Shannon Leslie Byrne
one of Australia's biggest NDIS and Social Services care providers
The history of MacKillop dates back to 1854 when the Sisters of Mercy, Christian Brothers, and Sisters of St Joseph began their mission in Australia, creating homes for children who were orphaned, destitute, or neglected, as well as for families needing care and support.
From 1854 to 1997, over 100,000 children were cared for in one of the eight orphanages or homes founded by these three congregations. Our history is a rich tapestry of many threads: a historical glimpse of Catholic welfare in Victoria, the broader social and economic trends that influenced it, and the numerous heartbreaking stories of children separated from their families, women escaping the stigma of unmarried motherhood, and those who provided them with unconditional care.
Over time, the original model of institutional care evolved into residential care, foster care, and family support services.
Twelve years after its establishment, MacKillop Family Services expanded into NSW when the Christian Brothers agency, Edmund Rice Community Services, joined our organisation. This growth continued in 2013 when we began offering out-of-home care services in WA.
In 2016, Cara, an organisation with a strong history of serving vulnerable young women and children in the child protection system, transferred its operations to MacKillop. This was soon followed by the transfer of three more organisations to MacKillop in 2017: MacKillop Rural Community Services and MacKillop Seasons (both founded by the Sisters of St Joseph) and St Joseph’s Cowper, a former ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Today, we operate across New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Despite our expansion, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to social justice. Like our founders, we continue to be inspired by the visionary values of Mary MacKillop, Catherine McAuley, and Edmund Rice.