The VoRTCS (“vortex”) Program is driven by a group of volunteers and two staff members who have a strong interest in social justice. The Program is a Special Works of the St Vincent de Paul Society, who provide generous assistance to our volunteers and the refugee families they work with. VoRTCS is based in South Brisbane, although it operates over a large area including in Brisbane from Logan in the south, to Bracken Ridge in the north, and west towards Ipswich (VoRTCS is not yet operating on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba or outside Brisbane)

The VoRTCS Program aims to assist refugee families take up the opportunities that exist in Australian society. VoRTCS volunteers believe that refugees have a lot to contribute to Australian society and should be assisted and encouraged to take up the opportunities available to all Australians, whether they be educational, social or vocational.

A vortex is defined as “something looked upon as drawing into its powerful whirl or current everything that is near it.” At VoRTCS, that is exactly what we are trying to do: to get the wider community involved in supporting those who would provide the same support for us if our positions were reversed.