Brotherhood of St Laurence

The Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation focused on poverty reduction, social inclusion and practical support for people experiencing disadvantage. Although headquartered in Melbourne, it delivers programs and services in communities across Australia. Its work spans the life course, including early childhood, education, youth transitions, employment and training, financial inclusion, disability services, refugee and settlement support, and the challenges associated with ageing and retirement. BSL was established on 8 December 1930 at the Anglican parish church of St Stephen in Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales, by Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker. It began as a religious order within the Anglican Church, bringing together priests and lay brothers who sought to serve both the church and the wider community. In 1933, the organisation moved to Melbourne after accepting an invitation from Canon Maynard of St Peter's, Eastern Hill, with the approval of the Archbishop of Melbourne. Members established themselves at St Mary's Mission in Fitzroy, where they lived communally, studied, prayed and undertook welfare work among residents experiencing poverty. The Great Depression shaped the Brotherhood's early activities. With unemployment affecting a large share of the workforce, BSL increasingly assisted unemployed people and their families. After the Second World War, interest in expanding the organisation as a religious order declined, but its welfare work continued and broadened under Tucker's leadership. He promoted the idea that social organisations should prevent hardship rather than merely respond after crises had occurred, often expressed through the image of a fence at the top of a cliff rather than ambulances at the bottom. This approach led BSL to combine direct services with public education, advocacy, research and experimentation. Today, BSL operates as a large charitable organisation rather than primarily as a religious community. It works with children and families in the early years and school settings; young people moving from secondary education into employment or further study; adults seeking work, skills and economic security; older people facing financial and social pressures; and people living with disability. Its work with refugees and newly arrived communities reflects a continuing emphasis on settlement and social participation. Through partnerships with government bodies, universities, councils, businesses and community organisations, BSL seeks to connect individual assistance with wider reforms. Its Social Policy and Research Centre conducts research into poverty, inequality and socioeconomic disadvantage. Research themes include social exclusion, inclusive education, work and economic security, inclusive ageing, and the relationship between energy, equity and climate change. BSL has a longstanding relationship with the University of Melbourne and collaborates with public agencies and other researchers. BSL also delivers National Disability Insurance Scheme-related services in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency. These include Local Area Coordination and early childhood services in several Victorian service areas, helping eligible people understand and use the NDIS and helping people with disability connect with mainstream and community resources. Its social-enterprise activities include a network of community op-shops in greater Melbourne and Geelong, selling donated clothing, furniture and household goods while supporting the organisation's social mission. In 2024, the organisation reported more than 1,500 employees and approximately 1,250 volunteers. BSL is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, is income-tax exempt and has deductible gift recipient status.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence was founded on 8 December 1930 at St Stephen's Anglican parish church in Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales. Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker established it as a religious order within the Anglican Church, bringing together clergy and lay brothers who wished to devote themselves to service. The founders imagined a disciplined community combining spiritual life with practical work among people facing hardship. In 1933, Canon Maynard of St Peter's, Eastern Hill, invited the Brotherhood to move to Melbourne, with the approval of the Archbishop of Melbourne. The organisation settled at St Mary's Mission in Fitzroy, an inner-Melbourne neighbourhood with substantial poverty. Members lived simply, studied and prayed, while participating in social welfare work and community activities. This Melbourne base became central to the organisation's subsequent development. The Great Depression gave the Brotherhood an urgent and expanding social role. As unemployment reached historically severe levels, BSL supported unemployed people and their families and became more active in addressing the conditions producing deprivation. Its work gradually moved beyond the model of a small religious community. After the 1939–45 War, there was limited enthusiasm for enlarging BSL as an Anglican religious order, but the welfare organisation continued to grow under Tucker's direction. Tucker's philosophy emphasised prevention as well as relief. He argued that social action should place a fence at the top of the cliff instead of relying only on ambulances at the bottom. In practice, this meant that BSL combined frontline welfare with public campaigns, educational films, letters to newspapers, policy advocacy and other efforts designed to change institutions and public attitudes. The organisation's later identity retained this combination of direct service and structural reform. Over time, BSL developed into a broad Australian social-services and policy organisation. Its programs came to cover children and families, young people, employment and training, older people, people living with disability, refugees and settlement, financial inclusion and social inclusion. The organisation also built research capacity to examine the causes and measurement of poverty and inequality, working with universities, government agencies and community partners. Its Social Policy and Research Centre has addressed poverty, social exclusion, inclusive education, work and economic security, inclusive ageing, and energy and climate equity. In the disability sector, BSL partnered with the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide Local Area Coordination and early childhood services associated with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. These services assist people with disability and families to understand eligibility, navigate the scheme and connect with community and mainstream supports. BSL also operates community stores, or op-shops, selling donated household items and using the social-enterprise model to support its broader mission. The modern Brotherhood operates nationally while retaining a strong Victorian base. It is a registered charity, income-tax-exempt organisation and deductible gift recipient. In 2024, it reported more than 1,500 staff and about 1,250 volunteers. Its continuing model combines service delivery, research, partnerships and advocacy, reflecting the preventive and reform-oriented approach associated with its founder.

• 2024

  Large volunteer and staff workforce reported

  [1]Brotherhood of St Laurenceen.wikipedia.org

  BSL reported employing more than 1,500 staff and engaging approximately 1,250 volunteers across its activities.

• 1933

  Move to Melbourne

  [1]Brotherhood of St Laurenceen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation accepted an invitation to move to Melbourne and began welfare work from St Mary's Mission in Fitzroy.

• 1930

  Brotherhood founded in Newcastle

  [1]Brotherhood of St Laurenceen.wikipedia.org

  Father Gerard Kennedy Tucker founded the Brotherhood of St Laurence on 8 December at St Stephen's Anglican parish church in Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales.

Non-profit social-services and anti-poverty organisation combining direct assistance with research, innovation, advocacy and partnerships to address disadvantage.

• Social services

  Early childhood and family services

  Programs supporting children and families during the early years, including assistance delivered in home and school-related settings. The work is intended to improve participation, development and access to support before disadvantage becomes entrenched.

• Education and employment support

  Youth education and employment programs

  Services for young people moving through secondary school and into employment or further education. BSL's broader youth work addresses barriers to participation and helps connect young people with learning, work and community opportunities.

• Employment support

  Employment and training services

  Programs for adults seeking employment, skills development and training. These services sit within BSL's wider focus on economic security and reducing the effects of labour-market disadvantage.

• Disability services

  NDIS Local Area Coordination and early childhood services

  Services delivered in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency across specified Victorian areas. They help people with disability and families understand NDIS access, use available supports and connect with mainstream and community resources.

• Research and advocacy

  Social Policy and Research Centre

  BSL's research function examines poverty, inequality and socioeconomic disadvantage. Its published areas of interest include social exclusion, inclusive education, work and economic security, inclusive ageing, and energy, equity and climate change.

• Social enterprise retail

  Community stores

  A network of community op-shops in greater Melbourne and Geelong sells donated clothing, furniture and other household goods. The stores provide affordable goods and support BSL's charitable and community objectives.

• Underpayment of early-career research staff

  BSL's Social Policy and Research team was reported to have underpaid numerous early-career employees between 2017 and 2022. The reported conduct involved remuneration below minimum award pay points for workers with university degrees and failure to properly consider experience-based progression under the applicable industry award.

  Source

Read more

1. 1Brotherhood of St Laurenceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Brotherhood of St Laurence official websitebsl.org.au