Hilfswerk Österreich

Hilfswerk Österreich describes itself as one of the largest non-profit providers of health, social and family services in Austria, operating together with its provincial and sub-associations. Its stated focus is on people and their needs, respecting dignity and self-determination, and following the principle of help towards self-help. Its services span care and support for older people, children, youth and family offerings, and 24-hour care. Its umbrella association, Österreichisches Hilfswerk (today Hilfswerk Österreich), was founded in 1989.

The history of Hilfswerk reaches back to the immediate post-war period, when its predecessor organisation (Österreichischer Wohlfahrtsdienst) was present with social activities in several federal provinces. It acquired its present character as one of the largest private providers of social and health services in the 1980s and 1990s. The umbrella association Österreichisches Hilfswerk (today: Hilfswerk Österreich) was founded in 1989. In 1947 the Soziales Hilfswerk was founded in Vienna to alleviate post-war hardship, focusing on children's recreation campaigns and assistance to returning soldiers. In 1949 the Österreichischer Wohlfahrtsdienst was founded as the 'umbrella organisation of all welfare institutions of the ÖVP', later followed by the founding of provincial organisations of the Wohlfahrtsdienst in all federal provinces except Vorarlberg. In the 1950s and 1960s advisory services were expanded, day homes were established, money and in-kind donations were distributed, and recreation campaigns, flood relief, Christmas campaigns and numerous other social activities took place. In the 1970s social services were built up, initially in Vienna: Essen auf Rädern (1969), Tagesmütter, Besuchsdienst, Reinigungsdienst (each 1976), Heimhilfe (1977), Nachbarschaftszentren (1980), later in the other federal provinces. In 1978 the Niederösterreichisches Hilfswerk was founded. In the 1980s, social stations and mobile and socio-medical services ('Hilfe und Pflege daheim') were built up, along with a Tagesmutter project (1982), an emergency telephone (1984) and youth work 'Bunter Schirm' (1985). In 1988 the Salzburger Hilfswerk was founded.

A leading non-profit provider of free welfare in Austria, focused on supporting people, families and social networks in health, family and social areas.

1. 1Hilfswerk Österreich: Große Hilfe, ganz nahhilfswerk.at
2. 2Geschichte des Hilfswerk - Hilfswerk Österreichhilfswerk.at
3. 3Leitbild - Hilfswerk Österreichhilfswerk.at
4. 4Zahlen und Faktenhilfswerk.at
5. 5Hilfswerk Österreichwikidata.org