outside major metropolitan areas (i.e. indigenous schools, boarding schools, sole-provider schools)
Catholic schools have growing proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, as well as students with disabilities.

From humble beginnings in primary schools, to the establishment of colleges and more recently world-renowned tertiary institutions, the pursuit of knowledge harnessed by the laity and clergy that built our foundations 200 years ago, remains strong, relevant and ever-growing even today. Catholicism has and will continue to impact Australian education so that many families can provide their children with quality, holistic education that will help them grow to become compassionate, altruistic, and skilled professionals in the future.

Helping the sick, the elderly, and the disabled

We have all experienced or witnessed having to care for our loved ones through illness, injury, disability or in later years of life.

While we live in the ‘lucky country’ where health and wellbeing are valued by our governing bodies, the Catholic faith takes it further and bases its care for people on a foundation of love and respect for the inherent dignity of every human being, whether they be sick, frail, aged or disabled.

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) is the largest non-government provider grouping of health, community and aged care services in Australia, accounts for around 10% of public and private not-for-profit hospital based healthcare in the country. By continuing to provide ‘the healing care of the hands of Jesus’, CHA has extended its support for the sick, the disabled, and the elderly by providing the services they need to live healthier and fuller lives:

As the second largest provider of health, community and aged care services, Catholic health organisations across Australia have put their efforts into ensuring each individual can live safely while away from their home, where they receive the proper care and attention that they need.

While medical advancements continue to take place, these organisations have had to balance their mission and duty of care with strong ethical standards that keep the dignity of each individual and sacredness of life at the core. As a ministry of the Catholic Church, their work is inspired by the person and mission of Christ, who embraced the world with compassion to bring justice and healing.

If it weren’t for the Sisters of Charity, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Mary Aikenhead Ministries, the Sisters of Mercy, St John of God Sisters and the many other diocesan agencies, organisations, communities and individuals of faith on whom much of the development and expansion of healthcare was dependant on, the Catholic hospitals which we so readily know and rely on today would be questions of existence.

Supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable

One of the principles in Catholic Social Teaching relates to the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. It explores how it is the Church’s mission to help the needy in ways that are consistent with the sacrificial love and compassion that Christ extended to all of us.

Throughout our history, Catholic organisations in Australia have been supporting the needy and the vulnerable through a variety of charities and social services. These aim to empower individuals and help them find ways to live better lives; ultimately an expression of our Catholic faith.

By the late 1800’s, in rapidly developing NSW, many orders of Nuns, or “sisterhoods” as they were called, were operating at extreme paces with “five hospitals, including a women’s psychiatric hospital and a hospice; seven orphanages; a foundling hospital; a residential school for deaf children; three industrial schools; a servants’ home and training school; a home for the aged poor and a women’s night refuge. The Sisters also undertook non-institutionally based work with immigrants; the sick poor in their homes; hospital patients; prisoners; the inmates of government aged asylums and girls in the Government Reformatory and Industrial School.” (Lesley Hughes, Catholic Sisters and Australian social welfare history, ACR 87 (2010))

Their breadth and willingness to care for those in need, served as the foundation for many of the notable charities and not-for-profit social organisations we know today.

Sacred Heart Mission (or ‘the Mission’), one of CDF’s biggest social services clients, has helped thousands of people across Victoria who are experiencing homelessness, assisting them to rebuild their lives.

The Mission was established in 1982 to share a meal with the vulnerable, and has since evolved into a not-for-profit that delivers a myriad of programs and facilities specifically for these groups, some of which CDF has helped turn into reality, such as aged care facilities, Women’s House (for women who have experienced abuse), and a hands-on health clinic.

VincentCare, another client of CDF, has extended its Christian mission to support and advocate for the homeless and the disadvantaged since its inception in 2003.

Established by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, VincentCare has launched many programs that focus on providing well-developed accommodation to those experiencing homelessness, but also integrate the promotion of health and wellbeing, education, employment, living skills, and social connectivity to empower them and guide them so they can transition out of homelessness and disadvantage.

The history and roots of our faith reminds us that the disadvantaged and vulnerable are no less human than any of us, and they must be treated with the same respect and dignity that even the most fortunate receive.

Given the wealth gap in Australia continues to widen, we as Catholics in a modern society are called to do our part in helping the disadvantaged and vulnerable, now more than ever.

Building parish communities

Parishes create a place of community and provide laity with better opportunities to strengthen their faith.

Built in the late 1700’s the first Church in Australia housed approximately 500 parishioners on the weekends and was converted to a schoolhouse on weekdays. Since its establishment then, churches and parish communities have existed to bring people together and help us become modern disciples of Christ.

The Official Directory of the Catholic Church in Australia (2018 – 2019) states there are 1394 parishes across the nation. Parishes today aim to build communities of belongingness, where every member of the parish remains safe, supported, and empowered.

Across Australia, we have seen parishes not only become a place of spiritual connection but also offer support and care to those who have nowhere to go, house charitable activities to great degrees for those in need within Australia and across the world, and become places of commonality and safety for those new to the country or experiencing hardship.

Nazareth Parish, down near Torquay, has recently facilitated in bringing nearby Catholic schools together and creating an integrated community living in the booming towns of greater Geelong.

