From St Mary's Parish 

News from the Asylum Seeker Support Group at St Mary’s Parish

Our St Mary’s Parish has been providing accommodation to Asylum Seekers in an apartment in the Parish House since 2018 through a program run by Catholic Care. We have a number of our school parents involved and if you are wanting to join the Asylum Seeker Support Group please contact Leah Lloyd-Smith (Eddie – Year 6) via email hello.lloydsmith@gmail.com

Dear St Mary’s School families

CatholicCare and St Mary’s Parish gratefully acknowledge your support of the local asylum seeker transitional housing project, we have been working in partnership on, since 2019. We have some good news, the family of three, have now secured their own rental property and so we are again, preparing to welcome a new family. Thank you for your important contributions to the welcome and wonderful opportunities and practical support offered to the previous family over the last two years. This has included donating household items and furniture to help set up the property, supporting fundraising events (eg a cake stall), which assisted with the purchase of Coles vouchers and providing important links to employment experiences, which have helped the family build skills and opportunities for the future. As a school community, we look forward to your continued support, as the St Mary’s Project Team Leaders, reach out in the future to offer you some opportunities to support this wonderful work together.

With gratitude 

Sally-Anne Petrie, 

CatholicCare Victoria