UnitingSA
since 1919

UnitingSA for more than 100 years

• Our past.

  Our organisation started from humble beginnings on 8 April 1919, when the Methodist Church formed the Port Adelaide Central Methodist Mission.

  The Port Adelaide Central Mission sought to respond to the material and spiritual needs of the people amid a devastating worldwide influenza outbreak and the aftermath of the First World War. Soaring unemployment, chronic illness and poverty plagued the Port and within just a few years the Mission was supporting 80 local families with material aid such as food, clothing, blankets, firewood and furniture.

  The Mission provided a range of other practical support, linking families with government rations, counselling the sick and those in need of solace, building vital community infrastructure, and helping with family budgeting.

  As demand grew, so too did our organisation and in 2003 the Mission became UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide. Expansion continued in the following years with people accessing our services from right across South Australia. In 2017, this led us to change our name to UnitingSA.

• Here and now.

  Today, UnitingSA delivers services to individuals and communities from more than 30 locations across regional and metropolitan South Australia. Each year, our team of over 1,000 staff and volunteers touches the lives of more than 12,000 people through the delivery of programs across aged care, housing, community welfare, disability, mental health, and employment.

  • We help people who are seeking a home to find accommodation.
  • We support people with mental health issues to improve their health and wellbeing.
  • We help children and families thrive, and work with young people to help them connect with community and return to learning.
  • We support people seeking employment to secure training opportunities and jobs.
  • As an NDIS provider, we help people to navigate the changing disability support system.
  • And, each year, we provide over 3,000 older people with flexible care and accommodation options to ensure they lead a happy, healthy and connected life.

• The future.

  As we look to the future, we will continue to expand and adapt our service profile in response to changing community needs. From our already broad service footprint across South Australia, we will build new programs to support people whose voices are marginalised and needs unrepresented.

  While we cannot predict the future, housing security, access to mental health services and quality aged care will likely be among our top priorities moving forward. We will go where we are needed most, and deliver quality services with integrity to address unmet need.

  We will advocate for communities who do not have access to the resources or support they need to participate vibrantly in our community. Through it all our focus remains on realising our vision for a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.