If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
All your questions answered
Government or privately funded
Government-funded support
Entry-level home care services
Launching 1 November 2025
Services to keep you independent
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Connect with others
Help to access support services
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
Get all your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Welcoming and safe communities
Everyone deserves a home
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Point Cook
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Greensborough
Torquay
Friendly and welcoming villages
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Brunswick West
Support for children and adults
Take a step to paid employment
Work at a cafe
Gardening and maintenance
Learn woodwork skills
Work at a VMCH Op Shop
Centre and community programs
Skills, confidence and friendships
For children and teenagers
Supported co-living
Accommodation across Victoria
In your home and community
Get the best out of your plan
For babies, children and young people
Allied health practice
Participate in everyday tasks
Better communication skills
Address challenging behaviours
Shop from our social enterprises
Coffee with purpose
Pieces handcrafted by participants
Buy pre-loved goods
Helping people with disability
Independence and support
Funding to achieve your goals
Help us improve
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
3 July 2018
Tell me about your role as a Pastoral Care Outreach Worker with VMCH:
“I took up the new role in 2016. It involved building relationships with residents, mainly those more marginalised and vulnerable, and providing them with emotional, spiritual and mental support.”
How does your role align with VMCH’s Mission?
“Our Mission is very much about supporting and having compassion for marginalised people. Respecting the dignity of all is in line with our Catholic tradition. Personally, I think it’s important we continue the work of Christ and know we can make a difference in society if we work together.”
What do you get out of the role?
“It’s rewarding and challenging. It takes a lot of time to build up that repour with people. When you hear their stories and what some people have gone through I think how resilient they are…how they keep on going despite adversity.”
What did you do before your role as Pastoral Care Outreach Worker?
I studied Pastoral Care and was a teacher and outreach worker in Collingwood, working with disadvantaged families and students. Prior to VMCH, I worked at Regina Coeli in North Melbourne – a semi-permanent home for up to 30 women waiting for secure housing, which could take months or years. I was amazed at people’s life stories and what led them to where they were now.
71 per cent of VMCH Affordable Housing residents are female… why do you think there’s a greater need for housing support for women?
“Many women have come because of a low income, lack of permanent housing, separation, divorce or abuse. Some women mightn’t have had budgeting skills or worked in the past as their husband was the main provider. They didn’t choose this path of life but this is where they’re at now.”
What are the common challenges you see residents face?
“Before they come into Affordable Housing there’s often a two to three year waitlist so that causes a lot of anxiety and stress. For some, managing their finances is tough… mounting medical bills for example can leave people feeling low and unable to buy food and other essentials. Sometimes there’s a difficult family situation and they’re alone and hurting.”
August 6-12 is Homelessness Week. What do you think can be done to address this issue?
Basically, we need more affordable and social housing stock. We need to lobby the Government and stop giving over buildings in prime spots to private developers. I think that’s absolutely appalling. We also need to become more aware of the reality of what drives people to become homeless like mental health, domestic and drug and alcohol abuse.”
What do you hope to see for VMCH Affordable Housing residents in the future?
“I hope they have a real sense that this is their home – that they don’t have recurring homelessness or instability. That they feel valued by the VMCH community and we help them build up the confidence to have a voice and feel heard.”
More news articles in Mission
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.
Not sure where to start?
Contact us
→
Who needs our services?
Our Digital & Marketing Agency - ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.