St Mary’s Cathedral celebrated its 15th annual Christmas festival featuring market stalls, live music, and a stunning light display that illuminated the cathedral’s façade in a creative retelling of “A Christmas Carol”.
PAYCE Foundation was again a proud partner of the popular community event.
As a talented choir director with a lifelong passion for educating people about music, singer-songwriter Suze Pratten is an exciting addition to the Sydney Street Choir.
Suze Pratten says the power of song binds the Sydney Street Choir
Ms Pratten has been appointed the new co-director and she’s excited to help build the community footprint and musical expertise.
“I just love what the Street Choir does,” she said. “I think it’s incredibly inspirational.
“I love the fact that the people themselves find so much joy, so much life energy for themselves and that we can connect them with services. It’s just become like a community hub.”
With a background as a primary school music teacher, Ms Pratten then turned her talents to nurturing the performance skills of adults at the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium.
“Then I moved to Sydney and I started a couple of community choirs (including a) women’s choir in Western Sydney and a mixed choir in the Hills in Dural, “ Ms Pratten said.
“And I also teach singing workshops and songwriting workshops on all manner of things.”
With an inclusive and encouraging approach, Ms Pratten has worked closely with indigenous artists and also finds time to exercise her velvety vocals as part of a duo Raw Honey.
The community objective of the Sydney Street Choir is especially appealing, she said.
New in the role, attending Sydney Street Feast for the first time has also been a rewarding experience for her.
“Oh, it’s amazing,” Ms Pratten said. “I had no idea because I live out in Western Sydney. So this is just like woohoo. Let’s do it.
“You know, it’s a really lovely thing that the church does. Everyone has a bit of buy in and wants to be here, you know, and no wonder (with) the energy. This is where the energy is.”
With their beautiful voices and deep community connection, the Sydney Street Choir lights up events across the city.
And its infectious and uplifting footprint continued to grow in 2024 with more members and performances including the popular City Street Feasts in the Sydney CBD and Parramatta.
Choir members performing at this year’s Parramatta Street Feast in November.
A standout event was Woolworth’s 100-year anniversary celebration for staff at Sydney Olympic Park in October.
They wowed the crowd with a rendition of Neil Diamond’s classic Sweet Caroline, a new signature piece for the Choir.
The irresistible sing along chorus was a hit with the 5000 staff who attended, according to the Choir’s Welfare Coordinator Leonie Oaks.
“We rocked!” said Ms Oaks. “It’s a great song because everybody knows the chorus so it’s a real one to bring out the singer in everybody.”
The Choir offers friendship and an inclusive way to enjoy singing for marginalised Sydneysiders who are disadvantaged in the community.
Connection through music means they feel safe getting advice on food and accommodation, critical in this cost-of-living crunch where many are stretched.
“The choir is this amazing brain’s trust of information that shares and looks after people and they really support each other,” Ms Oaks said.
The Sydney Street Choir’s Welfare Coordinator Leonie Oaks.
The Choir also starred at the sixth annual Sydney Street Feast in front of St Mary’s Cathedral.
“One of the lovely things about this event is the sharing of meals,” Ms Oaks said. “I can see the Choir is sitting with new friends they’ve never sat with before.”
PAYCE Foundation is a long-term partner of the Choir. Director Dominic Sullivan said: “It’s wonderful to see the impact of their singing.
“We work with a lot of community groups around Sydney to help those that are suffering by giving support to programs that matter in the lives of ordinary Australians.”
Busking and weddings have also been on the agenda for the Choir amid a busy year. The Choir will sing under the Christmas Tree at Martin Place, perform for an Oz Harvest concert on December 3 and attend a fundraiser on December 13.
“We’re singing in front of the Cathedral again,” Ms Oaks said. “We’ve got so much coming up.”
“The choir just loves singing. They just love bringing joy – you can just see the energy.”
Adele House, founded and owned by the PAYCE Foundation, offers transformative residential rehabilitation for men suffering from addiction.
Our primary mission is to empower residents by equipping them with essential work skills, facilitating their reintegration into society to lead fulfilling and healthy lives.
Adele House embodies the belief and values of the Foundation by offering residential rehabilitation services to men with addiction issues to overcome challenges and pursue fulfilling lives.
At its core, the Adele Program focuses on personal growth and resilience by nurturing physical, emotional, and social development to empower clients for sustained recovery and fulfilling lives beyond addiction.
