Proposed Community Hub for Inner South of Adelaide
PROPOSAL
A purpose-built Community Hub is proposed for the Inner South of Adelaide, inclusive of indoor and outdoor community connection spaces, co-located community services, a Food Hub, and potential of community housing on upper level/s of the build.
Once complete, an estimated 50,000+ community member visits per year would be supported, plus spaces for 20+ community organisations to provide support and services for this fast-growing region. Community members accessing the hub would benefit from a multitude of holistic supports onsite, in a warm, welcoming and safe community space.
NEED AND OPPORTUNITY
There is a gap in the Inner South for people to conveniently access support, without requiring transportation to the Outer South or City. MarionLIFE Community Services is proposing a new community hub be built to meet this need. Currently MarionLIFE’s small centre is at capacity as it assists over 3,500 people through our Emergency Relief service, and a further 12,000 visitors across other courses and community-led programs offered onsite.
Additionally, we currently lease space to other likeminded community organisations including: Australian Refugee Association – Settlement Support; Life Without Barriers – Drug and Alcohol Counselling; Uniting Communities – Financial Counselling; Women’s Legal Service SA – Legal Support.
There is demand from services to co-locate in safe & welcoming community spaces. In recent years this demand is growing, with increasing requests from other community groups to co-locate with MarionLIFE at our small centre, highlighting the need for a Community Hub for the Inner South.
Masterplan and Design Ethos
Concept drawings are available by request.
FUNDING
The total proposed project involves acquiring the land, and funding for the consultation, planning, design and build phases.
The project budget and funding requests have been provided to our local State MPs for Elder and Gibson, our Federal MP for Boothby, and also to Philanthropic funds. The project brief has also been provided to the City of Marion. Staged and part-funding is sought from Local Council, State Government and Federal Government for a collaborative approach to support the positive community outcomes for Southern Adelaide residents. We are pleased to have secured funding from the SA State Government in the 2024-25 SA State Budget, more information is available here https://www.statebudget.sa.gov.au/our-budget/supporting-communities.
As part of the funding mix for the project, further Non-Government / Philanthropic funding is also welcomed. The project proposal can be provided on request to groups interested in providing funding towards this project.
WHO IS MARIONLIFE
MarionLIFE Community Services Inc. is a not-for-profit community organisation that strives to provide meaningful, flexible and responsive care and support to individuals and families in need.
MarionLIFE has been serving Adelaide’s Inner South from the same location on Marion Road in Mitchell Park since 1985, and is a registered charity Accredited at the Certificate Level of the Australian Service Excellence Standards.
COMMUNITY-LED AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
MarionLIFE’s ethos is to work from a place of community strengths rather than community needs. We seek to uncover and utilise the strengths within the local community as a means for sustainable development. MarionLIFE sees it as vital for a funded Community Hub to be co-designed with local community members.
MarionLIFE works collaboratively with many services across the Southern Adelaide region – including housing/homelessness, domestic violence, mental health, council, children’s centres, schools, settlement support services, Centrelink, Financial Counsellors and others.
The following organisations have provided written in-principle support and/or interest in ongoing or ad hoc co-locating: Foodbank SA, Australian Refugee Association, Uniting Communities, Junction Australia, UnitingCare Wesley Bowden, Lutheran Care, Life Without Barriers, and Community Centres SA. The collective expertise of these organisations provides a collaborative approach to effectively provide for the project deliverables and the desired high quality community outcomes.
Media Contact: 8277 0304 or Click Here to send an email.
We’d love your feedback – let us know what you think via Click Here to email us.
We also invite you to contact the City of Marion, State MP for Elder Nadia Clancy, State MP for Gibson Sarah Andrews, and Federal MP for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost to express your thoughts about this Proposal.