Kids and young people have the right to grow up safe, secure, and healthy.
ASK acknowledges the strength of cultural parenting practices and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of raising children and young people to be strong, resilient, and happy.
The strengths of culture lies in children, families and communities working together. All children and young people have the right to grow up being safe, secure, and healthy. Looking after children can be tough and sometimes life stops us from doing the best we can. Pain from the past, money problems, drugs and alcohol, feeling unsafe or isolated can put a lot of pressure on parents, caregivers and their families.
Extra support is available to help your family stay safe during the hard times. ASK can help you find support services and people to yarn to or walk alongside you.
It is ok to ASK for help. ASK is a safe place.
Parenting
Strong Families, Strong Communities provides earlier help and support to families who may be experiencing family violence, alcohol and other drug use, mental or physical health concern or housing stress.
The service supports families with children of all ages, from pre-birth to adolescence, providing tailored support to:
- families with infants at risk
- young parents
- adolescents with complex trauma
- Aboriginal families with multiple and complex needs
- culturally and linguistically diverse families (CALD).
Find a provider for help and support on the Department of Human Services website.
Parenting SA provides free, trusted information for parents and carers:
- easy-to-read guides
- videos and webinars
- local workshops
- a directory of services across South Australia.
Get practical tips, skills and connections to help you feel confident and supported as you raise your child.
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Children's centres offer a range of services bringing together education, health, community development activities and a range of services for families. These may include preschools, long day care, occasional care, playgroup and programs to support families with children from birth to school age.
- Kaurna Plains Children’s centre
- Kalaya Children’s Centre
- Taikurendi Children’s Centre
- Tinyeri
- Gabmididi Manoo
- Ngura Yadurirn
AFSS has community safety and wellbeing programs, family-based foster care and family reunification services (Stronger Families).
In all that they do, the focus is on working to ensure that Aboriginal children maintain their cultural links.
Phone 8254 1077
Health
Watto Puruna is a free program of culturally sensitive health services across Adelaide’s northern and central regions.
Muna Paiendi
Corner of Mark Road and Oldham Road, Elizabeth Vale
Phone 8182 9206
Kanggawodli
16 to 22 Clements Street, Dudley Park
Phone 8342 2250
Maringga Turtpandi
Part of Gilles Plains GP Plus Super Clinic, 1 Gilles Crescent, Hillcrest
Phone 7425 8900
Wonggangga Turtpandi
11 Church Street, Port Adelaide
Phone 8240 9611
Nunkuwarrin Yunti delivers culturally based health, social and emotional wellbeing services to build a healthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It provides practical support in areas like health, dental, care of children, managing bills, housing and other matters.
Phone 8359 2414
The Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) has Aboriginal Cultural Child and Family Support Consultants (ACCFSCs). Their job is to support:
- parents of Aboriginal-identified infants, and
- Aboriginal-identified infants.
They can help you with:
- accessing CaFHS services and engaging with CaFHS staff
- home visits or clinic visits (or both)
- parent education
- child development
- linking you to other supports.
Aboriginal Cultural Child and Family Support Consultants also guide non-Aboriginal CaFHS staff in providing culturally sensitive services to Aboriginal infants, children and families.
Phone 1300 733 606 and ask CaFHS to have an Aboriginal staff member phone you back.
Walk-in health centre. Clients are seen and assessed by culturally appropriate qualified health worker teams.
Noarlunga
Alexander Kelly Drive, Noarlunga Centre
Phone 8384 9577
Hours: Mondays 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Tuesday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Clovelly Park
13 Wingfield St, Clovelly Park
Phone the clinic 8179 5900
Phone administration 8179 5942
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Child Health Clinic, Tuesdays 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Counselling and Mental Health
Aboriginal Community Connect (Uniting Communities) is a ‘one-stop’ service if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person seeking help.
They can support you with challenges related to drug and alcohol use, isolation, poverty and disadvantage. You may like support for your social or emotional wellbeing, or with housing if you are visiting Adelaide. They also offer services to help people to work through the effects of trauma.
Uniting Communities Community Hub Centre
Prospect Road
Prospect SA 5082
Phone 8202 5660
4 Third Street
Murray Bridge SA 5253
Phone 0428 856 943
11 Wehl Street
Mount Gambier SA 5290
Phone 8202 5672
5 William Street
Berri SA 5343
8586 6362
Well Mob has online social, emotional and cultural wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti’s Link Up offers family tracing, reunion and counselling services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who have been separated under the past policies and practices of the Australian Government.
Assistance is also provided to people over the age of 18 years who have been adopted, fostered or raised in institutions.
Domestic and Family Violence Services
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
If you or someone you know is in need of help with domestic violence, phone the Domestic Violence Crisis Line. Phone 1800 800 098
Kornar Winmil Yunti Aboriginal Corporation (KWY) focuses on the safety of women and children.
It aims to improve the safety of women, children and men by providing specialist knowledge and culturally appropriate services to break cycles of domestic violence and reduce Aboriginal children entering child protection systems across Australia.
A referral is required.
Women’s Safety Services SA (WSSSA) supports women and their children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. WSSSA are committed to helping people find safety and support during and after experiencing abuse.