“We are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for children and families of this coastal community to learn and to grow their faith. Although each of our schools and churches has a unique culture, our vision is that everyone feels part of the same Parish wherever they choose to live,” says Father Linh, Nazareth Parish priest.

From the shore of far west Melbourne to outer-city East, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Narre Warren, which is one of the most culturally diverse parishes in Australia with more than 60 different ethnic backgrounds, has seen communities of faith come together during the most difficult times in outstanding numbers. This included a community gathering of local Sri Lankan’s, family and friends, in the wake of the bombing attacks on the other side of the world.

“An essential part of any parish is providing people the opportunity to connect not just with God through prayer, but with each other through activities,” says Fr. Kevin Dillon of St. Simon’s Parish in Rowville.

By spreading our faith within the community, Catholics who internalise our teachings are inspired to show love and compassion to the people around them – in and out of the parish. They will be driven to help those in need, wherever and whenever they can.

Catholics today and those of the past have helped contribute immensely to our society, as it’s been in the past and as we know it today. The lasting implications remain today and are appreciated both by Catholics and non-Catholics who have forgotten the great doings of previous times and present.

In Australia, Catholic schools have provided affordable holistic education that has helped students develop strong values and skills that they can take with them as they grow.

Catholic health has seen the development of thousands of hospitals, clinics, and aged care homes to support the sick, the elderly, and the disabled.

Our common social services and charitable organisations who help the disadvantaged and vulnerable by providing food and accommodation and launched programs that empower people to rebuild their lives.

The abundance of parishes across the country who have brought people together and built communities where people feel safe, at home, supported, and included.

And, other Catholic organisations like CDF, who have helped bringing the Catholic sector and many of the buildings we see and use today for all of these purposes to life.

Reflections like this remind us of our faith and inspire us to continue to serve our neighbour in the ways that Christ has always taught and guided us to do.

CDF’s continuous support of Catholic institutions

As a financial institution, we have a rich history of contributing to providing more access to quality education, helping the sick and disabled and supporting society’s’ most vulnerable people over the past six decades.

CDF strongly serves the educational mission of the Church and has helped many parishes and schools develop throughout the years. More recently, through our services, we assisted in the funding of St. Mary Mackillop Catholic Primary School, which is the first-ever Catholic school of Bannockburn, a rapidly growing town 20km northwest of Geelong. We also helped fund Phillip Island’s very first Catholic school, Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary, which stands proud at the edge of the island’s main settlement, Cowes.

We recently assisted places of worship and parish communities, thrive to include greater numbers and provide areas of social connection. The new community centre at Our Lady Help of Christians in Narre Warren and the additional administration place, hall and toilet block at St. Simon’s Parish in Rowville are prime examples of faith in action in the community sector.

CDF has also provided financial assistance to many hospitals and health care agencies that create homes away from homes with warm and comfortable patient settings, such as the line of credit we provided for Cabrini’s seven-storey Grandel Wing which has transformed the hospital ward into one of wellbeing and healing.

We’ve also helped institutions like the John Pierce Centre, in fulfilling their mission to help and empower all Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and their families within Victoria.

Going further, CDF assisted VincentCare in constructing its $47 million Ozanam House redevelopment which offers hundreds of world-class accommodation dwellings to Melbourne’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Catholic organisations still exist today to provide love, help and protection where people need it most – they’ve been the cornerstone of our Australian evolution. Without them, our communities and societies would look very different today.

As they continue to grow and adapt, CDF remains committed to working with and supporting them to shape the Australia future generations are proud to call home.

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 23:00:58 GMT

The Catholic Church traces its history back nearly 2,000 years. With a significant history, both shaping and shaped by social change, the Church today stands on new ground. The call of the baptised is to live out the Gospel in our communities, ultimately reigniting a Christ-centered hope for us all.

As a Catholic organisation, we strive to create prosperous communities ultimately impacting the lives of many individuals within each of those communities. These people sitting in classrooms, in hospitals, or aged care homes may be Catholic, or they might not, however because of our faith and our guiding principles, we protect and promote the dignity of every person where we can.

To help us live out the Gospel, we were given commandments, in particular, two great commandments summarised by Jesus in the New Testament:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (verse 39)

These are simple enough to share by word, but how do we effectively translate this into action? The answer is Catholic Social Teaching. These teachings are embedded in the Old Testament and were continually developed as the Church engaged with significant social issues over the years. Catholic Social Teaching encapsulates learnings from the Scriptures but also experience, studies and reflections of people throughout the history of the Church.

The teachings are not a set of rules or a policy statement but rather pillars that we must constantly remind ourselves of when we respond to the world around us in order to protect human dignity at all times.

Over time, these teachings have served many organisations, government bodies, and others as they navigate uncharted waters and complex societal issues in a rapidly changing world.

Catholic Social Teaching also serves as the foundation that the Catholic Development Fund (CDF) was built upon.

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching addresses issues concerning matters like oppression, subsidiarity, social organisation, social justice, and wealth distribution.

As the term ‘social’ implies, these teachings do not only exist to serve your immediate family and friends, or just Catholics. They are to improve the lives of entire communities.

