Helping Hand’s commitment to Reconciliation and creating culturally safe spaces for all who visit, work and live within our community has been strengthened through the recent renaming of a wing at our North Adelaide Residential Care Home.
On Wednesday 27 May 2026, coinciding with the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, the Frome Wing was officially renamed the Gladys Elphick MBE Wing.
The renaming followed information confirming that the name Frome is linked to actions that caused harm to Aboriginal people, a history that does not align with who we are as an organisation or the environment we are committed to creating across our communities.
Concerns were first raised by frontline staff and a dedicated project team, supported by many across and beyond the organisation, worked together through the many considerations involved in renaming the wing.
Throughout the process, cultural guidance was provided by Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis O’Brien and Senior Kaurna man Uncle Mickey O’Brien, helping to ensure the new name was chosen with care, meaning and cultural respect.
A special event was held to mark the renaming, bringing together residents, families and many of the staff involved in the project. Uncle Lewis O’Brien officially unveiled the new wing name and ceremonial signage, recognising the important role he and Uncle Mickey O’Brien played in supporting the organisation throughout the journey.
The wing has been renamed to honour the extraordinary life and legacy of Gladys Elphick (1904-1988), known to many in her community as Aunty Glad. A proud Kaurna, Narungga and Ngadjuri woman, she dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of South Australia’s Aboriginal community. As an infant, she was taken to the Point Pearce Aboriginal Mission, where she lived for the first 35 years of her life. We respectfully acknowledge her experience as a Stolen Generations survivor.
Despite receiving formal schooling only to Year 3, Aunty Glad went on to make a profound impact. She worked tirelessly to improve the health, wellbeing and rights of Aboriginal women, children and families, and played a key role in establishing important community programs, services and organisations.
In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1971 and named South Australian Aboriginal of the Year in 1984.
Renaming the wing is an important step in Helping Hand’s Reconciliation journey, reflecting the collective efforts of many staff across the organisation and our ongoing commitment to truth‑telling, cultural safety and inclusion.
It also acknowledges that every person’s life journey is unique and shapes their needs and expectations as they age, while reinforcing our focus on trauma-aware, healing-informed care, particularly for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers.
Photo (L-R): Uncle Lewis O’Brien – Kaurna Elder, Chris Stewart – Helping Hand Chief Executive and Uncle Mickey O’Brien – Senior Kaurna man.
