Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) advocates for the Church’s ministry and is the national peak body for Catholic social service providers. We envision a just, inclusive, and compassionate Australia where every person’s dignity is respected.
We work in partnership with Catholic social services organisations and other like-minded people who advocate for social justice and support those who are vulnerable in our communities.
CSSA’s members are organisations that operate under the authority of a diocesan bishop or a religious order, and from Catholic lay associations. Our Member Agencies deliver a broad range of services across Australia, including child and aged care, NDIS services, relationship support services, homelessness services, and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
As we celebrate our 70th year in 2026, CSSA continues to support our members in their work by advocating across all levels of government – Federal, State, Territory, and Local – on issues affecting the social services sector and the communities we serve. We provide government relations support to member agencies, facilitate collaboration among Catholic social services throughout Australia, and host forums for our network to gather and share information. Our advocacy is grounded in robust research, evidence-based policy development, and the lived experience of those we serve.
We work closely with Member Agencies, the Bishops of Australia, leaders of Religious Institutes, and the broader Church. We partner with like-minded Catholic agencies, including Caritas Australia and the St Vincent de Paul Society. Through our triennial dialogue with Catholic Health Australia and the National Catholic Education Commission, we strengthen the Church’s united voice on matters of social concern.
We position ourselves as trusted solutions partners in the public square, building constructive relationships with decision-makers and leveraging our legitimacy, authority, and authenticity to influence policy and practice. For seven decades, we have worked collaboratively with governments at every level and all people of goodwill to shape social change. We advocate for compassionate socio-economic policies, give voice to those who suffer injustice or exclusion, and work to influence the structures and systems that affect the wellbeing of Australian families and individuals.
Our commitment remains steadfast: to advance the human dignity of every person, work towards the economic, social, and spiritual wellbeing of the Australian community, and lead the development of a national Common Good accord uniting government, business, and civil society around shared social policy goals that prioritise social justice, especially the needs of the most vulnerable.