Welcome to Centacare

Centacare Catholic Family Services in the Port Pirie Diocese was established in 1995 after being nominated and accepted as a member of Centacare Australia. It was officially opened by Bishop de Campo in 1996. Initially it was established in Whyalla due to the work of the then Parish Priest of St. Teresa’s Parish, Father Eugene Hurley and Ms Pauline Connelly, the first Director of Centacare. The Statement of Purpose demonstrates that Centacare is focused on upholding the Catholic Church’s belief in the dignity of each person and to increase their wellbeing in their local communities through offering a professional service.

The service initially focused on providing general counselling and the first government grant received was for Gambling Rehabiliation Services. As this funding was based on a region it was not long before outreach work commenced in Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy.

In 1996 an office was established in Ceduna, followed by Port Lincoln in 1998, Wudinna and Port Pirie in 2001 and Port Augusta in 2002. We have had the Whyalla Office at Samaritan House since 1996. Community House drop in centre was opened in Whyalla in 2002.

Today Centacare consists of over 80 paid and 10 volunteer staff deployed across Western and Northern South Australia, governed by a Board of Directors with expertise in accounting, non-government services, counselling, community education and social inclusion. It is one of the leading not-for-profit agencies providing family and community services across regional, rural, and remote South Australia (SA). Covering the Yorke Peninsula and Lower North, Far North, Central Eyre Peninsula and West Coast regions, it provides services across much of the State. We are the only non-government organisation in South Australia operating counselling, conciliation and mediation services in all these areas and in 2007 established a Family Relationship Centre in Port Augusta which also offers outreach to Port Pirie, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Roxby Downs.

Centacare collaborates extensively with Government and non-government agencies, service provider networks, clients and community groups to ensure the ongoing relevance of our services and the effectiveness of the broader human service system. We work closely in this community with agencies such as Uniting Care Wesley Country SA, Boystown, Families SA, Centre for Regional Engagement and many other agencies. Centacare Catholic Family Services Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie sees itself as a key organisation working with and assisting people throughout much of rural South Australia.