20/08/2025
With full hearts, a thank-you from ERCS. Today we share difficult news: Edmund Rice Community Services (ERCS) will wind down programs and activities by the end of 2025. For nearly 50 years, ERCS has walked beside young people and communities where need is most felt—creating safe places to belong, to be heard, to laugh, and to know that someone believes in you.
ERCS has done remarkable work for many years in exploring mission possibilities however we are in a very difficult financial environment. We have been unable to find ways to make ERCS’ operations financially sustainable despite extensive efforts by the board, staff, advisory councils and, of late, independent professional financial advisors.
ERCS was built on a simple conviction: dignity, inclusion and justice are not optional extras—they’re the ground on which healthy communities stand. Inspired by the Edmund Rice tradition, we’ve shown up where it matters most: with children and young people, families and carers, and older Australians seeking connection. Through camps, mentoring and leadership programs, community development activities and advocacy, we’ve worked to build connection, resilience and empowerment—not as one-off moments, but as habits of community that change lives.
The real story of ERCS has never been our name—it’s you. Volunteers who gave weekends and holidays to create joyful spaces. Donors who trusted us to steward resources wisely. Staff who chose compassion and professionalism, day after day. Partners who opened doors so young people could discover their strengths and step into leadership. Together, you’ve helped thousands of young Australians and others experience what everyone, especially children deserve: friendship, encouragement, challenge, and a sense of future.
We will wind down programs safely and responsibly. We will honour all legal, financial and safeguarding obligations, communicate directly with current participants and families, and where appropriate provide referrals to trusted services so support continues beyond ERCS. We’re deeply mindful of the relationships at the heart of this work, and we will do everything we can to close well.
Thank you for believing that small actions, delivered with empathy, change lives. The legacy of ERCS isn’t a building or a brand—it’s the confidence, connection and leadership now carried by the people we’ve served and served alongside. If you’d like to share a memory or message for our community, we’d love to gather those stories as a record of the hope you’ve helped create.
For questions or records (donations, receipts, references), please contact ercs@edmundrice.org . We’ll continue posting updates at https://www.facebook.com/edmundricecommunityservices/
