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Good News Blog
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale, Bunbury and Ballarat. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