At its core, Catholic Social Teaching is there to promote the dignity of the person. When this function is served, respect, peace, and justice will follow within each and every community.

CDF is guided by these principles, and the Catholic Social Teachings that resonate most among our people are these five:

The Principle of Association

No person is an island.

God never intended for us to live alone. Human beings are not only sacred but also social. In the Creation story, God realised that it wasn’t good for Adam to live in isolation as the sole human. So He gave Adam a partner — Eve.

No one deserves to be left to their own devices. The world presents many challenges, and we only have each other to keep it beautiful and harmonious, as God intended it to be. So wherever possible, we must extend our help to those who need it.

The centrepiece of society is the family, and therefore, to build a community that fosters growth and protects each other’s rights and dignity – this has been ingrained in Catholic history as we treat everyone like family.

The way that we care for our parents and children should also be the way that we care for others. The generosity we show our brothers and sisters should be shown too to others.

It is in offering ourselves to service that we can find fulfilment.

The Principle of Participation

People have a right to shape their own lives and the society in which they live.

Everyone has a role in impacting, building, developing, and shaping our society. We all have a right not to be shut out from participating in institutions that seek the common good and the wellbeing of others.

This applies in work, for instance. According to the Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, “Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organise and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.”

Working is one way to find and pursue your vocation, which means doing what you love while also fulfilling what the world needs.

By exercising our right to participation, we can do more to promote and protect the dignity of others. And by allowing others to exercise this same right, we give them a clearer avenue in improving our society.

The Principle of Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

With all the pleas for equality from the marginalised members of society, we tend to have different understandings on what the term “equality” means.

In many cases, we are fighting for equity, and not just equality.

As shown, equality means treating everyone, regardless of their conditions and circumstances, the same. Equity, on the other hand, means treating people differently depending on their needs.

Things like money and food have different values to different people. A bowl of soup can be wastage for some but an entire day of food for others. In the story of the Widow’s Offering, Jesus claimed that the widow who offered two small coins in the treasury had offered more than any of the wealthy people did, because the rich had contributed from their surplus wealth, but the widow contributed her whole livelihood.

Throughout the Gospel, we are reminded that God stands firmly on the side of the most marginalised members of society. We all have our needs, but some need more than others do.

“Scripture teaches that societies and people will be judged by how they treat the poor and marginalised. On this basis, Pope John Paul II taught that preferential option for the poor is a prime objective of Christian charity,” says CDF’s CEO, Matthew Cassin.

Especially in times now where the divide between rich and the poor continues to grow, we must prioritise helping those who truly need it — those who struggle to feed themselves every day, those who face discrimination just for existing, those who are disabled, and those who are shunned by society.

The Principle of Subsidiarity

It’s impossible to promote human dignity without respecting the needs of the family and other local groups.

That’s why the principle of subsidiarity is vital in recognising the dignity of the person. It respects that decisions must be made by the people closest and most affected by the issues of the community.

The Catechism defines subsidiarity as the principle where “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.” (CCC 1883)

The local government, for example, can and must make the most informed decisions for the community they serve. Higher levels of government should only intervene when the lowest levels can no longer promote human dignity on their own.

“Connection and cohesion tends to break down when groups become too big and disparate, creating a risk that the welfare of individuals within the group will be neglected,” says Matthew.

“It may also be the case that smaller local associations better promote the dignity of the person as they may have a better understanding of the needs of the local community, are better able to serve the needs of the people in that community and offer a more direct avenue for social inclusion.”

The principle of subsidiarity goes hand-in-hand with the principle of participation in making sure that our voices are heard and our actions matter.New Paragraph

The Principle of Common Good

In a genuinely healthy community, the dignity of each person is protected and everyone flourishes.

This is what we want for our society: a community that fosters growth, a community that helps each other, and a community where everyone can achieve fulfilment.

According to the Second Vatican Council in Gaudium Et Spes, the common good means “sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily.”

Each Catholic Social Teaching is ultimately made for the common good.

The common good means that everyone’s dignity is valued and respected, and there is no greater good than a world where everyone lives well and happily.

CDF and Catholic Social Teaching

“God created everything including humanity. Scripture tells us that each person is made in the image of God and therefore each life has intrinsic value. This intrinsic value means that all of society’s institutions, associations and customs ultimately exist to support the development of persons,” says Matthew.

This is why Catholic Social Teaching is what governs the operations and behaviours of CDF – these are our Guiding Principles.

We support a range of Catholic organisations across a multitude of sectors that impact the broader community at scale and ultimately positively impact humanity.

We lend our service to institutions of education, health and aged care, and social services by helping these organisations financially.

Furthermore, we endeavour to provide all Catholic organisations with ready access to loans when needed, regardless of the size of the organisation or its financial strength.

Through this, we are able to abide by the principle of association; we work where people come together, enjoy contact with others with the same values, and benefit from each other’s care and support in organised settings.

We follow the principles of participation and subsidiary since we fund from within, ensuring it’s delivered, with rigour and responsibility.

Our reason for being 60+ years ago, is underpinned by the principle of preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. This remains as relevant today as we help to create flourishing communities in areas that needed it most.

