1977
Beginning family and community support across Ballarat
Many individuals and families across the Ballarat region were travelling long distances to Melbourne to access support through the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau. Recognising the need for support closer to home, the Bishop of Ballarat established Ballarat Diocesan Family Services (BDFS).
Fr Michael Linehan led the organisation as Director from 1977 to 1988, working from the organisation’s first office in a residential building on Doveton Street, Ballarat.
Sr Rita Hayes of the Ballarat Mercy Order, having significant social welfare experience, provided vital support as second in-charge to ensure the organisation ran smoothly in its initial years. With a strong focus on prevention and early intervention, the agency initially focused on relationship counselling and marriage preparation, helping couples build strong foundations for family life.
Pictured: 1977-78 Annual Report
Fr Michael Linehan led the organisation as Director from 1977 to 1988, working from the organisation’s first office in a residential building on Doveton Street, Ballarat.
Sr Rita Hayes of the Ballarat Mercy Order, having significant social welfare experience, provided vital support as second in-charge to ensure the organisation ran smoothly in its initial years. With a strong focus on prevention and early intervention, the agency initially focused on relationship counselling and marriage preparation, helping couples build strong foundations for family life.
Pictured: 1977-78 Annual Report
1980s
Services expand and made available in rural Victoria
Within the first two years, support expanded across regional and rural communities with the establishment of the Mildura office in 1979. Outreach services expanded to Hamilton in 1981, Ararat, Stawell, Ouyen, Robinvale & Swan Hill in 1984 and Warrnambool in 1989, in response to growing demand for support closer to home.
Within ten years, the range of services had broadened significantly to include parenting and relationship counselling, family support programs, and programs to support local unemployed youth.
Terry Ranger became Director in 1989 for three years, then returned to his passion for counselling and offered outreach services to rural communities in Horsham, Ararat, Stawell, Colac, Apollo Bay, Wycheproof, Dooboobetic and Maryborough. He was affectionally known as the organisation’s ‘travelling ambassador’ and built strong partnerships with community organisations and parishes to deliver this outreach program; a key feature of how we continue to work today.
Pictured: Mildura office
Within ten years, the range of services had broadened significantly to include parenting and relationship counselling, family support programs, and programs to support local unemployed youth.
Terry Ranger became Director in 1989 for three years, then returned to his passion for counselling and offered outreach services to rural communities in Horsham, Ararat, Stawell, Colac, Apollo Bay, Wycheproof, Dooboobetic and Maryborough. He was affectionally known as the organisation’s ‘travelling ambassador’ and built strong partnerships with community organisations and parishes to deliver this outreach program; a key feature of how we continue to work today.
Pictured: Mildura office
1990s
Strengthening outreach across western Victoria
In the 1990s, Ballarat Diocesan Family Services formalised its vision and direction for supporting regional communities, and as it expanded, changed its name to The Ballarat Diocesan Family Welfare Service Inc (1991) and then to Centacare Catholic Diocese of Ballarat (1997).
Employment support expanded significantly and by 1993, the Employment Skills Training Centre addressing growing rural unemployment became an independent organisation.
A significant milestone came in 1998, when Centacare took on the management of Peplow House, a service that still exists today. In the 1970s, Fr Gerry Baldock identified a need for a local service to provide a safe haven for men experiencing homelessness in Ballarat. Working alongside the Ballarat Council of Churches, local parish communities, Ballarat City Council and the Department of Social Security, Peplow House was established in 1976.
Employment support expanded significantly and by 1993, the Employment Skills Training Centre addressing growing rural unemployment became an independent organisation.
A significant milestone came in 1998, when Centacare took on the management of Peplow House, a service that still exists today. In the 1970s, Fr Gerry Baldock identified a need for a local service to provide a safe haven for men experiencing homelessness in Ballarat. Working alongside the Ballarat Council of Churches, local parish communities, Ballarat City Council and the Department of Social Security, Peplow House was established in 1976.
2000 – 2010
Expanding support for families and wellbeing
Under David Beaver’s leadership (1993 – 2017), the organisation focused intentionally on supporting individuals and families experiencing complex challenges in the Ballarat community including those experiencing homelessness, those who were unemployed and those experiencing mental illness. This contributed to the growth of services in Ballarat.
A residential rehabilitation program for young adults with psychiatric illness was established in the Grampians in 2000. The Personal Support Program (PSP) was introduced in Ballarat, Mildura and Warrnambool in 2002.
Pomegranate House, a service launched in 2003 supported people experiencing mental illness, and in 2007, the Family Relationship Centre, which still operates today, began supporting families and communities across the region.
Pictured: The Family Relationship Centre’s 5th birthday in 2012.
A residential rehabilitation program for young adults with psychiatric illness was established in the Grampians in 2000. The Personal Support Program (PSP) was introduced in Ballarat, Mildura and Warrnambool in 2002.
Pomegranate House, a service launched in 2003 supported people experiencing mental illness, and in 2007, the Family Relationship Centre, which still operates today, began supporting families and communities across the region.
Pictured: The Family Relationship Centre’s 5th birthday in 2012.
2010 – 2021
Building stronger connections across Victoria
Centacare Housing was established in 2014 to provide safe homes to people facing housing instability, and became an independent organisation in 2016.
By 2016, we expanded support across regional communities to more than 17 locations, providing a broad range of services including youth justice, victim support, employment assistance, and counselling. A growing demand for support across western Victoria saw more than 11,000 individuals and families accessing services in 2016, a significant increase from 600 clients in 1994.
In 2021, Centacare Ballarat merged with CatholicCare Melbourne and CatholicCare Sandhurst to form CatholicCare Victoria.
Pictured: Centacare staff featured on The Courier, 2015.
By 2016, we expanded support across regional communities to more than 17 locations, providing a broad range of services including youth justice, victim support, employment assistance, and counselling. A growing demand for support across western Victoria saw more than 11,000 individuals and families accessing services in 2016, a significant increase from 600 clients in 1994.
In 2021, Centacare Ballarat merged with CatholicCare Melbourne and CatholicCare Sandhurst to form CatholicCare Victoria.
Pictured: Centacare staff featured on The Courier, 2015.
