St.Josephs Cowper Grafton

Our Vision:
To provide quality, professional out-of-home care services to children and young people in out-of-home care in a respectful, caring and nurturing manner whilst creating a sense of belonging to ‘Joey’s’ that transcends time.

Our Mission:
St Joseph’s Cowper Inc, in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, endeavours to empower disadvantaged young people and their families through service, provision, support and advocacy in a safe and nurturing environment.

Our History:
St Joseph’s Cowper Homes originated as a work of the Sisters of Mercy in 1913 at Cowper, north of Grafton, where residential care was provided for children largely suffering as a result of poverty, death of a parent, the effects of World War 1 and economic downturn. The facility catered for large numbers of children and was fully staffed by the Sisters of Mercy.

In 1972 St Joseph’s was moved to a site at North Street, Grafton with four purpose-built Cottages where residential care was continued by the Sisters of Mercy for children whose family and foster care placements had broken down. Over the years employed carers have increasingly handled the work as the numbers of Sisters available to continue the work diminished, however always under the supervision and ethos of the Mercy spirit. In 1997 St Joseph’s was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1984. Until 2004 a Sister of Mercy was Director of St Joseph’s. From 2005 there has been a lay CEO with the work continuing under the Mercy ministries umbrella.

St Joseph’s continues to strive to give witness to the gosfpel values in accordance with the spirit of the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, to care for the disadvantaged children and families in our society.

In 2013 we celebrate 100 years of continued care for disadvantaged young people.