Western Sydney Catholic Schools and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW serving our communities

Sydney, 16 September 2025 – Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has become the first school-based education provider in New South Wales to formalise a partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, building on years of collaboration to serve the most vulnerable in our community.

With 80 schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, CSPD students and staff are already enthusiastic supporters of the respected charitable organisation. This includes volunteering with Vinnies Van, collecting donations for Winter and Christmas appeals, running Mini Vinnies groups for primary school students, busking to fundraise and participating in the Vinnies Return and Earn recycling program.

For CSPD, this agreement is about much more than a signature on paper, it’s about giving students meaningful opportunities to live their faith in action. Through the partnership, students will be supported to contribute their time and energy to support the Society NSW’s mission to serve people in need in our community.

For CSPD, this agreement is about much more than a signature on paper, it’s about giving students meaningful opportunities to live their faith in action. Through the partnership, students will be supported to contribute their time and energy to support the Society NSW’s mission to serve people in need in our community.



Elizabeth Scully, CSPD Executive General Manager Communications & Engagement, emphasised the significance of the agreement for students and schools across the Diocese.

“Through partnerships like this, our students gain more than knowledge, they gain perspective, empathy, and a real understanding of what it means to serve,” Liz said. “As a proud Mini Vinnies mum, I know firsthand what our students can learn from connecting with opportunities to serve through Vinnies. Formalising our partnership will also provide some really exciting opportunities for our schools to work together with Vinnies in new ways.”

Sam Crosby, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Executive Director – Membership, Volunteers and Early Intervention, welcomed the opportunity to consolidate existing relationships with schools in the region through the new agreement.

“We’re delighted to be strengthening our connection with Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese which will create further opportunities for schools to engage closely with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW,” said Sam. “Students will continue to have opportunities to put their faith into action through initiatives such as the Vinnies Christmas Appeal, School Sleepouts, preparing snack packs for our Vinnies Vans and annual school gatherings. We’ve also recently launched the Vinnies Service Medallion, a program for secondary students to demonstrate strengths beyond the classroom, which recognises student contributions to community service, leadership, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives through the Society NSW.”

“Our shared values and commitment to Catholic Social Teaching makes this relationship with CSPD a strong fit to support the local community where our members supported over 11,500 people in the past year,” he added.

From Christmas hampers to hands-on activities that encourage service and advocacy, CSPD schools have a long history of supporting the Society NSW. This agreement provides a stronger foundation to deepen that relationship and expand the impact across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.