Centacare Catholic Community Services

This Pride Month, we’re recognising the importance of safe, affirming spaces where people feel seen, heard and supported. 🏳️‍🌈💜

Research shows nearly 9 in 10 LGBTIQA+ young people experience recent thoughts of su***de or high levels of psychological distress, while trans and gender diverse young people face disproportionately high rates of self-harm and su***de attempts.

These statistics are confronting – but they remind us just how important connection, acceptance and understanding can be. When people feel genuinely affirmed, the risk of harm can reduce dramatically.

Because creating communities where people feel safe, valued and able to belong can make a life-changing difference. 💛

A wonderful evening celebrating culture, community and creativity ❤️🖤💛

Last Friday evening marked the official opening of Kumangka Purka – Gathering of Elders, showcasing the incredible artwork, weaving and craft created by Elders connected to Ngani Pari-Arra Cultural Centre, alongside special contributions from artist Lyn Lovegrove Niemz and Jackie Saunders.

The exhibition is now open until 11 July – we’d love to see you there! Come along and experience the stories, culture and connection on display.

📍 The Gallery at St Peters Town Hall
🔗 npsp.sa.gov.au/culture_and_lifestyle/events_and_festivals

Last Friday, Centacare was proud to stand alongside partners from the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance (ANWHA) for the launch of Culture Our Way – a significant step forward in strengthening culturally safe and responsive homelessness services. ❤️🖤💛

The plan reflects a shared commitment to ensuring Aboriginal voices are heard, culture informs decision-making, and services create spaces where people feel genuinely respected, understood and safe.

At the heart of the framework is a powerful vision for the sector:

“We grow together by being culturally respectful, self-reflective, and courageous to lean into discomfort. Through consultation and knowledge sharing we strengthen our holistic approach and honour the trust placed in us by community.”

It was wonderful to join sector partners, community members and supporters – including Katrine Hildyard MP – in recognising the importance of culturally grounded services and the collective responsibility we all share in creating lasting change.

Congratulations to all involved in bringing this important framework to life.

Tonight’s the night! ❤️🖤💛

We’re excited to officially open Kumangka Purka – a special exhibition with City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters celebrating the Elders of the Ngani Pari-Arra Cultural Centre through art, weaving, craft and storytelling.

Running from 12 June – 11 July, the exhibition showcases the incredible creativity, culture and community connections of our Elders, with the final week coinciding with NAIDOC Week celebrations.

We’re also proud to welcome Lyn Lovegrove Niemz to the exhibition – a talented Ngarrindjeri and Wirangu artist with longstanding connections to Centacare through both volunteering and her work supporting community. Lyn joins our Elders in sharing culture, creativity and storytelling, adding another special connection to this celebration of community.

🎉 Opening celebration tonight
📍 The Gallery at St Peters Town Hall
🕕 Friday 12 June | 6–8pm (all welcome)

Come along and help us celebrate the stories, talent and enduring contributions of community through art.

Meaningful change requires more than awareness – it requires sustained investment, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to building a future free from domestic and family violence.

Our CEO Mary Leaker met last week with Alice Rolls MP - Member for Unley, Minister for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. A great opportunity to discuss our shared commitment to creating a service system that prevents domestic, family and sexual violence and meets the needs of diverse South Australians experiencing and recovering from violence and abuse.

Embolden will continue to engage with Minister Rolls and her team on the specialist sector's priorities, including:
🔸 sustainable funding for frontline specialist DFSV services statewide that meets the real costs of service delivery
🔸 ‎specialist practice expertise central in the reform process
🔸 ‎stronger community-led prevention and early intervention
🔸 preparing our services and community for coercive control offences going live
🔸 investment in the specialist workforce
🔸 an independent monitor of Royal Commission outcomes and impacts

As National NAIDOC Week draws closer, celebrations are already beginning with Kumangka Purka – an exhibition celebrating the Elders of the Ngani Pari-Arra Cultural Centre. ❤️🖤💛

Showcasing weaving, craft and creative works, the exhibition highlights culture, storytelling, connection and community through art.

📍 The Gallery at St Peters Town Hall
📅 12 June – 11 July 2026
🎉 Opening celebration: Friday 12 June | 6–8pm (ALL WELCOME!)

👉 centacare.org.au/npacc
👉 lookeast.npsp.sa.gov.au/

With the exhibition continuing through the final week of NAIDOC Week, the community is warmly invited to come along, celebrate and support the incredible contributions of our Elders.

Proudly supported by City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters.

Cooking up confidence, connection and healthy habits 🍲💚

Over the past six weeks, Your LINC Mental Health Services partnered with OzHarvest to deliver the NEST (Nutrition Education Skills Training) program at Klemzig Community Hall.

Together, participants learnt practical cooking and nutrition skills including how to read food labels, better understand food marketing and prepare healthy, affordable meals at home – all while sharing laughs, stories and connection around the table.

The group cooked up a feast each week, with both meat and plant-based meals and healthy desserts costing around $3 per serve 👏

Most importantly, participants spoke proudly about the confidence they gained throughout the program, with many recreating the meals again at home and building new social connections along the way.

👉 centacare.org.au/programs/your-linc-mental-health-services

Some of our team had the privilege of attending the 2026 National Reconciliation Week Breakfast earlier this week – the largest NRW Breakfast in Australia.

The powerful morning brought together thousands of people from across the community to reflect, listen and continue important conversations around reconciliation, with inspiring contributions from keynote speaker Eddie Betts, MC Shelley Ware and performers Casey Donovan and Nathan May. Thanks to everyone involved in such a meaningful event.

Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation South Australia

As we mark National Sorry Day, ahead of National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on a recent visit by Ngani Pari-Arra Elders to Colebrook Reconciliation Park – a place of deep significance for many Aboriginal families and communities.

Elders spent time together reflecting, sharing stories and acknowledging the ongoing impact of the Stolen Generations, guided by Iain Seymour, son of a former Colebrook resident, who generously shared his family’s story and connection to the site.

One particularly moving moment came as Iain spoke about the Grieving Mother sculpture:

“Push the button and you will hear my mother’s voice. My mother’s hands and arms were sculptured for the Weeping Mother, so this is my connection to my mother.”

The visit created space for remembrance, reflection and connection – and a reminder of the importance of listening to and acknowledging these stories as part of healing and reconciliation.

🔗 centacare.org.au/programs/ngani-pari-arra-cultural-centre