A colourful and welcoming space brimful of toys, books and friendly faces will greet clients of Lutheran Care’s newest regional program, Children’s Contact Service.
Based in Nuriootpa, the Children’s Contact Service will cater for families in the Barossa Valley, Mid North and Yorke Peninsula areas.
The service provides a safe and neutral place for parents or family members to stay connected to their children during and following separation. It is now open Monday to Friday and accepting clients. There is currently no waitlist.
The service was launched with an Open Day on 21 February, attracting about 60 people. The Open Day was an opportunity for the community to find out about the new service, meet the team, and have a tour of the refurbished Gersch House, from which the service will run.
Visitors could also tour Schild House – which is Lutheran Care’s main site in Nuriootpa, just adjacent to Gersch House – and find out about the other services Lutheran Care offers locally.
Quenten Agius performed a Ngadjuri Welcome and Smoking Ceremony, and Pastor Adrian Kitson from St Petri Lutheran Church gave a Blessing of the building.
Other special guests included Barossa Mayor Michael Lange and Fiona Chrisby, representing The Hon Tony Piccolo and Lutheran Care’s Executive Manager Community Services Susan Richards, who welcomed everyone on behalf of the organisation.
Lutheran Care Barossa Manager, Helen Walker, says it was wonderful to welcome many local supporters and stakeholders on the day, including Feros Care, Foodbank SA, Barossa Council, Child & Family Health, Centacare, Elsie Ey Children’s Centre, Maxima Employment Centre, TAFE SA, SAPOL, Barossa Mental Health, Kapunda Uniting Care, Carers SA, Northern Community Legal Service, Kiwanis Barossa, Rudall & Rudall Lawyers and Relationships Australia SA.
Helen thanks Kerryleigh Dudley from Crafty Cooks Catering for providing lunch and Vicky from People V’s Coffee for providing everyone with “much needed coffee”.
For further information, please see www.lutherancare.org.au/ccs