The St Vincent de Paul Society was originally founded in Paris by a 20-year-old student named Frederic Ozanam in 1833. The Society was established by like-minded individuals who wished to put their faith into action to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged people. In Perth, Western Australia, the St Vincent de Paul Society was first established in 1865 by John Gorman. Since then, the Society has grown to have over 3,900 dedicated members and volunteers who assist more than 61,000 Western Australians each year by providing a helping hand through food assistance, material aid, budget advice, shelter, advocacy, friendship and support.