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Nunga Mi:Minar – Northern Regional Aboriginal Family Violence Service – is a free, confidential, accommodation support service for Aboriginal women and children experiencing domestic violence.
Ninko Kurtangga Patpangga provides emergency accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children who are having a hard time at home because of violence.
Ninko Kurtangga Patpangga supports Aboriginal families in the South of Adelaide including:
- Burnside City Council
- Holdfast Bay
- Marion
- Mitcham
- Onkaparinga
and women from rural and remote areas.
Phone 8297 9644
Cedar Health Service provides free healthcare for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence aged 16 and over. The service offers medical, nursing, Aboriginal health and social work through a trauma-informed and culturally appropriate lens.
Phone 8444 0700
Hours 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Drop-in clinic 9.30 am to 12.00 pm, Tuesday.
Cedar Health Service - Brochure(PDF 210 KB)
Locations
47 Dale Street, Port Adelaide. Outreach sites available, please phone to speak to an intake social worker or nurse.
Yarrow Place offers free, gender-inclusive, confidential support to anyone living in South Australia aged 16 and over at the time of experiencing rape or sexual assault.
Phone 1800 817 421
Email info@yarrowplace.sa.gov.au
Locations
64 Pennington Terrace, North Adelaide
Outreach sites available, phone to speak to an intake social worker or nurse.
Free phone 1800 816 349
Phone 8231 8929
Email Admin@WLSSA.org.au
Hours: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Southern services
Statewide services
The Women’s Specialist Program
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Program
Regional services
Drug and Alcohol Services
The Aboriginal Sobriety Group Indigenous Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the sobriety and healing of Aboriginal people. They provide support and pathways away from grief, loss, trauma and abusive lives.
Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council of SA has online information about drug and alcohol education and rehabilitation programs.
Housing
SA Housing Trust manage public housing, Aboriginal housing and housing in Aboriginal communities.
Community housing is provided and managed by non-government organisations to specific groups in the community.
Other options and services are available through HomeSeeker SA.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited operates 47 hostels Australia-wide to provide accommodation for Indigenous people who need to be away from home for a range of reasons.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti delivers culturally based health, social and emotional wellbeing services to build a healthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It provides practical support in areas like health, dental, care of children, managing bills, housing and other matters.
Phone 8359 2414
Aboriginal Employment and Education Housing provides short- to medium-term housing to Aboriginal people living in a remote or regional community who need to move for full-time employment, training or education. It is not permanent housing.
Employment and Education Housing providers are located across South Australia.
Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) provides a wide range of culturally informed programs that support Aboriginal children, young people, families, and Elders, with a strong focus on safety, wellbeing, and connection to culture.
Their services include domestic violence support, foster and kinship care, residential and independent living programs, as well as help with education, housing, financial relief, and crisis support.
Phone 8205 1500
Locations
Adelaide, Kilkenny, Noarlunga Centre and Paralowie.
SYC Housing and Homelessness Support works with people of all ages to deliver a range of housing, homelessness and related support services.
Its core homelessness services are inclusive and available to anyone who meets eligibility criteria, regardless of cultural background.
Programs include The Foundry, renting and tenancy advice, affordable housing for young people and specialised residential care.
Legal Help
Aboriginal Justice Officers give information and advice on court procedures and practices, build the courts' relationships with Aboriginal communities and groups, and provide a culturally friendly link between the Aboriginal community and the court.
Phone 8204 2444
Free call 1800 571 191
Email ajo@courts.sa.gov.au
Aboriginal Youth Justice Officers are available to help young people and their families deal with youth court issues. The YAJOs are responsible for the development, delivery, monitoring and review of a culturally sensitive service to Aboriginal youth, Families and the Aboriginal Community.
Phone 8204 0331
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement provides excellence in legal and community services for community members to enhance their legal, cultural, political and social rights.
Phone 1800 643 222
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program of the Women’s Legal Service works alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to support them in engaging in a meaningful and empowering with the legal system.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Project also provides community legal education to women and the community, in relation to legal matters affecting them.
Phone 1800 655 037
General / Drop-in / Linking
Tiraapendi Wodli Hub (Port Adelaide) provides a practical point of contact for Aboriginal families to access the information, social and cultural support and services they need.
Phone 0410 228 451
MAYFS is a dedicated Aboriginal service with a focus on diverting young people away from the justice system and toward improved life outcomes.
Young people can be referred through:
- SAPOL
- Youth Justice Courts
- schools
- community service organisations
- family members, with consent of both the young person and their parent/carer.
Free phone 1800 NUKKIN (1800 685 546)
Phone 8414 8900
Email mayfs.info@sa.gov.au
Someone to talk to
13YARN is a culturally safe crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Confidential one-on-one yarning with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any needs, worries or concerns.
Phone 13YARN (13 9276)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Well Mob has online social, emotional and cultural wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
The Domestic Violence Crisis Line offers information, counselling and safe accommodation support for women experiencing domestic violence in South Australia.
You can phone the Domestic Violence Crisis Line for free. They can organise a safe telephone interpreter. Let the person know what language you need.
Phone 1800 800 098 (24-hour service)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
There are services available specifically for Aboriginal families.
ASK was built for you so we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Use the contact us form to let us know of new services or changes. Services can also request to be added to the ASK Service Directory, or have their listing updated.