Our History

Open Support has been at the forefront of addressing social need since it was established by Sisters of Charity Australia as part of St Vincent’s Clinic in 1990.

Open Support was originally called Sisters of Charity Outreach and had its early conceptual beginnings in 1987, when Sr Mary Maguire, then Superior-General of Sisters of Charity Australia, reviewed the changes that were taking place in society and the Church at the time.

Sr Mary sent this message to her fellow Sisters: “I need my religious women to respond to new needs, to keep time to a different rhythm. I want you to leave the security of what you know and what you have, and go once more where no one else has one – to the people that today’s society doesn’t want to know”.

Our Organisation

Open Support is a designated social services ministry within Mary Aikenhead Ministries.

As such, the organisation has a direct association with the Ministries’ health and aged care ministry, St Vincent’s Health Australia (SVHA), Australia’s largest Catholic not-for-profit health and aged care provider. SVHA includes St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Sydney.

Open Support operates as part of St Vincent’s Clinic; is based in the Clinic’s Darlinghurst, Sydney location; and, is governed by a set of by-laws.

A registered Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) with deductible gift recipient status, Open Support is the registered trading name of St Vincent’s Clinic.

• St Vincent’s Clinic as the Operator of a PBI (Open Support) ABN: 39 967 916 030.
St Vincent’s Clinic is a company limited by guarantee, has income tax exemption and is a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC).
St Vincent’s Clinic ABN: 95 003 635 498.

Our People

Open Support has a small staff base of both full and part time employees, as well as a strong and dedicated volunteer workforce of over 200 volunteers, who are integral to the delivery of many of our core services and operational areas. The organisation is headed by General Manager, Gary Sillett.
Open Support’s governing entity, the Open Support Committee, reports to the St Vincent’s Clinic Board and provides advice to the Executive Director of the Clinic, Mr Geoff Alder, and the General Manager of Open Support, Mr Gary Sillett, on matters relating to the organisation and its activities.