About Us

History

Organisation

Staff

Friends of Mary of the Cross

 

HISTORY

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne established Mary of the Cross Centre in 2000 in response to recommendations made by the Archdiocesan Drugs Task Force. In July 2000 the Archdiocese purchased a building at 7 Brunswick Street Fitzroy to be the permanent home for a central agency which would provide support services and ancillary care for the families of drug and alcohol users and the broader community. The site has special significance in that it is the birthplace of Blessed Mary MacKillop - hence it bears her name in religious life Mary of the Cross.

In its first year of operations the Centre developed partnerships with the Dandenong and Westgate deaneries to provide services to the Cyrene Centre in Noble Park and Joseph's Corner in Yarraville. Each of these agencies is community based and governed by their own Boards of Management.

Following a three-year establishment phase, Mary of the Cross Centre was integrated into Centacare Catholic Family Services in July, 2003. In line with this shift the original Mary of the Cross Centre Board was dissolved and the Centacare Catholic Family Services Board assumed governance of the Centre.

A further development occurred in 2005 when Centacare Catholic Family Services entered into an agreement to provide drug and alcohol counselling at Joseph's Corner's second site in Hoppers Crossing.

ORGANISATION

Mary of the Cross Centre operates under the directorship of the Centacare Catholic Family Services Executive Officer. It has three operational units providing a range of services to address both drug prevention and intervention where drug or alcohol use is causing problems. They are:

*        Community Development

*        Counselling

*        Education

Staff work at four locations:

STAFF

FRIENDS OF MARY OF THE CROSS

The Friends of Mary of the Cross was formed in late 2000 to assist with the raising and provision of funds for the Centre. The overall emphasis is on the continuity of funding to allow the Centre's professional and volunteer staff to do what they do best, the effective implementation and development of vital programs.

By becoming a Friends member you add your valued input to others providing assistance to Mary of the Cross Centre activities. Each member receives a copy of the Centre's newsletter At the Cross and notice of all Centre activities. Membership fee is $25 and forms are available from the Centre or can be mailed out to you by filling in the details below. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Complete the following to receive a membership form: