How does the Catholic Church respond to people in need within Western Australia?

It would be fair to suggest that the general community may be largely unaware of the significant contribution the Church makes to helping people in need in Western Australia.

Many of our own Archdiocesan welfare agencies are not automatically recognisable by name as being “Church Agencies”, yet they have served our community for more than 30 years in some cases. This situation arises, in part, because the work of our agencies is conducted in a low-key, highly confidential and respectful manner.

The fact is, that ever since the Catholic Church was first established in Perth, it has led the way in providing for the community and its people – schools, hospitals, health and aged care services, welfare and emergency relief programs.

It was for this reason that, in 1994, I decided to establish a new organisation – LifeLink. LifeLink is an "umbrella organisation” charged with the responsibility of helping to fund and support the majority of the Archdiocese of Perth’s social service agencies.

LifeLink is a recognisable name promoting the wonderful work of our social service agencies- It serves to collate all of the ‘independent agencies’ under one ‘identifiable banner’.

LifeLink is a Brand, one identifying ‘Church based welfare delivery’ throughout the State.

LifeLink ensures the ongoing provision of appropriate financial support for all LifeLink designated agencies, so they may continue their “mission of care” to the people of WA.

LifeLink achieves this through professional and ethical fundraising.

LifeLink agencies provide direct assistance, services and caring support to more than
31,000 Western Australian families and individuals each year.

These agencies deliver more than $40 million of welfare each year throughout Western Australia, providing professional programs and direct assistance to people in need.

Thankfully, much of this funding is provided by various Australian Government and State Government funding grants and service contracts, and with the generous support of Lotterywest.

We are indeed grateful for this tremendous assistance.

Of course, Governments have long recognised that services established by the Church operate at the highest level of performance, are professionally managed and conduct their business in a responsible and ethical manner.

LifeLink must provide almost $1 million annually to ensure that all of the LifeLink agencies are funded to meet the ongoing demands from the community.

It is only with the ongoing support of so many generous people, businesses and organisations responding positively to my fundraising appeals, that LifeLink continues to meet this challenge.

I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all.

One final point I would like to make is this. “Church based welfare” does not mean that assistance in only provided to those who share the Catholic Faith.

We provide assistance and care to anyone in need and who reaches out to us for help. There is no question that this act of reaching out when asked is “a practical and powerful demonstration of Catholic Faith in Action”.

Some years ago, I prepared a special “Prayer for Charity” – a copy of this Prayer Card may be downloaded by clicking HERE

There is a line in this prayer which sums up how I feel about the act of helping and why, irrespective of beliefs, we should all do so.
“Let us recognise in those we meet, the face of Jesus your son”.

When confronted by the challenge of reaching-out to help someone in need, I try to imagine that the person in front of me is Jesus himself, and I ask myself “How would I respond if it was Jesus standing before me asking for help?”

My dear people, I hope you will recognise the face of Jesus in those you meet, and that you will respond with love, understanding and compassion.