Catholic Social Services Australia Conference 2025

CSSA National Conference in Sydney, set for 19-20 March 2025. This is our flagship event, and we warmly invite you to mark your diaries and join us at Commonwealth Bank Australia’s venue at 11 Harbour Street, Sydney. We extend our sincere thanks to the Commonwealth Bank for their generous support.

The Conference theme, “Hope in Action” is inspired by the Jubilee 2025 Pilgrims of Hope, embodying our shared commitment to making a difference in our communities.

There are three complementary themes:

1. Adequate funding for social services
2. Living standards and fiscal fairness
3. End Child Poverty

The Conference will feature the highly anticipated launch of a research report about providing a true cost for social services by Prof. David Gilchrist and the team at UWA Centre for Public Value, spotlighting six impactful case studies from CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, CatholicCare Victoria, Centacare Brisbane, Centacare Catholic Family Services Adelaide, Centacare Family Services Geraldton, and CatholicCare NT.

We are thrilled to announce a stellar line-up of speakers (and there will be others) who will bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the event:

• Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv – Bishop of Parramatta and Chair of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for Social Justice
• The Hon Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO
• Kathleen Donnellon – Author, Deep Governance Matters
• Professor David Gilchrist – University of Western Australia Centre for Public Value
• Rob Bartrop – Source Global
• Associate Professor Ben Phillips – Australian National University (ANU), and member of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee
• Allegra Spender MP
• Jennie Burns – MercyCare
• Annemaree Binger – Centacare South West NSW
• Alison Rahill – Australian Catholic Antislavery Network
• Nick Collins and Deanna Davis – CatholicCare Victoria
• Jen Cleary – Centacare Catholic Country SA
• Tony Pietropiccolo AM – End Child Poverty Lead
• Professor Sharon Bessell – Children’s Policy Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
• Sarah Quinton – Valuing Children Initiative
• Nina Laitala – Institute of Community Directors Australia

We look forward to seeing you in Sydney!