Our Charter
The Diocesan Investment Fund (DIF) is a financial work of the Diocese of Lismore. It was established in 1964 and has a long and proud history of supporting development projects within the Catholic community.
The DIF is a religious charitable development fund that operates under ASIC Corporations (Charitable Investment Fundraising) Instrument 2016/813. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has exempted the DIF from certain requirements of the Banking Act as described in Banking exemption No.1 of 2021. The DIF issues debentures to promote its charitable purpose of the advancement of religion by providing proceeds for loans to parishes and institutions of the Lismore Diocese.
By making an investment in the Fund, individuals and institutions enjoy no fees or charges with interest paid quarterly. Investors’ funds are used by the DIF to make loans allowing parish and Diocesan development projects to be completed at low cost. In addition, the DIF’s surplus is used to help fund the pastoral works of the Diocese. Investors can be proud that their funds are being used to support Catholic parish, education, health, and aged care initiatives of the Church.