About Us
Reaching Out and Changing Lives
Our Vision
Inspired by Edmund Rice, our vision is to enable people to feel included, be active participants and make a positive contribution to society.
Our Mission
We seek to empower the people whose lives we touch through education and development of community, with a special focus on youth leadership.
Our Values
The following values inspire and guide all we do:
Diversity
We welcome, respect & value each person regardless of ethnicity, creed, sexuality, gender or ability, & foster harmonious relations between groups
Dignity
We acknowledge the dignity of each person by acting with compassion, respect and sensitivity, thus fostering a sense of self-worth.
Safety
We create a safe place for all who engage with us.
Empowerment
We enable social change through individual empowerment and community development.
Our Story
“We welcome, respect and value each person regardless of colour, race, creed or ability and we aim to enable social change and learning”. Steve Bowman, Founder
Edmund Rice Centre WA has a proud history and an on-going commitment to assist people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Over 25 years ago our founder Steve Bowman identified a need for more education-based services in WA for those from refugee and migrant backgrounds and Aboriginal communities. Initially providing essential settlement services and community education activities in the northern suburbs of Perth, our services have expanded more widely throughout the metropolitan area and have a particular emphasis on young people and youth leadership as a way of ensuring a positive future for all.
Edmund Rice Centre WA is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading service providers by community groups and services and other related agencies.
We provide programs in English, computer studies, life skills for living in Australia, driver education, settlement assistance, and leisure and cultural programmes, along with programs specifically tailored to women and youth, including our popular youth sports and leadership training programmes.
From our humble beginnings we now interact with around 3,000 people of all ages and backgrounds each year. On any one day over 60 students participate in the Language for Living in Australia programme, and each month around 300 young people participate in our youth programmes including AFL, basketball, soccer, art classes and a highly successful local parks programme.
An independent, incorporated organisation we have robust governance and financial processes, an expert Board of management and a talented and passionate team of around 30 staff and over 50 active volunteers.
Throughout our growth we have stayed true to our mission. We have a warm and vibrant community where staff, volunteers and those with whom we connect always feel encouraged, included and welcome.
The Edmund Rice Centre WA is an independent incorporated organisation that is overseen by a board of management with strict governance and financial management.
Our work could not continue without the very generous support of our sponsors.