The Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre is now open in Adelaide, with the purpose of providing community-focused and culturally safe care to First Nations people.
The federal and South Australian governments have jointly funded the Centre under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Works are underway to deliver a permanent home for the new service in the Adelaide CBD, with an interim service operating nearby in the meantime.
Services delivered by the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre include the coordination of mental health support and wellbeing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children.
The Centre provides "holistic, culturally safe and appropriate care", including traditional healing methods, the federal and SA governments told National Indigenous Times in a joint statement.
Full operations will commence later this year from the Centre's permanent location on South Terrace, providing "comprehensive social and emotional wellbeing programs, group programs, education, workshops and integrated supports".
The National Indigenous Network Initiative (NINI), a not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation, has been contracted to manage the centre alongside Sonder Care Limited and OARS Community Transitions.
Staff help coordinate care, provide referrals to community health services, social and emotional wellbeing services, primary care services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
The federal and SA government said the Centre's design and model of care was developed following "extensive" consultation with Aboriginal communities in SA and the South Australian mental health sector.
'Community-led and community-focused services are crucial'
Under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, all governments have committed to ensuring First Nations people have the highest possible standard of social and emotional wellbeing.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said "community-led and community-focused services are crucial in improving the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people".
"By providing culturally safe care and valuing traditional knowledge, the South Australian Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre is a powerful source of support for First Nations families," she said.
"This centre is a great example of governments working in partnership with community to drive change in line with our commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap."
'Aboriginal people hold deep cultural strengths'
SA Health Chief Aboriginal Health Officer, Kurt Towers, welcomed the opening of the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre, which he said has been "carefully designed through consultation with Aboriginal communities in SA, as well as the South Australian mental health sector".
"Aboriginal people hold deep cultural strengths grounded in connection to family, land, lore and language," he said.
"The Centre has been designed to honour and build upon these strengths, offering a culturally responsive service that supports wellbeing in ways that are meaningful to all of the community living in or visiting Adelaide.
"Congratulations to the National Indigenous Network Initiative and its consortium partners, Sonder Care Limited and OARS Community Transitions, who have been announced as the providers for the Centre. Together, they will lead this important initiative."
'Service is strongest when it honours cultural knowledge'
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed a total of $10.8 million to establish the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre.
South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher said the state government knows "service delivery is strongest when it honours cultural knowledge and the lived experience of Aboriginal people".
"This new Centre is a significant step toward closing the gap in social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people in South Australia and demonstrates the State Government's commitment to community-led, culturally safe services built in partnership with Aboriginal communities and families," he said.
