Aboriginal Community Support

Aboriginal Family Support Services History

Southcare acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners of the land on which our buildings stand. Southcare respectfully recognises Elders both past and present.

Southcare’s service in the Aboriginal community began in 1982 with our emergency assistance program which provided food parcels, clothing and blankets to the local community in Karawara. Soon after, Aboriginal Elders established a regular meeting place one day a week at our Social Centre. This connection created a mutual desire for a deeper partnership with the local Aboriginal community, and the Aboriginal Family support service we offer today was born.

According to the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Aboriginal population of the City of South Perth numbers 532 people. This represents 1.3% of the City’s population with the majority of Aboriginal people living in Manning, Karawara and Kensington. Research undertaken on behalf of local South Perth Aboriginal community group Moorditj Keila identified that while this population is small in number, its needs are high and complex.

Southcare is proud to work in partnership with the local Aboriginal community to help build strong individuals, families and communities. We acknowledge the culture, pride, rights and specific needs of Aboriginal people in our service delivery and in our workplace culture and spaces.

What Aboriginal community services does Southcare offer?

Our Aboriginal family support service offers information, support, advocacy and referral services to Aboriginal families and single people living in Como, Karawara, Kensington, Manning, Salter Point, South Perth and Waterford.

We can:

• Help you manage during difficult times in your life and work with you to identify and avoid crisis situations
• Communicate with Government and community agencies on your behalf to protect the rights and needs of your family
• Help you in times of hardship with basic necessities such as food and clothing
• Assist you with housing issues and tenancies
• Provide moral support so that you can achieve healthy living and educational goals
• Give you information and refer you to specialised services to assist you further
• Help you to strengthen your personal and family relationships and community connections
• Link you to local South Perth Aboriginal Community group Moorditj Keila to participate in community events

We can also assist with:

• Food
• Housing
• Problems Parenting and Relationships
• Financial Counselling
• Eviction
• Clothing
• Social
• Family Violence
• Health
• Legal
• Some Household Goods and Furniture

Our Aboriginal Family Support Services is coordinated by Garry Gower. Garry was born and raised in Broome and is of Yawuru descent and Anglo-Eurasian heritage.

For more information Southcare can be contacted on 08 6117 3050