The newest agency of the Diocese of Parramatta, Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited (CDPSL), had an extraordinary year in 2022, following two difficult COVID impacted years.
Established in July 2019, CDPSL was created to extend the pastoral outreach of the Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Its first enterprise is Ambrose – the organisation dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood education and before and after school care.
Ambrose operates six preschools and 49 before- and after-school care services across the Diocese, and unfortunately, like many other businesses, their operations were greatly impacted by two years of lockdowns. 2022 was a year focused on business consolidation, recovering enrolments, and expanding the portfolio of preschools and before- and after-school care centres.
“Ambrose is now the largest provider of children’s services in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Ambrose continues the rich history of innovation in education in the Diocese and is a wonderful example of partnership between CDPSL and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta,” said Anthony Goonan CEO, CDPSL.
In late November, the Trustees, Board and Management Team of CDPSL met to discuss the year gone by and strategy for the coming years. The productive session concluded with the presentation of a cheque for $500,000 to the Diocese of Parramatta providing financial support for its apostolic and charitable activities. These funds will be directed to Catholic youth programs and the formation of young adults.
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited (CDPSL) presents a cheque to the Diocese of Parramatta, to provide financial support for its apostolic and charitable activities during its recent Trustees, Board and Management Team meeting. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“The last two years have been very tough for many organisations. Even for the first half of 2022, we were still feeling the effects of the lockdowns. But our management team and Board rose to the challenge, and we are pleased to have delivered a surplus for the first time.
“Our surplus allowed for the repayment of our establishment costs in full, and we were also able to return some to staff in the form of increased, above-award wages and thank you payments to service leaders in recognition of their selflessness and flexibility while the sector experienced labour shortages during COVID.
“We have also used these funds to reinvest in additional centres, improve educational resources and the professional development of staff. We are pleased to have also been able to give back to the Diocese, in order to further the mission of going out into the deep and reaching people on the margins of both Church and society,” said Anthony.
The Board and Management Team of CDPSL are excited for the future.
“We have achieved so much in the last few turbulent years, and we are excited to continue our journey by expanding Ambrose and providing more services for families in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains,” said Anthony.
You can learn more about Ambrose here: Home – Ambrose Early Years Education and School Age Care and CDPSL here: Home – CDPSL
