About Mission Australia

Mission Australia is a Christian community service organisation that has been transforming the lives of Australians in need for more than 150 years. Through ourr 550 community and employment services assist more than 300,000 Australians by providing a hand up, a way forward and hope for the future.

Our vision is to see a fairer Australia by enabling people in need to find pathways to a better life.

Walking alongside those in need, we help them discover:

• Pathways to strong families and healthy, happy children
• Pathways through a successful youth
• Pathways away from homelessness
• Pathways for life and work-ready skills
• Pathways to sustainable employment

How we work

Guided by our values – compassion, integrity, respect, perseverance and celebration – our 3,500 employees, volunteers, Board and supporters advocate for disadvantaged Australians and help them to get back on their feet. Working with government, corporate Australia, churches and the wider community, Mission Australia is determined to overcome disadvantage across the nation.

By learning from others and sharing what works well for us, we are able to deliver positive outcomes for individuals, families and communities. We work to stop problems before they start, provide support to prevent situations from getting worse and form partnerships to find long-term solutions to community issues.

We are also dedicated to transforming the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by increasing their opportunities for a better quality of life. And as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan we aim to ensure that the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at least corresponds with the population composition in each state and territory.

Our staff includes social workers, youth workers, psychologists, counsellors, community development workers, childcare workers, teachers, allied health workers, trainers, managers, administrators, entrepreneurs and fundraisers. While our backgrounds and beliefs are many and varied, we share a common vision – to create a fairer Australia for all.

Our foundations

Our foundations stretch back to 1859 when the Brisbane Town and Country Mission began caring for the colonial poor. Three years later, Benjamin Short set up the Sydney City Mission – “a purely unsectarian mission”. Then in 1867 the Adelaide City Mission (later Mission SA) came into being.

For decades, food and clothing ‘handouts’ made up the bulk of the missions’ work. But by the mid-20th century, the focus shifted towards finding find long-term solutions to disadvantage.

In 1989, Mission SA and Sydney City Mission began working together. They were joined by Brisbane City Mission, Wollongong City Mission, Perth City Mission, Mission Australia Northern NSW, Mission Australia Southern NSW, Mission Australia Group Training and Mission Employment.

In 1997 they officially came together as Mission Australia - a single, unified and non-denominational organisation.
Like our founders, who believed in “need not creed”, Mission Australia is not affiliated with any one church. But we do connect with churches and organisations that share our vision of a fairer Australia by engaging members in volunteer and fundraising activities.

Our Chaplaincy plays a core role by supporting our employees and clients in a manner that is respectful of their diverse faiths and beliefs. Our 16 Chaplains, working with volunteers from Chaplaincy Australia, encompass a range of Christian theological perspectives.