Mercy Ministry Companions Ltd

Mercy Ministry Companions Ltd (MMC) is an Australian nonprofit organization serving as a ministerial public juridic person (MPJP) responsible for stewardship and governance of ministries across healthcare, aged care, community services, and education. Established on 3 December 2021, MMC was initiated by the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) to enable its ministries to meet emerging needs and flourish into the future.

Background and Establishment

The concept of Mercy Ministry Companions was seeded during the ISMAPNG's 2017 Chapter, which envisioned a transformative model of stewardship for the Institute’s incorporated ministries. This model aimed to secure the sustainability and growth of ministries rooted in the Mercy charism across Australia.

Formally established in late 2021, MMC assumed responsibility for the community service, health and aged care, and education ministries previously managed within Mercy Community Services Australia Ltd (including Mackillop Family Services, McAuley Community Services for Women, Mercy Connect, and Mercy Services), Mercy Education Ltd, and Mercy Health Australia Ltd. These ministries operate throughout all Australian states and territories except Tasmania.

Mission and Activities

Mercy Ministry Companions supports its ministries by providing ethos and formation support for leadership and staff, fostering an organizational identity aligned with the Mercy tradition. The organization emphasizes collaboration (communio) within and beyond its network to strengthen mission delivery.

Its ministry footprint includes:

• Healthcare and aged care services, delivering in- and out-of-home care to nearly 15,000 elderly persons annually.
• Community services assisting over 6,000 families, women, and children.
• Education, educating over 14,000 students.
• Disability services reaching approximately 700 clients each year.
• Healthcare services serving around 150,000 patients per annum through a workforce of approximately 13,000 staff.

Governance and Vision

MMC’s governance model embodies the Catholic tradition of stewardship and mission continuity reflecting the Mercy charism. It strives to ensure that the ministries aligned with it are resilient, mission-driven, and responsive to the evolving social and health needs of Australian communities.

Through the integration of various ministries with shared values, Mercy Ministry Companions fosters synergy among healthcare, education, aged care, and community services sectors, contributing to the wellbeing of diverse populations.

Mercy Ministry Companions Ltd remains a significant entity in the Australian nonprofit landscape, continuing the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy by adapting governance structures to contemporary challenges in social and health services.

[1] https://www.mercyministrycompanions.org.au [2] https://www.mercyservicesaustralia.org.au/who-we-are/mercy-ministry-companions/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/60ac2eff-303f-eb11-bf72-000d3ad1ce4e/profile [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/60ac2eff-303f-eb11-bf72-000d3ad1ce4e/documents/1d8185d2-5d9c-ed11-aad1-000d3acc4456 [5] https://www.mercyministrycompanions.org.au/what-we-do/mercy-community-services-australia-limited/