PAYCE Foundation has supported Adele House for over 15 years with a vision to establish a purpose-built modern facility for people affected by addiction led to the creation of the new state-of-the-art Adele House.
The sixth annual Sydney Street Feast once again brought the community together in a heartwarming celebration, as hundreds gathered in the forecourt of St Mary’s Cathedral to share a meal as one.
The PAYCE Foundation, in collaboration with St Merkorious Charity and the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, has supported this event since its inception, bringing the Street Feast to life.
Charities such as Thread Together and the St Vincent de Paul Society were also present to assist those facing hardship or homelessness.
Several Government representatives attended the event including the NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley, Federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek and Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore .
The fourth annual Parramatta Street Feast proved that the simple act of sharing a meal can make a difference.
More than 200 people living on the fringe of society, turned out at St Patrick’s Hall, Parramatta on Wednesday, November 13 to share a meal, friendly company and entertainment from the Sydney Street Choir.
PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan shares a meal at the fourth annual Parramatta Street Feast.The event is a response to Pope Francis’ World Day of the Poor and the call to build a more inclusive, welcoming and generous society.
The event is hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, PAYCE Foundation, Paynter Dixon and St Merkorious Charity.
PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said too many people are struggling to survive on the streets, particularly with rents skyrocketing and the ever-increasing cost of living leading to increased food insecurity.
“The Street Feast is a simple act of humanity to let people know they are not alone. Sadly, more people are facing the prospect of living on the streets,” he said.
“The PAYCE Foundation is dedicated to helping people on the margins live a life of dignity and fulfilment and that’s why we are a founding supporter of this event.
“It is amazing what the act of sharing a meal can do, in reminding us of the need for community and social connections.
“Today’s event had a real sense of enjoyment and purpose.”
The Catholic Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long said there is no better way than sharing a meal with the disadvantaged and those on the margins to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
“A mark of a civil society is that of inclusion, that of care and outreach to those who are on the margins. And this is also the constant theme of Pope Francis’s pontificate – wherever he goes, that message of love, of care, of common humanity shines through his message, his gestures and his actions,” said Bishop Vincent.
“We want to replicate this theme of Pope Francis of care, love, inclusion and celebration of our common humanity here in this Diocese of Parramatta, Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
“This Street Feast is an attempt to create a sense of community and belonging, no matter where we are in our life journey, no matter what situation we find ourselves – it’s the bond of our common humanity that binds us all together,” he said.
On a glorious Sydney Spring Day, they came to run, play and eat, but most of all help those all too many families struggling to make ends meet.
Families flocked to the Day at the Bay fundraiser to help people struggling to survive.The St Merkorious Charity annual fundraiser, Day at the Bay in Leichhardt, attracted the early risers with a fun run, but as the day progressed hundreds of families poured in to enjoy the activities and lunch.
The Charity, which started in the kitchen of Founder Paula Nicolas, now feeds thousands of people every week from its commercial kitchen, with the help of an army of volunteers.
The PAYCE Foundation has been a long-term sponsor of the charity and was again the major partner at this year’s Day at the Bay.
Paula said: “In these challenging times, the demand for our services has never been higher. Families are struggling to make ends meet, and the need for food security is at an all-time high.”
“By participating in the walk, you’re not just enjoying a beautiful day outdoors; you’re playing a crucial role in helping to keep Sydney families fed, happy, and hopeful.”
And the Charity’s supporters did not let them down.
(left to right) St Merkorious Founder Paula Nicholas, PAYCE Foundation Director Talal Ghattas, Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li and Mayor of Burwood Council Cr John Faker.PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said St Merkorious was delivering help to those people who have fallen through the cracks.
“It is a remarkable success story, and sadly without the support of Paula and her wonderful team, there are literally thousands of people who would go without the basics of a life.
“They make a huge difference and that is why we support them every year.”
In a sign of how tough life has become for too many people in our community, more than 200 people turned out in Riverwood, in Sydney’s south-west for a meal, snack packs and toiletries.
Food trailer delivers support for the vulnerable in Riverwood.The PAYCE Foundation donated a retro, fully fitted food trailer to the St John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church to assist people struggling on the streets.
The regular event is a collaboration with St John the Baptist, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, the Riverwood Community Centre and the NSW Department of Communities.
