Often times people visiting Adelaide from remote communities either sleep rough in parklands or stay with relatives in what are already overcrowded houses. This is not only a difficulty in Adelaide but also in major country centres.

In 2003 and 2005, the State Government established transitional accommodation centres for homeless and transient Aboriginal people in Port Augusta and Ceduna. Both of these centres provide Aboriginal people - predominantly from the APY Lands - with a safe place to sleep, two meals a day, access to showers and laundry facilities and linkages to other support services.People staying at these centres contribute to the cost of their accommodation and services.

In recent months, the Moderator, along with other Uniting Church leaders and agencies, has urged the State and Federal Governments to press on with this important work as part of what the South Australian Government has dubbed its “Safe Tracks” program.

While both levels of government recognise the need to improve housing and accommodation options for Aboriginal people in and from remote communities, sufficient funding for the proposed centres in Adelaide and Coober Pedy has still not been allocated.

The Uniting Church plans to continue its advocacy on behalf of people from remote Aboriginal communities. For more information on this work or to express your support or desire to be involved, contact Rev Don Catford: phone 8236 4253 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Read the full story in New Times or: http://sa.uca.org.au/news/72-uniting-church-sa/1358-safetracks-for-aborigines.html