Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia was initiated in the 1960s by the late Mrs Gladys Elphick, who founded the Council of Aboriginal Women of SA, one of the first Aboriginal organisations in South Australia.
First incorporated in 1971, Nunkuwarrin Yunti has evolved from the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, the Aboriginal Community Centre of South Australia, and the Aboriginal Community Recreation and Health Services Centre of South Australia.
The organisation is community controlled - governed by an all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board. 'Community control' underpins the delivery of culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti has grown from a welfare agency with three employees to a multi-faceted organisation with over 100 staff who delivers a diverse range of health care and community support services and is a registered training organisation.
Services Offered
Nunkuwarrin Yunti Counselling Services are offered at Wakefield St, Christies Beach and Elizabeth Downs offices. They are free and confidential.
What does counselling mean?
Counselling is like yarning. It means talking about what troubles you and how you would like your life to be different.
Counselling can be hard because it means turning up for appointments, talking about bad stuff, and trying new ways of coping.
It can also be fun, building on your strengths and confidence. If you stick with it, it can change your life.
Why go to counselling?
Aboriginal people have done it tough. We are strong and proud, but sometimes we need healing.
Some of us have problems with family or with our lives. Some have mental illnesses like depression, trauma, or anxiety. Some families with young children need help.
There are lots of ways of healing in Country and culture. Aboriginal people have always yarned up and told our story. Counselling is like yarning up. It is one way of healing.
Who can come to counselling?
Any member of an Aboriginal family, including Elders, members of the Stolen Generations, families, adults, couples, young people, and children.
What is social and emotional wellbeing?
People can have problems in their life that make them feel bad. This can be problems with family, with drugs and alcohol, with difficult decisions, with sexuality or identity, or with recovering from violence or trauma.
Counselling can help people find their own solutions to problems in their lives.
What is mental illness?
Mental illness can mean: -Trouble sleeping or eating. -Can’t concentrate. -Feeling sad or worried all the time. -No energy. -Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself.
Mental health counsellors can treat mental illnesses like depression anxiety or trauma. Treatment may cure the illness or it may help you move forward on your healing journey.
Referrals can be made internally to other Nunkuwarrin Yunti programs for additional supports such as: -Harm Minimisation Team (HMT) for people with drug and alcohol problems wanting casework support and information -Our Women and Children Family Health for pregnancy care, child health checks and immunisation -Social Health case work to provide practical support for people managing life challenges around housing, child care, managing bills and other difficult things in life. -Many, many other services available at Nunkuwarrin Yunti clinics
Fees and Payment
All services are free of charge.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
