Community Services
The Anglican Church has a long history of assisting the disadvantaged and vulnerable in the community. A range of welfare and community service agencies operate within dioceses, many under the Anglicare banner.
Anglicare Australia is the peak body which has the mission to engage with all Australians to build communities of resilience, hope and justice.
This work is facilitated by the presence of a national structure and national office enabling consultations, communication, research and development across the network of Anglican caring agencies in a manner which informs advocacy, policy and program development as part of the care and social justice realm of the Church.
Affirming and promoting community service as integral to the mission of the Church is enhanced through the work of Anglicare Australia and the member agencies. The profile of Anglican agencies within the Church and the wider community is enhanced by the cooperative efforts of this network and the support of the national office of Anglicare Australia.
MEMBERSHIP
The Anglicare Australia network provides services to thousands of children, young people, families, refugees and migrants, Indigenous Australians, older people, homeless and unemployed Australians. With a joint budget of $950 million in 2012-13, the 41 Anglicare member agencies in the past year contributed to more than 50 service areas in the community, catering to specific or integrated needs of almost 422,000 people. The national network comprises members located in every Diocese of Australia, 3 associate member agencies located in New Zealand, one in Singapore and one in Papua New Guinea. Membership is open to Anglican organisations involved in the pursuit of justice and care.
On a local level, the members operate to provide care and to address issues of social justice and community wellbeing relevant to their location and the needs of their area. On a national level, the members are committed to engaging collectively in public social policy debate and working cooperatively on issues of mutual concern. This involves working with and alongside other major Church providers and a wide range of community groups. Regular contact is made with all levels of government and an annual Chief Executive Officer’s forum is held in Canberra each year. The collective impact of this work plays a significant role in developing a public response to social policy issues that will help address disadvantage, vulnerability and marginalisation in Australian society. Anglicare Australia is seen as a thought leader in the field and is well positioned to lead in the advocacy for social justice and to achieving a fairer Australia.
The organisation is governed by a council made up of six elected representatives of member agencies. There is also capacity to add up to three co-opted members to achieve balance and diversity.
Phone: 02 6230 1775
Email: anglicare@anglicare.asn.au
Website: www.anglicare.asn.au
LOCAL ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES
To find contact details for local providers who are members of Anglicare Australia, please visit: http://www.anglicare.asn.au/find-a-provider. You can search by location or service required.
For information about other Anglican community service agencies, refer to each diocesan website under Dioceses and Parishes.