Our history

The Heart of Our Mission

The growth of PAS is built on the dedication of remarkable individuals and families. Discover the inspiring journey of the Tranter family, whose decades of “good and faithful” service helped shape the community we are today.

Read their story

The Beginning: 1989

Personal Advocacy Service (PAS) was founded in 1989 by Sr. Eileen Casey RSM in Morley, inspired by the SPRED program to support the spiritual development of people with intellectual disabilities. The program quickly grew, driven by parents’ concerns for their adult children’s faith engagement and development.

A Community-Based Mission

In the 1980s, many people with disabilities lived in institutional settings with limited connection to parish life. While the disability sector focused on housing, employment, and recreational support, there was a profound need for a program to foster trusting relationships and spiritual growth. PAS responded by helping people with disabilities engage fully in parish life, nurturing holistic development through community support.

Establishing the Morley Centre: latter part of 1989

In late 1989, PAS secured a dedicated space at 28 Holdhurst Way, Morley. Set in a residential neighborhood, the center provided a welcoming environment that emphasized the dignity and value of each individual. This space enabled:

A small, inclusive community where people with disabilities could connect meaningfully with others.
Regular, enriching experiences that fostered spiritual and personal growth for all.
Opportunities for advocates and friends with disabilities to build confidence and participate actively in parish and community life.

New Leadership: 1995

When Sr. Eileen retired in 1995, Leonie Reid became the first lay Executive Director, leading for 22 years and expanding the program’s reach. With the shift from large institutions to group homes and home settings, PAS continued to foster supportive, one-on-one friendships that enhanced integration in the broader community.

Additional groups were formed in Morley, Thornlie, and Belmont (Anglican Parish), though the Belmont location is no longer active.

Inclusive, Welcoming Communities Today

Over the years, PAS has gradually grown, establishing small, faith-based groups throughout Perth. Today, over 15 SPRED groups operate across the northern and southern suburbs, fostering inclusive, spiritually enriching communities.