The De La Salle Brothers were founded over 300 years ago by John Baptist de La Salle in Reims, France. De La Salle was canonised in 1900 and declared Patron of Teachers in 1950. The Brothers are present in over 80 countries around the world.

The Lasallian Family in the District is spread across Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea, and is engaged in the Lasallian educational mission through primary and secondary schools, teacher's colleges, your town, youth ministry, Lasallian Foundation, Formation For Mission, Signum Fidei, Lasallian Family (PNG), Young Lasallians and Lasallian Volunteers. The mission is shared between Brothers and Lasallian Partners "to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor".

In 2004, the De La Salle Brothers established the Lasallian Foundation to support educational works and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Papua New Guinea and Pakistan. The projects vary in size and focus and include infrastructure, water and sanitation, security, classroom furnishings, teaching resources and responding to humanitarian crises. Funding for projects comes from Lasallian secondary schools in Australia and New Zealand; Australian and international foundations and organisations; and individual and group benefactors in Australia. Further information about the Lasallian Foundation can be found at www.lasallianfoundation.org.au. Donations to the Lasallian Foundation for overseas projects are tax-deductible