The St Vincent de Paul Society's 40,000 members and volunteers work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Internationally, the Society operates in 130 countries and has over 950,000 members.
 

Members of the Society are people who live out their faith in action by visiting people in their homes to provide support, friendship and material assistance. This practice is known as home visitation, and is carried out by local St Vincent de Paul Society conferences. Conferences are typically Parish or school based groups of people who respond to calls for assistance from people in the local community and work closely with the Society's Centres of Charity, or 'Opportunity Shops'.
 

People who are being assisted by conference members are often provided with furniture, clothing and household goods free of charge through the Society's Centres of Charity. Centres also offer affordable clothing and goods to the wider community. The profit from the sale of stock from the Centres is used to provide resources and support to people in need.
 

The Society has also developed many Special Works that include hostels for the homeless, facilities for the aged and assistance for families in need. Please see the Services page for further information.