And ultimately, we do all of this to help create a society that continues to promote human dignity and work towards the common good.

We are aware that the Catholic Church today stands on new ground, and that we have a long way to go as we reconnect with our community and regain the trust and faith lost by some. So our goal is more than just to help institutions and organisations financially. We also want to help people see the good work of the Church today.

CDF is built on the principles that it follows, and through these guiding principles, we can fulfil our purpose and help our communities in the best way that we can in true Catholic fashion.

For Catholic organisations seeking information about CDF’s products and services, click here .
For products and services relating to individuals visit CDF Community Fund .

A new era of parish life in a modern society

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:17:47 GMT

The world changes rapidly. What were once considered traditional norms are now viewed as outdated, redundant practices by people in a more modernised society.

Our faith, along with its traditions, has been around for two millennia, so how can a system of faith as old as Catholicism continue to thrive?

The Church today has grown into what it is because of the people. With it following the “sign of the times”, our religion acknowledges that it has to adapt to remain relevant to each individual of whom it is composed. While traditions remain in place and are still followed by many, modern Catholics have found new ways to express their faith.

While our faith in God encourages expression through the rituals and traditions we were taught to follow throughout the centuries. The Church today also invites each of us to be disciples in the best way we can and extend our faith in areas where it’s needed most.

These ways are not necessarily identical to what our ancestors did, and for Father Anthony (Tony) Doran, a parish priest in Ringwood in Melbourne, these changes should be embraced if they ultimately serve the mission of the Church.

A teacher turned priest

Fr. Tony was raised in a Catholic home with his parents active parish members throughout his childhood.

Despite his Catholic upbringing, priesthood wasn’t a path he planned to follow. Fr. Tony started out as a teacher in Catholic schools in regional Victoria. And although he saw teaching others as a great privilege, he later on realised that there was something more that he wanted to do.

He decided to pursue a theology degree before joining the seminary, and is now the parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. His parish in Ringwood represents a diversity of people, from those well-ensconced in the community for more than 50 years to newer Australians from Burma, Tonga, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines.

“It was studying theology that led me to a point where I thought, ‘If I don’t try this, there’s always going to be an unanswered question in me’,” says Fr. Tony.

“So I started the process of undertaking spiritual direction and went to the seminary, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

In following his calling to become a priest, he was able to better dedicate his life to helping others through the work of God. Since his ordination 17 years ago, he has served in parishes in Moonee Ponds, Bayswater, Epping, East Keilor, Castlemaine, Box Hill and Box Hill North.

According to Fr. Tony, being a priest has its own set of challenges, but there are a lot of beautiful things about being one, especially being invited to be part of other people’s lives in sacred moments like baptisms and weddings, and ministering the sick and the dying. “It’s a really vulnerable place that people invite you to be in, to be a part of their life,” he says.

Life as a priest

Like most people, Fr. Tony’s day starts with breakfast to energise him for the day’s work.

After that, he makes time for prayer every morning. “Priests don’t only pray for ourselves. I pray for the Church, for the people who have been entrusted to my care, and for the people who have no one to pray for them.”

He then says his morning mass, albeit a little differently now with the restrictions and precautions associated with the pandemic. He streams his daily mass online.

No two days look the same as he completes his other work after mass as a priest, as immediate past president of the Australian Academy of Liturgy, and as a member of Societas Liturgica, the international society for liturgical study and renewal. His work centres around not only the ‘church’ walls but also the attached primary school, the local community and its parish members – ultimately creating an environment that’s safe and provides a better place to live in for the community.

“A priest’s role has definitely evolved over the years. It’s not just mass and sacraments, we are truly involved in every part of the community here, we have to ensure that our parishioners are looked after and have a place to thrive spiritually. Many members of our community are here today for more than just mass, they want to be involved, connected with others and actively partaking in various ministries. It’s great and something we as priests must encourage and help nurture,” Fr. Tony says.

In his free time, he also loves gardening.

“Getting your hands dirty and getting in touch with the soil, I believe, keeps your feet very much on the ground,” he says.

Remaining connected to education

Fr. Tony may no longer be a Catholic school teacher, but his support for the educational mission of the Church has never wavered.

So as a priest and in his role as the president of the Association of Canonical Administrators of Aquinas College, he continues to help schools in other ways so that the students can strengthen their faith and become closer to God.

Apart from his meetings with the local primary school team and principal, Fr. Tony makes it a point to catch up with the school staff every week about their classes and experiences, and he also arranges classroom visits, particularly to the children who are preparing to celebrate their sacraments.

For him, it’s important that the children know who he is and understand his role in their connection with Christ. Being part of these classroom discussions also helps facilitate the sacramental preparation each of the students is undertaking with their peers. This link with the school community is also vital for school families and parishioners in continuing their journey of faith outside the school grounds.

Responding to the changing dynamic of a modern parish community

Today, while many Catholic still enjoy the tradition of weekend Mass together with family and friends, listening to the gospel and connecting with communities, a shift in parishioner priorities along with a global pandemic has definitely played its part and made the challenge greater in maintaining the all important connection to our parishes.

In situations like this, Catholicism knows to embrace change.

