What we do best is to provide kids and families experiencing adversity the opportunity to have some fun, to build confidence, to create, play and muck around as kids should, and to spend time with young, positive role models.

For 40 years we (Edmund Rice Camps Victoria) have operated in Victoria as a not-for-profit, volunteer powered organisation. Primarily we run over 8 four to five day residential camps each year.

We are committed to;

• Strengthening the capacities of children, young people and their families, through recreational experiences, which encourage them to aspire for and attain a positive and fulfilling vision for themselves.
• Providing children, young people and their families with individual and social learning opportunities, which provide a unique and positive self-identity and self-worth.
• Encouraging and supporting the participation of young volunteers, by building and strengthening social engagement and leadership skills.

Our camp participants are individually selected to attend the programs through nominations and referrals from community service providers, intake interviews and other details supplied by parents, carers and social workers through out Victoria. The camps are utilised by referring care organisations as an early intervention aid to help children and families at risk of "falling through the cracks".  Our camp participants are from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous and refugee, and receive ongoing care from the referring agency, ensuring that their needs are supported beyond the camp experience.

Our camps are staffed entirely by our trained volunteers, mostly aged 16 -30 years. We invite, train and challenge these young people to act as positive role models to our participants. Our camps provide a context for volunteers to develop leadership skills, encourage empathy, increase social awareness and respond to challenging situations in a positive and meaningful way.

We operate on a strict one to one ratio of volunteers to camp participants. It is the relationship built between participants, volunteers and referring care workers, together with the positive experiences, that gives these camps purpose and meaning. We believe we are uniquely qualified to provide these impactful experiences.

We are a not-for-profit organisation with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Our volunteer Advisory Board is comprised of professionals from within the business, financial, legal, welfare and educational sectors. We have a paid staff of two - our Executive Officer and Program Coordinator who manage the operational side of our organisation.  

Our work is made possible by income generated from camp fees, sponsorship from the Christian Brothers Oceania Province, philanthropic grants, in kind and cash donations from businesses and schools, individual donations and fund raising events.  

Our team of staff, volunteers and supporters are committed to our camps and programs. Together we have been able to achieve so much, ensuring that we continue reaching some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community and make a positive and practical difference in their lives.

But the work does not stop here… our vision is to reach more children and families and provide more opportunities for volunteers.  We need your financial support. By supporting Edmund Rice Camps Victoria you are investing in the future of every camper and every volunteer.

How you can help

In 2019 we were able to provide nearly 200 children and family members with an Edmund Rice Camp experience.  We consistently have a long waiting lists of children and families for our programs that we are forced to turn away because of a lack of funds.  In addition we have three regional cities within Victoria ready to welcome an Edmund Rice Camp program, potentially enabling us to reach hundreds of more children and volunteers.

Edmund Rice Camps would like to bring more camps to more children and families. We would like to develop more meaningful volunteer experiences for young people. Your generous gift could help us provide the wider range of services that can really make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children, families and volunteers.

• A Gift of Hope - $525 would enable a child to attend an ERC Camp.
• A Gift of Leadership - $150 would enable us to train and support a young volunteer
• A Gift of Joy - $80 would enable us to provide activities and excursions for one child on Camp.
• Opportunities to become a Camp Champion and support an entire camp or program are also available and can be matched to your particular areas of interest.  Please contact us to discuss how you can become the patron of one of these programs.