‘Tap and Give’ Trial a Success in South Yarra
August 29, 2020

Tap & Give technology has been given the thumbs up by the Parish of South Yarra community, with an increasing number of parishioners opting to contribute via cashless donation points.


The Parish of South Yarra, comprising Saint Joseph Church and Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Church, was one of four Parishes that have been trialling the Tap & Give system, offering a convenient and secure alternative for the growing number of parishioners who may not always carry cash.


“Paying for things by card is what people do in other places, and it’s increasingly something they welcome at Church on the weekend or at a Church fundraiser,” explains Parish Priest Father Brian Buckley OSA. “We appear to be heading in the direction of a cashless society and we need to provide this option.”


The Tap & Give terminals work as a portable electronic payment system. The donation points are loaded with a set value, such as $5 or $10. Parishioners simply tap their card on the device to make an electronic donation.


The system has been embraced by the diverse Parish community, with the portable devices being used across Mass and other fundraisers and activities; including youth group events and even a recent Bunnings sausage sizzle.


Parish Business Manager, Aimee Helleren, is impressed by the portability of the device, as well as the flexibility to set a fee depending on the occasion – even if that’s $3 for a sausage! The device also offers greater security for the parish, with less cash being held on site.


Aimee is monitoring the weekly donations and has seen a rapid increase in people giving money via the Tap & Give device over the last six months.


“It’s early days. We’re not sure if Tap & Give is replacing cash or if it’s new donations we are receiving.” Aimee explains. “We did have some donations following a wedding recently, that we wouldn’t have had in the past.”


Tap & Give is affordable for organisations and convenient for their communities. Interested in giving Tap & Give device a go at your school or parish? Get in touch with your CDF Relationship Manager today to discuss our cash-free solutions.


Pictured right: Father Brian Buckley OSA and Aimee Helleren

Share this article:

Related articles

By Michelle Ross-FitzGerald May 11, 2026
In the fast-growing suburb of Melton, a new chapter in Catholic early learning has begun. The St Lawrence of Brindisi Children's Hub has officially opened; the first of 12 purpose-built Children's Hubs that MACSEYE plans to deliver across Melbourne by 2029, and a significant milestone in the effort to bring high-quality early learning to families in some of the city's most rapidly expanding communities. CDF has been proud to support MACSEYE since its inception in 2024, providing vital operational support as it scales to meet growing demand while empowering children so they can contribute to a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
By Hillaria Juliana May 8, 2026
In the heart of Creswick - a historic gold rush town nestled in Victoria's central highlands, just 16 kilometres north of Ballarat - St Augustine's Primary School has been a cornerstone of community life for over 170 years. Established in 1855 to meet the needs of families during the Gold Rush, the school has grown and evolved across generations while remaining anchored in its Catholic faith and its deep sense of place. Today, St Augustine's is home to 144 students from Foundation to Year 6. Committed to the holistic development of students, the school focuses not just on academic excellence but on social and emotional wellbeing; and it does so as an integral part of the wider St Augustine's Parish and the Creswick community it has served for so long. Now, thanks to a $3.6 million redevelopment supported by CDF, the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Ltd (DOBCEL), and the Federal Government, this much-loved school is stepping confidently into its next chapter.
April 17, 2026
For some children, the classroom can feel overwhelming. Anxiety, trauma, learning challenges or difficult life experiences can make it hard to concentrate, participate or feel safe at school. For these students, reconnecting with learning often requires more than traditional support approaches. Since 2018, MacKillop Family Services’ Paw Pals program has quietly been helping students take meaningful steps forward, one gentle interaction at a time. Through the presence of specially trained therapy dogs and skilled facilitators, Paw Pals creates safe and supportive environments where children can regulate emotions, rebuild trust and re-engage with learning. For the past five years, CDF has proudly partnered with MacKillop Family Services to support the continued growth of this program across schools.
More

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.