About Us

Walking together. Changing lives. 

Mercy Works partners with communities across Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Timor-Leste to create opportunity, strengthen communities and build a more just future. 

Grounded in the values of the Sisters of Mercy, we work alongside people facing disadvantage, supporting education, health and sustainable livelihoods so individuals, families and communities can build lives of dignity, independence and hope. 

Who We Are 

Mercy Works is the development arm of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

We partner with local organisations to deliver community-led programs that respond to local needs. These programs are designed and delivered with the people and communities they serve. 

Our work is shaped by listening, respect and partnership. We believe the most effective solutions come from communities themselves. Our role is to walk alongside communities, strengthen local capability and invest in lasting change. 

How We Work 

Our approach is practical, relational and grounded in partnership. 

We invest in long-term relationships that build trust, strengthen capability and create opportunity over time.

• We partner with local organisations and communities  
• We invest in community-led solutions  
• We build skills, confidence and pathways to opportunity  
• We focus on long-term impact, not quick fixes  

This is what makes our work sustainable—and why it lasts. 

Our Story 

For more than 25 years, Mercy Works has continued the mission of the Sisters of Mercy—responding to need, standing alongside people facing disadvantage, and working towards a more just world. 

What began as a commitment to walk alongside vulnerable communities has grown into a network of partnerships across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. 

Today, that mission continues through partnerships that create opportunity, strengthen communities and change lives. 

Our Vision, Mission and Values 

Our Mission 

We partner with communities facing disadvantage to build opportunity, dignity and self-reliance. 

Our Values 

• Mutuality: We walk alongside communities, building relationships based on trust, respect and shared learning. In doing so, we are changed as much as the communities we walk alongside.
• Integrity: We act with honesty and accountability, ensuring our work is transparent and responsible. 
• Compassion: We respond with care and understanding, standing alongside people in times of need. 
• Justice: We work towards a more just world, where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity and hope. 

Learn More About Our People and Partners