An exciting, world-class, unique retirement development – funded by CDF – is coming soon to Melbourne’s East. St Clare , on Studley Park Road in Kew, will offer a new standard of living for over 55’s and retirees within 102 premium apartments across the historical site. Thanks to a substantial $185m loan from CDF, Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) will breathe new life into the long-held 1.4ha site and meet critical demand for retirement housing options across the $200m project. The precinct, which has been used to-date by VMCH for a variety of services, will make way for the residential d ..read more

Amidst the vibrant discussions at the 2024 Catholic Social Services Australia National Conference, one overarching theme emerged: the importance of collaboration and social justice within today’s societal framework. Against the backdrop of 'commons, commonality, common good’, over 230 delegates from diverse sectors and faith-based backgrounds across Australia came together to explore innovative ways and approaches to addressing pressing challenges and ways to foster sustainable development into the future. As a conference partner and presenter, Catholic Development Fund (CDF) was a proud co ..read more

Pictured: Bede and his mother with Brendan Hoy; CDF GM Client Services and Aaron Gupta; CDF Relationship Manager. For over 20 years the CDF Fr James Wall Bursary has recognised the achievements of students in the Catholic community. Year 10 students from Catholic colleges in Melbourne, Sale and Bunbury have had an opportunity to demonstrate not only excellence in academics and sport but also leadership and social service in their local community. In 2023, CDF was proud to award six students with a $5,000 bursary to assist with school fees and expenses in the final two years of Catholic ed ..read more

Mercy Health is expanding its commitment to healthy ageing in the City of Kingston with the development of a new aged care facility, Mercy Place Mentone, with $22m in funding from CDF. Once complete, the new $40m establishment will be home to 128 residents, who will live across 16 small households. Each household will be shared by eight residents, featuring bedrooms with private ensuites, a kitchen, living and dining areas and laundry. The unique care model, characterised by small household living, has a primary objective to enhance resident independence through mission-driven aged care serv ..read more

In the spirit of ‘disrupting disadvantage’, CatholicCare Victoria once again embarked on its annual Giving Tree and Carry-a-Can appeal in 2023. These initiatives have become synonymous with spreading joy during the festive season and helping those struggling to put food on the table this Christmas. This year the hampers were distributed across CatholicCare Victoria program teams to regions including Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Epping, Footscray, Geelong, Horsham, Melton, Mildura, Pakenham, Shepparton Wangaratta and Warragul. Not only will the hampers provide material support, b ..read more

Mandurah Catholic College – set amongst 12 hectares of natural bushland in the coastal suburb of Mandurah in the Peel Region, south of Perth – has recently undergone a transformative change with the completion of its Stage 19 capital development plan.  The opening of the new building marked a significant milestone in the College’s commitment to creating an environment where students can grow in their Catholic faith, and Christian values, while promoting the optimal development of each individual.  The positive impacts of the new facility extend far beyond the physical structure it ..read more

The Ballarat Catholic Development Fund (BCDF) and the Melbourne, Sale and Bunbury Catholic Development Fund (CDF) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a binding agreement to merge the two Funds. This comes after an extensive due diligence process, with the merger expected to take effect on 1 January 2024. Both Funds have a 50+ year history of working together and sharing resources to offer customers in the respective Dioceses strong and competitive financial solutions. This merger will assist in delivering greater benefits to customers across one, larger Fund. In recent years ..read more

The battle against cybercriminals and their persistent efforts is more crucial than ever as cybercrime continues to rise each year in Australia, and in particular – phishing scams.  What is a phishing scam? A phishing scam is a method of stealing confidential information by sending fraudulent messages to a victim. It is one of the most common cyber scams reported in Australia. Perpetrators often disguise themselves as reputable organisations or even Government departments, exploiting people’s trust in these entities.  Phishing messages come in various forms, all designed to tric ..read more

Pictured: Students at Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham Melbourne’s outer north is currently experiencing a once-in-a-generation growth phase, with two newly constructed Catholic Primary Schools to help meet the needs of their communities.  Built with funding assistance from CDF, Holy Cross in Mickleham and Mary Queen of Heaven in Greenvale have welcomed students to brand new facilities and provided a sense of belonging to families. Holy Cross is the only Catholic primary school servicing Mickleham, Donnybrook, and Kalkallo where large green-field developments will see the area’s ..read more

Pictured: Students at Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham Melbourne’s outer north is currently experiencing a once-in-a-generation growth phase, with two newly constructed Catholic Primary Schools to help meet the needs of their communities.   Built with funding assistance from CDF, Holy Cross in Mickleham and Mary Queen of Heaven in Greenvale have welcomed students to brand new facilities and provided a sense of belonging to families. Pictured: Holy Cross Primary School, Mickleham Holy Cross is the only Catholic primary school servicing Mickleham, Donnybrook, and Kalkallo wher ..read more