Northside community initiative marking 40 years of an open door and human connection

Forty years ago, Sister Patricia Moriarty from the Little Company of Mary opened the Blue Doordrop-in service in Canberra’s north, providing a safe space for the city’s disadvantaged residents.

Blue Door continues to this day, and coordinator Paul Potter says Sister Patricia’s influence echoes to this day.

“She’s a bit of a legend in the city, I think,” he said.

“What we have now is a legacy of her pioneering work in the village.”

Blue Door is a Vinnies Special Work initiative, meaning it is employee-led and has a team of volunteers that assist in serving meals and other tasks. It provides referrals, clothing, bedding, personal hygiene items, hot meals, advocacy and additional support to the public.

“Blue Door is located in the oldest building of Ainslie Village,” Paul said.

“It was originally located in the room next door but was moved into the area we are in now, which has an office, kitchen, dining area and a café area, public toilets and those types of facilities.

“The service was originally just a corner in a room, but now it’s a whole centre.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also served meals provided from the dining room at Parliament House when its site was temporarily closed.

Paul said it had grown into a service that people from across the ACT visit for support.

“Blue Door is a safe place for people to come to,” he said.

“It’s a place where they can find a listening ear and support.

“We’re not so much giving them advice, but helping them think through the options they might have and the growth areas they might need to get to in order to resolve the issues they’re facing.”

Paul said that many of those who visit Blue Door were dealing with various problems.

“A lot of them have experienced childhood trauma. There are people who have become homeless in their youth,” he said.

“Others have been involved in drug use, often to self-medicate painful experiences or physical pain that they have.

“There’s quite a large percentage of people who have experienced mental health issues throughout their lives as well.”

Human connection is essential to how the employees and volunteers approach their work at the service.

“The Blue Door is about nutrition, it’s about human contact, it’s about support in crisis times,” he said.

“A lot of it is recognising the courage, recognising the capacities, and recognising the skills and abilities of people who are largely unrecognised in our society.”

Blue Door is located within Ainslie Village at 23 Quick Street in Campbell. It is open weekdays from 7:45 am to 1:30 pm (excluding public holidays). Hot meals are served at 12 pm. Want to support Blue Door and their life-changing work? Email bluedoor.cg@vinnies.org.au.