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.

We became known as Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc. in 1994, and in 1998 were named NAIDOC Organisation of the Year in South Australia.

The organisation is community controlled - managed by an all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board whose members are chosen by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

'Community control' underpins the delivery of culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It 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.

Aunty Gladys Elphick

Nunkuwarrin Yunti has grown from a welfare agency with three employees to a multi-faceted organisation with over 70 staff who delivers a diverse range of health care and community support services.

Our first health programme was established with the aid of donations, a small amount of government funding and the services of an empathetic and dedicated doctor.

We then accommodated several other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programmes including the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc., National Aboriginal Congress, Aboriginal Hostels Ltd, Trachoma and Eye Health Programme, WOMA, Aboriginal Housing Board, Aboriginal Home Care, and Kumangka Aboriginal Youth Service. In addition, we assisted with the establishment of the Elders Village