Wesley Mission Victoria (previously Wesley Mission Melbourne)
Wesley Mission Victoria (previously Wesley Mission Melbourne) works alongside those who are most disadvantaged, inspiring them to live their lives to the fullest as valued members of the community. Wesley Mission Victoria is the organisation behind some of Melbourne's best known and most valued community services, including the Lifeline Melbourne telephone counselling service and the Wesley Do Care social support service for isolated frail aged people and adults with a disability.
Wesley Mission Victoria assists children and young people, people in crisis, people experiencing homelessness, older people, people with disabilities, and people with Huntington's Disease.
The Mission was established in 1893 on the same site it occupies today next to the Wesley Church in Lonsdale Street. At that time, the area was known as the 'back slums' of Melbourne and was notorious for opium dens, gambling houses and places of ill-repute.
Wesley Mission Victoria's heritage is founded on the response of Wesleyan Methodists in Victoria to the severe economic depression and associated inner city poverty of the early 1890s.
Today the Mission employs over 700 staff and receives the support of over 2,000 volunteers who help to deliver 57 services across metropolitan Melbourne. In 2006-2007, the Mission had an operating budget of over $38 million. Approximately 73% of revenue was government funding. The remainder was raised through fees for service, fundraising and commercial activities.
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