While physical traditions are temporarily on hold, and can’t be followed in the way they were before, Fr. Tony doesn’t let it stop him from continuing to spread the Good News to local parishioners – both new and old. With nearly everyone having their smartphones and laptops connected to the internet, Fr. Tony now live streams mass across media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

This has benefited not only those who hear mass in-person at the regular church services over the weekend, but also a whole new audience, beyond his parish postcode. In fact, he has a steady stream of viewers online.

He also conducts his other tasks online such as parish meetings and prayer groups (via Zoom), and materials such as lectures available online about how to become a more mission-oriented parish, rather than a maintenance-oriented parish.

There are also more parishioners signing up to the parish’s eNewsletters and weekly updates, and thanks to the power of the internet, their parish has welcomed more people from all parts of the world.

While of course, physical services will remain in place after COVID, these changes that embrace technological advances offer alternate solutions to those who cannot physically be present within the church walls.

Livestreams allow people to hear mass at any time of the day and have assisted the frail and elderly from having to go out on a cold, wet Sunday morning. Zoom calls are also more convenient in many ways – Fr. Tony now regularly has these meetings with his parishioners who are as old as 80, who are much safer attending meetings from the comforts of their homes sometimes.

Others say it’s about being gadgety or gimmicky, I said, ‘No, it’s about working smarter, not harder’,” Fr. Tony says, in approval of witnessing how the Church has evolved with new technology.

“We’re working hard enough, but if the tools and the technology can help us work smarter, that’s actually a good thing.”

It’s something Fr. Tony and many of the parishioners look to continue or weave into their post-COVID activities to help parishioners stay connected online. “With advancements in technology and new expectations from parishioners, it will be a challenge and consideration many parishes, like ours, will no doubt have to make,” says Fr. Tony.

CDF; always there to help Parishes

Fr. Tony had always known about CDF, way before he became one of its board members three years ago. Before he became a priest, he would see the CDF logo on the infamous desk memo cube – subtle reminders of the organisation that first began as ‘Schools Provident Fund’ back in the 1950’s.

“Part of the landscape of being a Catholic priest in Melbourne is that CDF is part of your life,” he says. “CDF truly understands parish communities, to a much greater and personal extent than other big financial institutions, they’ve been around for so long and without them the communities that exist in so many of our faith communities today, would not be what they are.”

But as a priest with little background in accounting and finance, working for CDF wasn’t something Fr. Tony had ever envisaged – until he got a phone call a few years ago inviting him to take on a Board position.

“I know the accounting basics, but to be able to serve CDF and the mission of the church in that way – I didn’t think initially that it was a natural fit,” he admitted.

But after a lot of discernment about what the role entailed, he decided that joining CDF was one of the ways where he could be of better service to God and His people.

While Fr. Tony didn’t know much about financial institutions and how they run, he knew all about the church and its mission. And as a former school teacher, he also understands the educational mission of the church, which CDF ultimately supports.

When he joined CDF as a Board member, he told one of the members of the management team that he was struggling with the complexities that the organisation dealt with as a financial institution.

“He told me, ‘Fr. Tony, you’re not here to ask the financial questions; other people ask those questions. You are here to ask us a whole lot of other important questions to keep us on track and mission aligned’,” Fr. Tony says, quoting the manager he spoke with.

Since then, he has been doing his part in making sure that CDF keeps to the Church’s mission and remains faithful to it.

According to Fr. Tony, CDF has helped almost every parish in many ways.

“If you were to look at some parish finances on paper, especially the new parish communities, they don’t have a lot of money behind them. CDF understands them and is able to give loans to parishes and schools that are not only building buildings but also communities of their own. Some of the things that my own parish was able to do only happened because of CDF’s help.”

Our requirements, of course, aren’t any less stringent, but CDF is not just a simple black and white financial institution. As he describes, “CDF is a financial institution, but at the service of the mission of the Church. I know for a fact that CDF hasn’t had a bad debt in it’s 60 year history.”

According to Fr. Tony, CDF doesn’t only benefit his parish at Ringwood. It’s benefiting many others, like parishes with schools that are starting up in our growth areas in the outer suburbs with plenty of children who want to be educated and people who want to worship.

“The balance sheet of a new parish is zero. CDF helps all of this growth come to life and happen.”

Priests like Fr. Tony do a wonderful job in serving the communities under their care. With the help of CDF, parishes like Our Lady of Perpetual Help have developed into how they are today, which allows them to more readily adjust to the continuous and rapid changes brought about by modernisation.

Especially in difficult times like the “new normal” experienced across the world today, Catholic leaders continue to find ways to help their communities and spread the Good News with the means available to them.

“Being a priest is always relevant because there are always people to whom we preach the Good News of Jesus. Whether it’s to people sitting in the pews every day or the people who’ve never heard of the good news – we always have that mission of proclaiming the Good News.” – Fr. Tony Doran.

