Providing a beacon of hope for those in need: Anne Kirwan celebrates 30 years

Anne Kirwan celebrated a milestone anniversary this month, marking 30 years with Marymead CatholicCare, but work is far from over for the organisation’s CEO.

“Thirty years is quite an achievement. It certainly doesn’t feel that long – until I look at early photos of myself!” Anne laughed.

“It has been a vocation more than a career and I am so blessed – I get to get up every day and go to a job that I love. We have achieved a lot, but there is still so much to do, still so much need, hardship, and despair.” 

Anne aims to ensure Marymead CatholicCare is a beacon of hope to those in need and that social services remain a key pillar of the Church, reaching out to people on the margins. 

“I am excited that people in the community access our programs and services and get to encounter the mission of the Catholic Church in another way,” she said.

“I look forward to seeing us work in partnership with our Archdiocese, our parishes and our government to provide housing solutions and the current crisis. I could go on and on – there is still so much to do. My work is not done.”

In 1994, Anne was searching for a meaningful job. She was offered a casual position at Ainslie Village, a 300-bed homeless accommodation service.  

“It was the most incredible place to work and a life-changing experience,” she said.

“I was working in an environment that was saturated with mental health, drugs and alcohol, childhood trauma, family violence, relationship breakdown, incarceration, crime, poverty – and I learned so much.”

Archbishop Prowse with Marymead CatholicCare CEO Anne Kirwan

Centacare took over the service, and Anne’s career with the Catholic organisation began.

“I have taken opportunities as they presented to move around work in different services and needs,” she said.

“This has led to roles in management and leadership, and I have been blessed to be the CEO of Marymead CatholicCare for several years now.”

When Anne started her social services work, the Commonwealth began to outsource services from the government to the community sector. This saw exponential growth and opportunities as the government closed institutions and released funding into the not-for-profit sector. 

“We now employ over 600 people from various professions and backgrounds and deliver over 70 programs across the ACT and surrounding NSW regions,” she said.

“It has been very rewarding to see the organisation grow and expand its suite of services over the years so we can help more people who are in need. Our most recent achievement has been the successful merger of Marymead Child & Family Centre and CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn last year, to become Marymead CatholicCare.”

Anne said the demand for support and assistance from people in need in the community continued to grow.

“With such long waiting lists, it is hard to intervene early when there is an emerging crisis, which sadly means people’s situations typically get worse before services can intervene and provide resources and support,” she said.

“Over the past 30 years, there have been many rewarding and funny moments and some sad and heartbreaking moments too.  We often meet people during the worst periods of their lives, so our work can be difficult.  What makes it all possible is working with amazing, committed, skilled people.”

Anne was raised in the Catholic faith, and credits her mother with embedding core teaching that has stayed with her – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “There but for the grace of God go I.”

“These principles instilled in me a desire to treat others the way I would like to be treated, and to recognise the humanity in every person,” she explained.

“But for different early life experiences, different relationships, different genetics – it could be me walking in that door for help.  Every person has a life that is valuable and a story that goes with them.  As such, the work we do needs to make a difference – that is what I would want for myself, my child, my family if I came to Marymead CatholicCare for assistance.”