New Chairperson for Catholic Welfare Australia

Meeting for the last time this year, the Board of Catholic Welfare Australia begins its two day meeting today with newly appointed Chairperson, Fr Joe Caddy.

Fr Caddy’s appointment was endorsed by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference during their Plenary Meeting held in Sydney last week.

Fr Joe Caddy is a Catholic Priest in Melbourne and is the Director for Social Policy at Catholic Social Services, Victoria. He completed a degree in Social Sciences at the Gregorian University in Rome. Fr Caddy is also involved with a number of inter-church and community organisations and serves on the Board of the Council to Homeless Persons and the Australian Council of Social Services. He has served on the Board of Catholic Welfare Australia for three years where he chaired the Social Policy and Research Standing Committee. Fr Caddy is also a Chaplain to Melbourne’s maximum security men’s prisons. 

“It is my hope that during my time as Chair of Catholic Welfare Australia we can broaden our membership, with a view to harnessing the strength of the network and more effectively promoting an inclusive Australian society that works for the common good,” said Fr Caddy.

“The Catholic Church through its various agencies and organisations is the largest non-government provider of organised welfare and care to suffering and deprived individuals and families in Australia,” said Fr Caddy. “Over recent years there has been an increasing awareness that as such, the Church has a responsibility to contribute in a major way to the shaping of public policy and the social order in the interests of those who are disadvantaged.” 

Fr Joe Caddy will assume the role as Chairperson from Mr David Beaver who has held the position of Chair of Catholic Welfare Australia for the previous three years. Mr Beaver will continue as a Member of the Board.

For an interview please call: Jackie Brady, Communications Officer, 0417 220 779