The van donation by the PAYCE Foundation follows the donation of several vans to other charities.
People are also given support to other services if required.
The latest census data shows the median weekly household income in Riverwood – population 12,793 – was $1210, two-thirds of the NSW median of $1829.
Thirty per cent of households had a weekly income below $650.
PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said the mobile van could bring support to areas where it was most needed.
“The demand for assistance is clear here with the number of people who turned out,” he said.
“It is not just about the meals, but an opportunity for people to connect, and if required receive further assistance.”
The service will run fortnightly for the next six months.
If you need proof that the pressure of high rents and cost of living is taking a toll, then take a trip to Liverpool where, according to Vinnies, demand for its services and support has skyrocketed in recent months.
The PAYCE Foundation-donated food trailer bringing support to those struggling to survive.Vinnies say more people are sleeping rough, are disconnected from services and require urgent care for complex health issues.
The Vinnies van rolled into Liverpool to provide food, conversation and support during Homelessness Week.
The PAYCE Foundation generously donated the fully fitted out food trailer, giving the charity the mobility to bring services where they are most needed.
The event, also sponsored by the Liverpool City Council, attracted more than 60 clients keen for great coffee and food, but also a chat and support.
“We’ve really seen the demand increase where there is not a lot of services to assist the homeless and those living rough,” Josephine Charbel, state manager of Van Services for Vinnies.
“Many of the people we see are isolated and it is a great highlight for them when the van as they call it comes to them.
“It is a highly effective way of bringing services to where they are needed most, not just food and drink, but support with wrap around services.
“It provides support, but also dignity and that’s what Vinnies is all about.”
PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said it was pleasing to see the van delivering critical support to those struggling for the basics in life.
“We donated the van to Vinnies because they were committed to reaching out to homeless people who are doing it extremely tough, in areas not well-serviced, particularly during this long, cold winter.”
When it comes to the homeless, there is no one stop shop. It is a challenge, government, non-government agencies and charities have been grappling with for decades.
But that’s changing thanks to the End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESCC) and Sydney Zero – a group of organisations determined to break the cycle of homelessness.
Sydney Zero is an action-orientated, collaborative project to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurring in Inner Sydney. The City of Sydney, the Department of Communities and Justice, homelessness services and philanthropists have come together to implement the Sydney Zero project.
The PAYCE Foundation is the founding philanthropic partner of the ESSC.
According to ESSC Director Dominic Sullivan, a game-changer is the ESSC digital tool, the By-Name List.
“It is a digital app, which allows frontline works to help people by recording accurately, with their permission, exactly what assistance they require,” he said.
“It is proving invaluable, as the information is critical to finding the assistance for people with complex needs.”
ESSC Director Dominic Sullivan.The ESSC says Sarah (not her real names) is a good example of someone receiving the assistance they need.
She first came to the attention of agencies and community organisations while staying in government-funded temporary housing in Wollongong.
Sarah displayed signs of paranoia and refused to provide the sort of information needed for the temporary housing to be extended. Sarah returned to rough sleeping.
For the next nine months, Sarah was trying alone to navigate the complexities of the system whilst experiencing complex mental health and trauma.
During this period, Sarah spent more than a year sleeping on the streets or in crisis accommodation and had no connection to health services and support.
Sarah began engaging with services again in Wollongong and, for the first time, provided consent to having personal information added to the By-Name List.
Sarah was then referred to five different housing, homelessness and health services.
This identified the health support that Sarah required.
Two months later, and whilst still sleeping rough, Sarah moved from Wollongong to Sydney and presented at a homelessness service in Newtown.
Sarah’s information and history of homelessness could be identified quickly from the By-Name List.
A collaboration of services combined to provide Sarah with temporary accommodation and case management support.
Because this need was so clear from the By-Name List, Sarah was admitted to hospital for mental health treatment and was then supported by a mental health outreach program.
Once Sarah’s mental health was stabilised, the case management team supporting Sarah found that Sarah had family and her own home on the NSW north coast.
She was assisted to return home and was reconnected with her family after six months.
In all, ten services across two districts supported Sarah over a period of eight months.
Mr Sullivan said: “By having personal information on the BNL – and despite moving locations — Sarah’s support needs were provided, creating conditions for the best outcome to be identified and fulfilled for her in a timely way.”