Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre The Hon. T.T. NGO Legislative Council Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Can the minister tell the council about the new Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing centre opening by the end of 2025 in Adelaide? The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Special Minister of State Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:32): I thank the Hon. Tung Ngo for his question and his very longstanding interest in the lives of Aboriginal people. The establishment of the new Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing centre in Adelaide is a significant step forward towards better health and wellbeing for Aboriginal people and communities. The centre, jointly funded by the state and federal governments under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, will open its doors with an interim service by the end of this year, I am informed. Located in the Adelaide CBD, the centre will coordinate mental health support and wellbeing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children across South Australia, providing holistic, culturally safe and appropriate care. For too long many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have faced barriers in accessing the health care they need. We know that mental health and wellbeing are deeply connected to family, culture and community. This centre will provide critical services that embrace these connections, ensuring Aboriginal people can access support services grounded in their history and strength. The centre was developed following extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities and the South Australian mental health sector, ensuring that culturally safe and appropriate care, including traditional healing methods, are accessible in order to support the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations people. I would like to thank everyone from state and federal governments who have worked hard to make this centre a reality and look forward to it providing these sorts of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for many years to come.