Community Services

Catholic social services agencies operate throughout the Archdiocese of Brisbane, supporting the needs and aspirations of people from all walks of life.  

We work in the most critical areas of need in our community. We support people who are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence to move to safety and rebuild their lives. We partner with people with a disability and those living with mental illness to live independently, the way they choose. And we create opportunities for older members of our community to get the most out of life. And from people seeking asylum, to those exiting the criminal justice system our teams walk respectfully alongside those on the margins. 

Social services agencies Centacare, Xavier and the Romero Centre are operated directly by the archdiocese; and together with many other Church organisations such as St Vincent’s Care and Mercy Services, are key providers of social services to people throughout the state. 

Centacare – Care is our calling. 

Grounded in our Catholic commitment to social justice, our teams in Centacare do God’s work every day, supporting tens of thousands of people from the Gold Coast to Hervey Bay, out to Kingaroy, and everywhere in between. 

Across aged care, community and pastoral care, disability care, Early EdCare and family and relationship care Centacare brings the loving care the Gospel teaches into our communities, walking alongside people on life’s journey, providing the back-up they need to achieve what’s important to them at that moment and into the future.  

Everything we do at Centacare is grounded in respect, compassion, empathy and understanding. From our humble beginnings in 1958 as small groups of parishioners gathering to help others in their community to where we stand today, as one of Queensland’s largest providers of social services, we care about people in ways that help them live their fullest lives.  

How can we help? 

Everyone experiences a challenging time at some stage in their life and when you do it’s okay to ask for help. Centacare provides pastoral support to Indigenous communities and chaplaincy and pastoral care to people in hospitals and prisons across South East Queensland.   Centacare also has specialist teams to support people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness, people who are leaving or have recently left prison and people who display hoarding behaviour.  

Everyone can benefit from some extra support at different times in their lives. Whether you’re going through a difficult time, facing a big life change, or want to build stronger relationships with those you care about, Centacare can help. Centacare’s highly-skilled practitioners offer a safe and welcoming space for families, couples and individuals in all stages of relationships and in separation and crisis. 

Xavier

At Xavier, we have been providing disability support to Brisbane children and young people and their families for over 70 years. Our range of multi-disciplinary services are designed to help children and young people with high support needs to live the best lives possible with their family. From occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy through to support workers, nursing and overnight respite at Xavier Place, we’re here to help.   

We came from humble beginnings when during the 1940s, a group of Catholic professional and businesspeople known as the “Xavier Society” purchased a property in Coorparoo to serve as a home for children who had suffered from polio. Xavier Home opened in 1949. 

Today, we are proud to work with families throughout the greater Brisbane region, working consultatively to continually evolve our service and provide the support that children and families need. 

Romero Centre

At the Romero Centre, we welcome and support people seeking asylum. We walk the path where human dignity is considered sacred and where love has no borders. The Centre was established in 2000 in response to the needs of people arriving in Australia seeking safety and human rights.
With the community’s support and inspired by the mission of Oscar Romero and a deep respect for the human sovereign soul, the Romero Centre aspire to support the most vulnerable people in our community. The Romero Centre is passionately and wholeheartedly working towards a community that we all want to be a part of.