Community Services
Highlights
Dad Circle:
the power of connection
We piloted a new program, Dad’s Circle, designed to bring together fathers and male caregivers. The program offered a unique opportunity to socialise, connect and share parenting experiences.
Hosted at Junction Community Centre in Ottoway, the fortnightly sessions were free and included a guest speaker, light meal and a chance for the participants to learn from each other.
Mental Health Services
We believe that all Australians, no matter where they live, should have equal access to mental health services. Our teams in Whyalla and Kadina deliver vital supports over a large regional and rural service footprint, stretching across the Spencer Gulf, Mid North, Flinders Ranges, and Yorke Peninsula.
The mobile coffee van with heart
The Little Bean Machine offers meaningful employment and training to people with a disability at the same time as providing delicious meals and drinks to the community and local businesses. A joint initiative of UnitingSA and Wesley Social Enterprises (WSE), the Little Bean Machine provides a unique opportunity for South Australians with a disability to gain valuable hospitality experience and training in a supported environment.
Finding solutions to loneliness
The wintery warmth and comfort of a northern hemisphere Christmas came to our popular Chat ‘n Chew program in July. Participants enjoyed a traditional Christmas-themed meal, cooked by an employee of Wesley Social Enterprises (a UnitingSA service). Each fortnight, Chat ‘n Chew brings together people experiencing mental health issues for an afternoon filled with conversation and food. Programs like Chat ‘n Chew are essential in helping clients overcome social isolation and exacerbation of mental health conditions.
Emergency Assistance
As the housing crisis and crushing cost of living burden continue to place more and more South Australians under financial pressure, our Emergency Assistance team do a remarkable job helping people make ends meet. From providing day to day essentials to helping solve debt issues or accessing the No Interest Loans (NILS) program, our team is helping to ease emotional and financial strain every day.
Homelessness Services Relocation
Our Homelessness Services, delivered as part of the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance (ANWHA), relocated to 64 Dale Street, Port Adelaide. The move means that our Homelessness Services now sit alongside our suite of other services, allowing our teams to better collaborate and deliver a range of wrap-around supports.
Avalon visit with Louise Miller-Frost
For almost 20 years, our Avalon program has provided an essential stepping stone on people’s pathway to independence by offering stable accommodation and psychosocial support. Louise Miller-Frost MP joined CEO, Jenny Hall, Board Chair, Gael Fraser, and Mental Health Manager, Anna Sutherland, for a trip to Avalon to talk to the residents and tour the facility.
Celebrating cultural diversity
We sang and danced our way through Harmony Week. To celebrate the incredible culture and diversity of our community, we held a range of events. Our stall at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s Parks Library featured a range of fun activities. Our employees and residents at Westminster Village enjoyed arts and crafts and our Taperoo Community Centre invited a group of local Iranian women to enjoy a special lunch.
A brighter future for our youth
Our 24-Hour House continues to change the lives of young, homeless South Australians, like Andy, Subie, and Bonnie. Andy nailed a perfect ATAR score in Year 12, Subie now has a career in hospitality and Bonnie is studying to be a nurse. All came to the 24-Hour house after living at home was no longer a safe or secure option. All are now living independently with bright futures ahead after the mentorship and support offered by our 24-Hour Hour house youth support team.
Being there for people like Lyndon
Long term mental health conditions are now more common than arthritis or asthma, with more people than ever needing vital mental health services. That’s why the care and support offered by mental health workers like Eddie is so important.
The psychosocial support provided by Eddie and his co-workers is helping South Australians like Lyndon be well, and to live better lives, instead of spiralling into acute mental health episodes which often lead to hospital admissions, adding to ramping and bed shortage crisis.
I had been in hospital two or three times, sometimes for 21 days.
I haven’t been back in a long time.
Peppertree Place ... a better solution
Peppertree Place is a group of eight units located in suburban Adelaide, operated by the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance (ANWHA). It offers families a small home with a fully equipped kitchen, renovated bathroom, separate bedrooms, and a family living area, and is an alternative to emergency hotel accommodation. The wrap-around support offered through the Alliance as part of the Peppertree Place model helps tenants access the help they need to find more permanent housing.