Brotherhood of St Laurence

St Laurence

The Brotherhood of St Laurence was named after St Laurence, the patron saint of the poor. Laurence lived in Rome at the time of Pope Sixtus (AD 258–276). He was one of seven deacons appointed by the Christian church in Rome, responsible for collecting donations and distributing them to people in need.

Under the Emperor Valerian, the church came under attack. Laurence was ordered by the Prefect of Rome to hand over the church’s treasures. In response, he assembled the poor of the city, among whom he had shared the church’s possessions. He presented them to the Prefect, saying, 'These are the treasures of the church'. For this action he was punished by being slowly roasted to death on an iron grid. St Laurence is one of the most famous Christian martyrs.

Beginnings

The Brotherhood of St Laurence was founded on 8 December 1930 in the Anglican parish church of St Stephen in Adamstown, a working class suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales. Its founder, Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker, dreamed of building a dedicated group of like-minded men who would serve the church and the community. The Brotherhood was established as a religious order of the Anglican Church, with members including priests and lay brothers.

In 1933 the Brotherhood of St Laurence accepted the invitation of Canon Maynard of St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne (with the approval of the Archbishop of Melbourne) and moved to St Mary's Mission in Fitzroy to help the poor in that neighbourhood. Young men who wished to serve others in the name of Christ came together as a community at St Mary’s and attended lectures at St Peter’s. They lived simply, studied, prayed and helped with social welfare activities.

At the height of the Great Depression, when some 30 per cent of the workforce were jobless, the Brotherhood became more actively involved in helping the unemployed. After the 1939–45 War, there was little interest in expanding the Brotherhood as a religious order. However, the welfare work of the Brotherhood continued and expanded under Father Tucker’s leadership. Father Tucker died in 1974.

Children and families

The Brotherhood supports families experiencing social or financial disadvantage. It cares for the needs of both children and parents, working alongside families to help them be strong, healthy and happy.

The organisation assists families through:

Through HIPPY Australia, the Brotherhood operates a national program to help families and communities develop literacy and numeracy skills in preschool children.

Young people

The organisation works to ensure all young people can stay engaged in learning, achieve their educational goals, find meaningful employment and live a fulfilling life, whether they are from a refugee family, from a household struggling with poverty, or facing other difficulties. They assist young people through:

Employment and training

The Brotherhood provides training and job placement services, as well as extended social support, to people who are long-term unemployed, who face significant barriers to getting a job, or who have personal difficulties. They support job seekers and those looking to develop their personal skills through:

Older people

The Brotherhood has been caring for this vulnerable group since the 1940s and continues today with an approach that recognises the importance of family, friends and community in the lives of older people. The organisation tackles poverty and social isolation among older people through:

The Brotherhood's Coolibah Centre, for members of the community aged 55 and over, was Victoria's first senior citizens' centre, established in 1946.

Refugees and settlement

The Brotherhood works in partnership with communities, government and businesses in order to influence public policy and program development and achieve the social inclusion of Australia's newest arrivals. The organisation assists with settlement of refugees through:

The Brotherhood's Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC), established in 1962, has been at the forefront of the migrant rights movement in Australia for over forty years. It pioneered the delivery of services to migrant communities and today continues to strengthen the capacity and infrastructure of new and emerging communities.

Financial inclusion

By offering saving, financial literacy and small loans programs, the Brotherhood gives low-income earners the chance to build assets. It uses a microfinance model, which gives low-income earners the opportunity to save, take out more manageable loans and gain control of their finances. The Brotherhood also conducts research to assess the effectiveness of its programs, enabling the organisation to lobby for fairer and more accessible financial services.

Businesses

The Brotherhood runs a diverse range of businesses, or social enterprises, which raise funds for its programs, provide job seekers with training and a job, offer affordable goods and services to people on low incomes, and establish community connections.

The organisation's businesses also show its commitment to environmental and social responsibility through encouraging recycling, reducing energy consumption and minimising waste. This includes reconditioning fridges, retrofitting houses to make them more energy efficient, recycling books and re-using vintage clothing. The Brotherhood’s social enterprises include:

Community stores

The Brotherhood has 20 community stores (also known as op-shops) where it sells donated furniture, clothing and other household items. As well as selling low-cost goods to families and bargain hunters, the organisation offers job opportunities and a place for community connection. Among the Brotherhood's community stores, two Hunter Gatherer shops specialise in selling hand-picked vintage clothing.

Volunteers

In 2010, 1300 volunteers donated their time and skills to the Brotherhood in Victoria. In 2009, it was estimated that the contribution of volunteers was worth approximately $6.24 million. Individual and corporate volunteering opportunities are available with the Brotherhood, as well as student placements.