Supporting the people we work with to thrive and grow since 1978.

Advocating for change and providing supports for individuals and families.

Affirming the dignity, equality and humanity of each and every person.

St Francis Social Services (SFSS) empowers the people we work with to grow in confidence and thrive. We advocate for the changes and provide the supports that encourage each person to achieve their full potential. Our vision is for a society which recognises the dignity, equality, human rights and humanity of all people. We pay our respects to the original custodians of this land, and their Elders past, present and emerging.

SFSS is grateful to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and communities who have graciously sought to include us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.

Our vision is for a society which recognises the dignity, equality, human rights and humanity of all people.

SFSS acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original and ongoing custodians of the lands and waters on which we live and work.

Our Services

Our services support individuals and families seeking asylum, and at-risk young people and their families.

Centre 360

Centre 360 Youth and Family Service specialises in counselling and early intervention for at-risk young people and
their families. We meet young people where they are.

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House of Welcome

House of Welcome provides housing and other support services including casework, employment assistance, a foodbank and community programs for refugees and individuals and families who are seeking asylum.

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House of Welcome Catering

A social enterprise creating employment pathways through fusion-inspired global cuisine, House of Welcome Catering offers a delicious range of menu items, lovingly made by refugees and people seeking asylum.

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"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

-St Francis of Assisi

Remembering Fr. Nick Lucas OFM

We remember Fr. Nick Lucas OFM who died on 29 August 2024. Nick was the inaugural Director of the Come-In Centre (now Centre 360 Youth and Family Service), inaugural management committee member of the House of Welcome and Chair of St Francis Social Services (SFSS). Nick trained in social work and became known for his dedication to providing a safe and welcoming space for disadvantaged young people from the early 1980s and continued with this work for four decades.

He was also deeply committed to refugees and people seeking asylum and was involved for more than 20 years with the House of Welcome. Nick was a highly respected and much-loved figure in the Paddington and Waverley communities who served as Parish Priest in both parishes. His intrepid legacy lives on in the work of the dedicated SFSS Board and team at Centre 360 Youth and Family Service, House of Welcome and HW Catering.

Our History

Timeline

1978 - The Come In Youth Resource Centre opened its doors in Paddington

Originally set up as a drop-in centre for homeless young people and latch-key kids in 1978, the centre offered a safe place to be, warm meals and connection to youth workers. It was operated by two De La Salle brothers (Max Scully FSC and Martin Blattman FSC), supported by the parish priest of St Francis of Assisi, Peter Cliffod OFM. David Leary was among an original group of volunteers and became the first paid employee in December 1978. The centre was only open in the evenings from 7pm to 1am Tuesday to Sunday.

1981 - Foundation of St Francis Social Services

The De Le Salle brothers withdrew from the centre and David Leary and a new parish priest, Nick Lucas OFM, had to decide about its ongoing role and governance. It was renamed the Come-in Centre and St Francis Welfare Committee was established to oversee its work. The centre’s operating hours gradually expanded to a full-time service, open five days a week and some evenings.

1994 – The Centre was incorporated as St Francis Welfare Ltd.

The number of staff had grown to more than 12. It was a medium-sized social service and specialist youth service employing counsellors, psychologists, social workers and support staff. Almost half of its funding was from the State and Federal governments. It was also supported by the Franciscan Order, the local parish and private donors.

2007 – St Francis Welfare Ltd changed its name to St Francis Social Services

This reflected a change in direction, with a focus on a more appropriate intervention model emphasising community service rather than welfare. The centre has a reputation for providing clinical excellence.

2010 - St Francis Social Services assumes responsibility for the House of Welcome.

The House of Welcome was set up as an alliance of church organisations seeking to provide a compassionate response to the negative government policies affecting people seeking asylum.

St Francis Social Services was a founding member that also provided the premises in Carramar for the House of Welcome to operate from.

The House of Welcome continues to rely on the financial, voluntary and pro bono support of the community to provide its services.