Pictured right: Fr Tony Doran

St Brigid’s School, Mordialloc: a place for faith based contemporary education

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 03:36:34 GMT

When Michael Russo began as Principal of St Brigid’s Mordialloc over six years ago, he was immediately welcomed by the school community. Now leaving soon to take up a new position as Principal at Sacred Heart Primary School in Croydon, he reflects upon his time at the school;

“St Brigid’s Parish is over 110 years old, and our school is truly part of the parish. Father Andrew Jekot works alongside all of us at the school to ensure faith is at the heart of everything we do.

When I first arrived, I was warmly welcomed and that wonderful sense of support and community has never gone away. However, when I began, I was aware that the school buildings were quaint and prospective parents would comment that the buildings looked ‘tired’. In addition to the look of the buildings, the classroom design wasn’t conducive to a contemporary education experience for our students.

Working with Fr Andrew, our staff and members of the school community, we soon had a vision for what we needed. I’m pleased to see that we’ve now been able to deliver that vision with our new classrooms and administration building.

The new building has flexible spaces that can be flipped to resemble a traditional classroom or opened to create collaborative learning areas. It meets child-safe standards, and the enlarged common will be a great place to gather in the future.

Our staff are currently in the new building, alongside children of essential workers, however most students are yet to experience the new space fully. We are looking forward to the moment our students can come to enjoy all that the building has to offer. Our official blessing and opening will take place via a remote celebration on September 16 – a new innovation between the State Government and Catholic Education, until such a time we can be together in person, you can visit our website for a 360 degree ‘walk through’ of the new space (click here).

I’m thankful for our partnership with CDF, and our Relationship Manager Aaron Gupta, who believed in our vision and gave us funding to make it possible. They’ve been a true partner to us in this project, that means so much to our students and St Brigid’s community.

My hope as I leave, is that I’ve been able to play a part in creating a place where faith–based education can occur in a contemporary setting. This in turn enables our teachers to educate and equip our students for the modern world.”

Pictured right: Fr Andrew and Michael Russo

‘Tap and Give’ Trial a Success in South Yarra

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 06:43:23 GMT

Tap & Give technology has been given the thumbs up by the Parish of South Yarra community, with an increasing number of parishioners opting to contribute via cashless donation points.

The Parish of South Yarra, comprising Saint Joseph Church and Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Church, was one of four Parishes that have been trialling the Tap & Give system, offering a convenient and secure alternative for the growing number of parishioners who may not always carry cash.

“Paying for things by card is what people do in other places, and it’s increasingly something they welcome at Church on the weekend or at a Church fundraiser,” explains Parish Priest Father Brian Buckley OSA. “We appear to be heading in the direction of a cashless society and we need to provide this option.”

The Tap & Give terminals work as a portable electronic payment system. The donation points are loaded with a set value, such as $5 or $10. Parishioners simply tap their card on the device to make an electronic donation.

The system has been embraced by the diverse Parish community, with the portable devices being used across Mass and other fundraisers and activities; including youth group events and even a recent Bunnings sausage sizzle.

Parish Business Manager, Aimee Helleren, is impressed by the portability of the device, as well as the flexibility to set a fee depending on the occasion – even if that’s $3 for a sausage! The device also offers greater security for the parish, with less cash being held on site.

Aimee is monitoring the weekly donations and has seen a rapid increase in people giving money via the Tap & Give device over the last six months.

“It’s early days. We’re not sure if Tap & Give is replacing cash or if it’s new donations we are receiving.” Aimee explains. “We did have some donations following a wedding recently, that we wouldn’t have had in the past.”

Tap & Give is affordable for organisations and convenient for their communities. Interested in giving Tap & Give device a go at your school or parish? Get in touch with your CDF Relationship Manager today to discuss our cash-free solutions.

Pictured right: Father Brian Buckley OSA and Aimee Helleren

Building Nazareth Parish

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 06:40:10 GMT

Between its traditional home in the Geelong suburb of Grovedale, and the parish’s southern bounds at the coastal towns of Torquay and Anglesea, lies Armstrong Creek. This is the largest continuous growth area in Victoria. As the 22,000-lot sub-division has progressed, demand on existing primary schools – Nazareth Catholic Primary School in Grovedale , and St Therese Primary School in Torquay (both in existence for over 40 years), well and truly exceeded capacity.

To meet the needs of a booming population a brand-new primary school in the Northern end of Torquay was opened two years ago. Named Lisieux Catholic Primary , the school takes its name in honor of St Therese, the patron Saint of Torquay’s Catholic community who was born in the French town of Lisieux.

“When we established Lisieux, we wanted to foster a strong connection, bringing the two schools together, including sharing and celebrating St Therese Feast day. Right from the very beginning our people wanted to build an integrated community within this unique coastal region”, says Father Linh.

In the Warralily section of Armstrong Creek, destined to be home to around 65,000 people in years to come, work is well underway on another school to be named St Catherine’s of Siena Catholic Primary School , welcoming around 130 students for Term 1, 2020.

Managing the planning and construction of two new schools has had its challenges, but Father Linh believes the most important work is in developing a cohesive community across a broad and diverse area.

Pictured right: Fr Linh, Nazareth Parish, Grovedale

CDFpay for Parishes: a new way for parishioners to give online

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 04:46:45 GMT

Hundreds of parishes across the Dioceses of Melbourne, Bunbury and Sale are now receiving thanksgiving offerings through a new online payment portal CDFpay for Parishes. Several parishes have reported an increase in revenue, via this new platform, when compared to the same time last year.

