The Australian Government has announced a $10 million funding boost aimed at expanding essential services for vulnerable Australians, including free meals, primary healthcare and welfare support. The investment will directly benefit organisations working with individuals and families facing hardship, particularly over the holiday season and beyond.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the funding will help strengthen frontline services provided by the Reverend Bill Crews Foundation, an established not-for-profit that has supported people in need across New South Wales for more than three decades.
The funding will enable the Foundation to increase its provision of free meals, extend welfare assistance services, and support clinics offering medical and dental care to those who might otherwise struggle to access affordable treatment. It will also support literacy programs and other services designed to improve wellbeing and social participation among disadvantaged communities.
Christmas is a time to give back.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 25, 2025
Bill Crews and the Exodus Foundation do that all year round and on Christmas they offer meals and festive cheer to Australians doing it tough.
Thanks to the volunteers here today and all over the country.
Merry Christmas. pic.twitter.com/T27jYqXdrF
According to government figures, the Foundation has already delivered hundreds of thousands of meals, thousands of GP consultations and dental appointments in the past year. This new investment aims to ensure that these programs can continue and grow, reaching more Australians facing food insecurity and health challenges.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek described the funding as a vital measure to help those in sudden need of support, particularly at a time of increased financial strain for many households. She noted that the assistance goes beyond basic sustenance, connecting people with healthcare, counselling, and community networks that can provide longer-term support.
The announcement builds on broader federal spending on emergency relief and community services, with the government already investing hundreds of millions of dollars in food support, homelessness services and related programs aimed at strengthening Australia’s social safety net.
This targeted investment highlights the government’s continued focus on addressing inequalities and ensuring that vulnerable Australians have access to essential services, particularly those that address both immediate needs and underlying causes of disadvantage.