Today – Centre 360 and House of Welcome operate as independent services within St Francis Social Services.

In 2016, the Come In Youth Resource Centre was renamed Centre 360 Youth and Family Service. In 2017, House of Welcome relocated from Carramar to Granville where it is now. Today Centre 360 has eight staff (full-time and part-time) and the House of Welcome has 12 staff (full-time and part-time).

Our Vision, Values and Purpose

Our vision is for a society in which recgonises the dignity, equality, human rights and humanity of
all people.

We provide the supports and advocacy that build the agency and dignity of each person by enabling them to achieve wellbeing and independence.

Welcome
With warmth, kindness and generosity, we welcome, respect and empower
all those we work with, regardless of age, ability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, faith, race or social circumstances.

Empower

We provide supports that create opportunities for people to determine and achieve their goals and have their voices heard and acted upon.

Respect
We honour the uniqueness and dignity of each person, upholding their right to be treated equally and valued for their difference.

Our Staff

Dr Angela Argent
CEO

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Gary Stocks
Office Manager

Meadhbh Roche
Grants and Fundraising Manager

Sarah Titheridge Communications and Events Manager

Our Board

Peter Hennessy (Chair)
Peter is a lawyer who spent most … read more

Anna Coroneo
Anna joined the Board in March 2016 … read more

Laurie Ferguson
Laurie joined the Board of St Francis … read more

David Hardie
Over a 40-year career, David … read more

Thuy Huynh
Thuy has over 13 years experience … read more

Fr Anthoni Selvaraj OFM
Fr Anthoni is a Franciscan friar and has … read more

Chris Sidoti
Chris is a lawyer and advocate … read more

Our Reports

Volunteer

"I started volunteering with the House of Welcome because I was very distressed about the Australian government’s stance on refugees and asylum seekers … For the first time in my life, I was ashamed of my government. I may not be able to change the government’s refugee policy, but volunteering is one small
thing I can do to make a difference.

I get a huge amount of joy and satisfaction out of doing this volunteer work with the House of Welcome. The clients I meet are amazing, resilient, strong and brave people." - Dani Fullagar, volunteer

Opportunities exist to support our work through corporate volunteering and employee engagement, providing pro-bono support and enabling workplace giving. We want to connect with your skills, time and energy to enable us to do the work we do. For more information on how to volunteer, please click the button below.

How to Volunteer

Corporate Volunteering

Corporate volunteering is a prominent feature of most corporate partnership programs. Due to the many community inclusion programs offered by St Francis Social Services, there are a variety of ways employees can engage with our services and work together to make a positive difference to those on the periphery.

Some corporate volunteering options include cooking and sharing a meal with people seeking asylum, conducting a non-perishable food drive for our foodbank, painting and updating our client spaces to make them welcoming, gardening, mentoring and fundraising.

Corporate Partnerships

At St Francis Social Services, we recognise that every partnership is distinct. We are committed to understanding your organisation's needs and collaborating to create tailored partnerships that align with your goals. Whether you aim for brand alignment, enhanced reputation, engaged employees, or increased customer interaction, we can develop a partnership that fulfils your specific requirements across our services.

Workplace Engagement

Sometimes our partners choose to show their support through various workplace engagement activities beyond traditional volunteering, such as fundraising initiatives, skill-based contributions, awareness campaigns, in-kind donations, employee matching programs, and corporate sponsorships. These options allow organisations to align their values with our mission while fostering team spirit and making a meaningful impact in the community.

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Our Partners

The work of St Francis Social Services would not be possible without our partners. Trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships provide much-needed funding to both establish, maintain and expand our service reach. We are extremely grateful to all the partners that aim to uphold the dignity and humanity of all people by supporting our work. We formally acknowledge our partners each year in our annual report.

Our Partners

What our clients say…

“It’s completely changed my relationship with my teenager. I’ve learned to assess the situation and think of strategies to work our problems.”

– Parenting Program participant