Fr John Healy, Parish Priest at Laverton, says his parishioners are happy they have an option to make a contribution online. ‘For me personally I think it is a great initiative for the time we find ourselves in as well as for future financial options for parishioners,’ he says.

For those parishes who have already signed up we’ve created some great new resources to help you to share the good news with your community. You can also sign-up if you haven’t had the chance to register your parish already. Click here to find out more about CDFpay for Parishes.

A Home Away from Home at Cabrini

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 03:44:25 GMT

Hospitals, by their very nature, can be confronting places to visit. Fast-paced and unfamiliar, a night on the wards can have many patients longing for home comforts. Cabrini’s new Gandel Wing challenges that stereotype – it’s a hospital environment that feels like home.

The new seven-storey building design has been created from the perspective of the patient. The result is a state-of-the-art medical facility that helps to allay patient anxiety and strengthen interactions between staff, patients and their families.

Excellence in clinical care.

The new wing supports the latest in innovative clinical care, equipment and practices, all centered on a better outcome for patients. Facilities include:

expanded maternity facilities to cater for some of life’s most precious moments
a light-filled oncology unit, which offers a more comfortable and calming experience for patients and their families. New private treatment pods provide greater privacy and comfort for patients
state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment will reduce treatment time and streamline the treatment process. The new technology focuses on sparing healthy tissue, resulting in better overall survival rates and quality of life
an improved cardiac services unit to provide rapid, responsive and reliable care for all heart problems – including early diagnosis, interventional and paediatric cardiology, as well as open heart surgery and rehabilitation
a ward dedicated to care for the elderly, with a focus on reducing falls and minimising the stress of delirium or conditions such as dementia.

Connecting patients with love and support.

The building design emphasises the natural environment. Studies show that well-designed hospital environments can reduce patients’ anxiety and stress and aid the healing process.

“Many things have changed since our humble beginnings more than 70 years ago but our commitment to helping the vulnerable in our community with compassion and respect has not wavered. We continue to place our patients at the centre of everything we do, as we strive to provide them with the best possible care.” Sylvia Falzon, Cabrini Board Chairman.

Pictured right: Cabrini Staff (image courtesy of Cabrini Health Australia)

St Brigid’s Mordialloc: staying connected

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 03:41:38 GMT

Tracey Stackpole, Administration Officer at St Brigid’s, Moridalloc, said it was an emotional moment when the students waved goodbye to the school grounds, several weeks ago. She shared a few thoughts with us about what COVID-19 has meant for her personally and the school community:

‘It just happened so suddenly; it wasn’t like other changes where you have time to prepare. One minute the school was full of kids, and the next minute it was empty. It was even more surreal because the school community had just moved into a new building and we were celebrating a new beginning, when suddenly we had an abrupt ending of sorts’ she said.

‘Since that day we’ve continued to educate and support our students; some who are children of essential workers who attend classes at school, and many others learning from home. To remain connected with our families, our Principal Michael Russo and Deputy Wendy Sullivan hold a live daily update for the whole school community.

We’ve also maintained school traditions such as ANZAC Day where we had a display at the front of the school. Many of our families walk past the school for their daily exercise and we had a lot of people commenting that they were glad to see the display, and that the school still looks like they could come back at any moment.

Another way we stay connected is the students send in pictures of themselves or work they’ve done that we put into a weekly ‘wrap-up’ newsletter. As a bit of fun, all our staff do a short online dance on Fridays and we encourage our students and families to join in.

Even though it’s a difficult time, I try to focus on the positives. We’re getting feedback from our parents and students that they are safe and that they still feel a part of St Brigid’s. Right now, that’s more than enough to make me feel grateful.’

Pictured right: Tracey Stackpole

Back to school with brand new classrooms at Sacred Heart Primary

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 03:39:15 GMT

Good things come to those who wait. For five years the staff, families and students at Sacred Heart Primary School in Diamond Creek have been waiting for their extensive development project to be completed. Finally, the wait is over and the newly refurbished building is ready!

And just in time too, explains Gina Murphy, Deputy Principal. ‘The students are so excited, coming back after the COVID-19 school-ground closure. For us, it’s wonderful that they’re returning to the refurbished building with exciting new learning spaces.‘

Collaboration is the key focus for the building design. Eight classrooms were re-designed to allow for greater interactions between students in the same year level. While students still have their own class, they are grouped around learning levels for work throughout the day. They study in settings that range from formal classroom seating, to smaller break-out spaces as well as pods for individual silent work.

The building features a lot of natural light, and spaces are linked in a way that allows people to transition through spaces without disturbing learning. Gina speaks about the effect of the internal and external building design:

‘The light and flow within the newly refurbished building has already led to new ideas for our teachers and students alike. It’s amazing to see how these new classrooms are creating changes within people.

The front of the school will soon feature a new pathway and a large open garden that encourages (socially responsible) gatherings of parents. This garden encourages people to linger and to take time to speak with one another, rather than just rushing in and out of a traditional school-front entrance.'

