The Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre will open in late 2025.

An Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre will open on Kaurna Country in the Adelaide CBD in late 2025. The Centre will provide safe healing for First Nations peoples of all ages. The Centre will recognise cultural connections to family, land, lore and language, and is funded by the Australian Government and SA Health.

For immediate help in an emergency or if you are in danger always call Triple Zero (000).

Culturally safe healing

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre will be a culturally and inclusive safe space for First Nations peoples (i.e. the Centre’s guests) including:

  • Elders 
  • adults
  • families
  • kids
  • teenagers
  • members from the First Nations Rainbow community.

The Centre will offer holistic healing practices, mental health assessments and referrals for guests – which will be facilitated by mob with a First Nations focus and knowledge of customs, values and belonging.

Supported safe yarning in safe spaces

There will be safe spaces to confidentially yarn and help people in distress.

The Centre’s goal is to offer a supportive environment where guests can engage in self-care practices, access counselling services, and connect with resources to promote overall wellbeing and mental health.

By fostering a sense of community and understanding, the Centre’s spaces will offer healing and resilience for all guests including their kin who seek support.

Getting access to safe healing at the Centre

A not-for-profit (NFP) First Nations service provider will open the Centre in late 2025.  

When the Centre opens, there will be a free number to call, so you can yarn and get help, no matter where you are on Country.

The Centre will operate in an open, quiet and healing environment to support guests of all ages through a cultural, spiritual and holistic approach to wellbeing.

You can visit the Centre between Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Centre will not be open after hours, on weekends or on public holidays.  

If you’re feeling worried or distressed and need to yarn, other free services available include:

Other yarning contacts

Urgent Mental Health Care Centre phone (08) 8448 9100.  Urgent Mental Health Care Centre is a free service, open 7 days a week 24 hours a day

Other yarning contacts are also available. 

Other support resources

Model of Care and Philosophy of Care

Extensive consultation was undertaken with First Nations communities across South Australia who have informed the Centre’s holistic model of care and philosophy of care which will ensure culturally responsive supports to Aboriginal people experiencing hardship, trauma and distress. 

All healthcare professionals in the Centre will follow the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration – which supports Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention.

Information for healthcare professionals

Evidence shows that connecting to Country, culture and spirituality is essential for the healing of First Nations peoples’ positive social and emotional wellbeing.

To learn more about the significance of Country, culture and spirituality for First Nations healing, visit:

For more information

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Aboriginal Mental Health Strategy and Planning team via email: health.AboriginalMentalHealth@sa.gov.au 

First Nations, and First Nations peoples are referenced interchangeably throughout this website, which also means Aboriginal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and/or indigenous peoples.