Our History

• Lunchtime Couples Counselling offered by Volunteer of Women’s Shelter - Theresa O’Brien
• Catholic Parish invested in the concept and trained more counsellors to support couples

• Theresa O’Brien (Toowoomba Diocese) & Federal Attorney-General’s Department establish The Marriage & Family Counselling Centre | 68 Lindsay St – Theresa O’Brien formally made the director of the Centre

• The Marriage & Family Counselling services extended to Warwick & Dalby

• Relationship Education added to service offerings | Pre-Marriage education, Natural Family Planning, Self Esteem & Anger Management

• Rebranded as Centacare in line with other Catholic Diocese funded services in QLD
• South West Queensland Psychology Service established under Centacare to offer Psychology services across Roma, Goondiwindi & Charleville

• Centacare Employment was established with funding from federal government. This arm of Centacare relocated to 42 Neil St

• Homestay opened (residential accommodation for homeless high school girls)
• Collaborated with Toowoomba Base Hospital to offer patient pastoral support

• Primary Dispute Resolution services added to growing programs of Centacare
• Drought counselling offered across South West Queensland including Toowoomba, Roma, Charleville and Goondiwindi.
• Centacare Employment collaborated with St. Vincent de Paul and Mission Australia on a Work for Dole program

• Centacare, in conjunction with the Catholic Social Justice Commission established TRAMS (Toowoomba Refugee And Migrant Support)| located at St Patrick’s Cathedral Kindergarten (included creche run by volunteers)
• Community Settlement Service also developed to support settlement of Migrants & Refugees in Toowoomba
• Centacare became the sponsoring body for the Community Justice Group tasked with offering a range of indigenous youth activities. | Whaddup was created.
• Services offered within the mediation space
• Centacare supported & hosted a series of NAIDOC week events

• Centacare with Anglicare, St. Vincent de Paul and QPASTT were successful in obtaining 5 years funding for Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Services (IHSS) to support Refugees arriving in Australia
• Drought counselling offered for our Southwest Clients
• Additional federal funding grew Centacare’s Separated Parents counselling and mediation support services throughout SWQ?

• Collaboration with Catholic Education (Toowoomba Diocese) to offer student and family referral counselling
• Barry Sheehan became Centacare Director
• Centacare Council/Board formed

• Centacare became a registered Family Relationship Centre offering tailored mediation services to separated parents
• Early intervention programs were introduced to develop healthy family relationships

Murri Court commenced linking First Nations defendants to culture and services to help them make positive changes and stop offending

• Merge CJG, Counselling and FRC into the one office | 146 Herries St

• Geoff Argus appointed as new Director
• New program developed - South West Partners in Recovery following additional funding

• Moved office to reside at 502 Ruthven St

• Kate Venables appointed as new Director
• Corporate Leadership Team was formed as an overall steering group for the organisation
• Centacare rebranded to be CatholicCare Social Services
• Governor General, Peter Cosgrove visit to TRAMS
• Moved TRAMS into 502 Ruthven St to have all Tba programs within the one location
• Child Inclusive Family Dispute Resolution made available to separated parents working through mediation

• Information Communication Technology team formed & transitioned CatholicCare to the Cloud
• CatholicCare collaborated with local legal firms to offer Legally Assisted Family Dispute Resolution
• Legally Assisted Family Dispute Resolution commenced and the first FRC to offer these services
• Future Families funding for CALD & First Nations Peoples

• New Funding resulted in the growth of a number of Programs to support…..
• First Nations - Women connecting with community and culture (commitment of Murri Court- deadly sistas)
• WhichWay - bringing community youth together connecting through holidays programs that are culturally appropriate
• Our Yarning Circle designed and built in our Southern Garden (Fred)
• YUMBIN Team created including CJG, WHADDUP and support of young people on bail (not reoffending – through programs and community connection)
• Refugees - Muster and BLESS funding increased TRAMS service offering
• Community Engagement to support young Future Business Leaders… what did we offer?

• Connected in with the Family Law Pathways Network to strengthen legal partnerships for our FRC
• Partners in Recovery transitioned to Psychosocial Support in Rural and Remote SWQ
• Property Mediation offered to Separating couples.
• Rollout of Big Buddy and mentorship program within State schools in Toowoomba for First Nations students
• Youth program continued to grow

• COVID – Transitioned our services to online with all staff working from home in March
• Development of unique subcontracting model for South West Queensland, working with community leaders and influencers (CSF)
• Large Pod Working area refurbished to comply with new health guidelines

• Increased support of First Nations community through collaboration with Dept of Community & SPER to reduce SPER Debts
• Youth Program (under YUMBIN team) gained more funding to support at risk young people (CHOICE, CHANGE)
• Development of DQW a bridging program connecting migrants with employment opportunities
• Significant growth resulted in the development of the Deputy Director position along with internalizing a marketing position
• Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce – Employer of Choice Finalist

• Development of SQW (Skilling Queenslanders for Work) Traineeship program in partnership with local RTO
• New refurbished reception opened
• Executive Leadership Team (ELT) established to steer the Strategic direction of CatholicCare
• The BRC (Business Resilience Centre) established as a social enterprise for greater support for the local business community

• CatholicCare celebrates the significant milestone of 40 years in Business
• Establishment of the Operational Leadership Team (OLT) to support operational goals of CatholicCare
• Youth Team created with significant funding increase (IBI funding added to YBS)
• FRC awarded Project of the Year for Legally Assisted FDR
• CatholicCare invests in their staff through the embarking on the big lap of the Southwest with 44 Staff | St George, Cunnamulla, Charleville, Roma
• Announcement of the sale of 502 Ruthven street office and preparation commences for the move to new office, 146
• Mort Street.

• TRAMS celebrates the significant milestone of 20 years in Business
• Move to new building | 146 Mort St