Loreto Sisters Australia Province

The Loreto Sisters Australia Province office is located in Melbourne, Victoria. The province is made up of:

123 active and retired sisters in all Australian states and territories working in a variety of areas including adult education, theology, cross cultural communication, promoting interfaith dialogue, parish work, chaplaincies in prisons and hospitals, social justice and social welfare, environmental sustainability, women and children’s health, Aboriginal health and welfare, working with disadvantaged groups in rural remote areas, aged care, history and the arts.
A number of Australian sisters are currently working in:

East Timor (as educational coordinator at Alola Foundation, teacher at a Canossian school and support at the Baucau teachers training college),
Vietnam (LVAP program which helps young Vietnamese students in rural and inner city areas)
Rome (Australian sister currently Vicar General).

Fifteen office staff who support the work of the province in the areas of finance, business, administration, archives, history, aged care, communications and education.
Six honourary committees made up of both IBVM and non IBVM individuals who donate their time and expertise to assist the province office in the areas of: aged care, communications, finance, history, justice and integrity of creation, schools and education, vocations/formations and Mary Ward International.
A wide and diverse network of Loreto schools, colleagues, friends and associates.

Provincial Council - Australian leadership team

The Provincial Council consists of the Provincial Leader, Sr Christine Burke and her leadership team which includes Sr Elizabeth Hepburn, Sr Wendy Hildebrand, Sr Anne McPhee, and Sr Francine Roberts.

The Provincial Council oversees the placement of personnel, they seek to provide opportunities for the growth of communities across the province, supporting local leaders and communities through meetings and visits. They develop policies on issues that have emerged at province assemblies, are the trustees for the property and finance and take the final responsibility in major decisions affecting Loreto schools in Australia.

There are seven Loreto schools in Australia and two associated schools. The Province is also responsible for the administration of two university colleges. Special care is taken to ensure the Gospel emphasis as experienced through the charism of Mary Ward and Ignatius remains strong in these schools. The maintenance of this charism, and overseeing of plans, projects, and finances of the schools is supported by the Ward-d'Houet Education Board, after the founders of the IBVM and the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) sisters.