She concludes, ‘This project has created a great energy throughout the entire school community. We’re really thankful for CDF’s support, particularly from Rowena Gonzales our Relationship Manager, who made the whole loan application a very easy process.’

Young Pilgrims Head West

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:19:05 GMT

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival took place in late 2019, with thousands of young people traveling to Perth in celebration of their faith.

Across three busy days, the pilgrims came together to share in song and prayer. Among the group were over 1000 young Melburnians representing the Archdiocese – the largest traveling pilgrim group at the event (pictured).

Student Madeline Lew-Kee was part of the Melbourne pilgrimage. For Madeline, the opportunity to meet and talk with Archbishop Peter A Comensoli and Archbishop Timothy Costelloe was a real highlight, as was the opening plenary with Fr Rob Galea – “he writes some pretty awesome worship songs!” Madeline explained.

Reflecting on the event, Archbishop Peter described the Festival as a “humbling experience to be in prayer with so many young people from across every part of Australia.” For more from the Archbishop, visit his official Instagram and Twitter accounts.

CDF is proud to have played a part in helping to get the enthusiastic group of Melbourne pilgrims across the Nullarbor. A platinum sponsor of the Melbourne Pilgrimage Appeal, CDF provided a cash donation as well as 60 Tap and Give terminals to support parish fundraising efforts.

The next national youth festival is already in the works with a rural location planned for 2021. Until then, these young Catholics are heading home with full hearts and plenty of inspiration to continue exploring and celebrating their faith.

JPC Committed to Connecting with their Community

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:16:46 GMT

The origins of the John Pierce Centre (JPC) date back to 1935, when Father John Pierce was appointed as the first Chaplain to the Catholic Deaf Community in Victoria.

Since then, the mission of JPC has been inspired by Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Catholic Church, as it seeks to empower all Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and their families within Victoria to live their lives to the full.

Recently their community gatherings, a pivotal part of their program offering, were forced to stop overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine Elder, JPC Administration Manager, spoke to CDF about the impact on their community:

New Ways to Connect

‘Our community have been very advanced in adopting technology as a way of being able to communicate with one another. However, as we all know technology cannot replace meeting in person. With our group gatherings cancelled overnight we needed to be mindful or how our community are feeling.

We soon recognised that while some of our community are comfortable with technology like text messages, they are not used to other forms of technology like accessing videos or being on Zoom calls. To support them we’ve been contacting each person individually to check-in on them and what support they need.

We’ve seen a big increase in the interactions though our Facebook groups. We also produced ‘missing you’ videos and new online groups based on interests such as gardening, art or crafts.

Signee Tots Education

For our young community members, the ‘Signee Tots’ group, we created a newsletter, with activities to support their learning. We also provided some advice for deaf parents who may have children undertaking remote learning.

In some cases, it was difficult for them to help their children due to communication challenges with the school in a fast-changing environment. Through building the bridge between the students, the parents, and the learning materials our team have really made a difference.

AUSLAN at St Pat’s

Another wonderful development for our community has been the partnership with St Patrick’s Cathedral . AUSLAN interpreters are now present at the Sunday Mass with Archbishop Peter, televised on Channel 31. This means our community now have a way to participate in Church each week, and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback. Our staff have also been recorded for JPC Facebook page “Friday Faith Videos” and “Gospel Reading & Reflection Videos” every Sunday for our community.

We know the current situation will continue to throw challenges to our community. Even coming back together and maintaining social distancing, will be difficult. This is a community who use contact as a way to interact and get the attention of one another. This is something we’ll focus on in coming weeks. For all that has changed overnight, I am pleased to say I’ve never seen our community stronger or more connected.

Finally, we are thankful for the support of the CDF team, particularly Gerard and Fran. Through this support we’re able to maintain a strong financial position and continue our pastoral care services. This helps us to continue promoting community through education, spirituality and family support.’

For more information about the John Pierce Centre visit: https://www.jpc.org.au/

Cyber Crime Aware During COVID-19

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:14:16 GMT

The past few weeks have seen many more of us working from outside our office wall. With this digital change comes new cyber threats. Here’s some tips and tricks to keep your data secure:

Keeping data safe from loss

Home systems tend to be less secure, and there’s a danger that people will forward confidential data to computers or printers without up-to-date virus protection. Few people think to change the default password on their wi-fi router but, when they don’t, anyone who can receive the signal is able to log on and potentially access the data passing over the network.

The risks of counterfeiting

Hackers are becoming increasingly skilled at creating counterfeit invoices, or changing the payment details on authentic documents, in an attempt to divert money to their own accounts. In the office it’s easy to walk over and check with someone but at home these systems can break down. It’s ok to pick up the phone and ask someone to verify the transaction.

Make staff training a priority

If you are attacked, the most important thing is to recover quickly, and that means incidents should be reported immediately. Your team must feel absolutely confident they won’t be punished if they made a mistake.

It’s worthwhile reminding your team to:

be on the lookout for phishing emails, particularly those related to COVID-19
follow the same protocols to sensitive data as you would in the office
ensure personal device security settings are set to an equivalent level as work devices
refrain from connecting to public WiFi
keep work devices for work only, and refrain from using for personal or family use.

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