The Foreign Minister and his wife Therese Rein met Carevan founder John Brabant and the organisation’s chief executive Jodie Tiernan at a dinner in Sydney last Thursday night.

The meal had been an auction prize, which cost Dr Brabant $2500, at a dinner held last year to mark the 20th anniversary of Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets service.

Ms Tiernan said Mr Rudd and Ms Rein had been impressed by the Carevan model which has seen 350 volunteers regularly help feed the homeless and disadvantaged via a caravan which stops at different locations on a regular basis.

In a 30-second video message Mr Rudd joins Ms Tiernan as he praises the work of Carevan.

Click play to watch the video message.

“This is Jodie, you probably know her, she’s from Albury,” Mr Rudd said.

“My name’s Kevin, I’m from Queensland and I can’t help that.

“Can I just say to all you guys who are out there with the Carevan and working with Jodie and the team ‘Hi from Therese and myself, all the very best, make the most of your lives, look after them, stay well and life’s going to have something really special for you.”

Ms Tiernan said the dinner had provided new contacts for the charity which is set to expand into Blacktown in the western suburbs of Sydney.

The Carevan program will be rolled out from March 15 with a group of teachers from Tyndale Christian School spearheading the expansion.

Hospitality teacher and chef Terry Evans said he was inspired by Ms Tiernan and Dr Brabant who have also overseen Carevan’s move into Wangaratta.

“It’s something I wanted to see happen and the more I think about it and the more I’m involved the more I see the need,” Mr Evans said.

“I think I would done something no matter what, but Carevan has got me going forward four years on what I would have been.”

Carevan Albury has supplied a van to the Blacktown group which is also receiving the support of former rock singer Angry Anderson.

Mr Evans hopes to be serving meals in April and win the support of 300 volunteers with Ms Tiernan and Dr Brabant helping with training.