Sydney City Mission

A blue illustration on a white background of a woman standing in front of a busy street.

The Sydney City Mission was established in Sydney, Australia by English immigrant Benjamin Short in 1862. Short’s efforts were inspired by the London City Mission in London, England, as well as Sydney’s own poverty and lack of government assistance programs. Focusing on those in need of basic resources and social services, the mission has aided Sydney residents with food, addiction services, and crisis intervention for over a century. A Vocational Employment Training Scheme was established through the Sydney City Mission in 1979, and the following year, the Missionbeat service was introduced to address homelessness and mental illness.