Helping Hand offers home care services and in-home support to help older people stay independent, safe and connected at home across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Support can include domestic assistance, personal care, transport, nursing, allied health and social connection.
Helping Hand Retirement Living supports people who want to live independently in a lower-maintenance home while staying connected to a friendly community. Villages are located across South Australia and may suit people who are ready to downsize while keeping their independence.
Helping Hand provides 24-hour residential aged care in 11 care homes across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Residents are supported with personal care, nursing, meals, lifestyle activities and dementia support in a safe, welcoming environment.
Explore aged care careers, volunteering and student placements with Helping Hand, a South Australian not-for-profit supporting older people across home care, retirement living and residential care.
Helping Hand offers home care services and in-home support to help older people stay independent, safe and connected at home across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Support can include domestic assistance, personal care, transport, nursing, allied health and social connection.
Helping Hand Retirement Living supports people who want to live independently in a lower-maintenance home while staying connected to a friendly community. Villages are located across South Australia and may suit people who are ready to downsize while keeping their independence.
Helping Hand provides 24-hour residential aged care in 11 care homes across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Residents are supported with personal care, nursing, meals, lifestyle activities and dementia support in a safe, welcoming environment.
Explore aged care careers, volunteering and student placements with Helping Hand, a South Australian not-for-profit supporting older people across home care, retirement living and residential care.
Helping Hand offers home care services and in-home support to help older people stay independent, safe and connected at home across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Support can include domestic assistance, personal care, transport, nursing, allied health and social connection.
Helping Hand Retirement Living supports people who want to live independently in a lower-maintenance home while staying connected to a friendly community. Villages are located across South Australia and may suit people who are ready to downsize while keeping their independence.
Helping Hand provides 24-hour residential aged care in 11 care homes across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Residents are supported with personal care, nursing, meals, lifestyle activities and dementia support in a safe, welcoming environment.
Explore aged care careers, volunteering and student placements with Helping Hand, a South Australian not-for-profit supporting older people across home care, retirement living and residential care.
Welcome to the latest At Home Residential Edition.
Every Helping Hand Residential Care community has moments worth sharing. Our latest issue of At Home brings you closer to the people, places and experiences that make Helping Hand homes welcoming and inclusive places to live, connect and belong.
In this Winter issue, you’ll meet residents who continue to inspire us, celebrate the meaningful connections that bring our communities to life and discover the programs, events and initiatives supporting wellbeing across our homes in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
From heartwarming stories of friendship and belonging to updates from our communities and the passionate people who provide care and support, this edition celebrates what matters most – people, connection and a sense of community.
Home/There to Care Awards – 2026 Q2 Respect recipients
Our values of excellence, respect, compassion, and community shape the way we support our clients, work alongside one another and contribute to the communities we are part of every day. Through our quarterly There to Care awards, we recognise team members who bring these values to life through their actions and the positive difference they make to those around them.
The 2026 Q2 recipients featured below were recognised for bringing our respect value to life through the care, support and consideration they show residents, clients and each other every day. Their nomination quotes provide just a glimpse of the impact they have had on those around them.
Home/Strengthening regional care through student support and investment
Helping Hand’s commitment to supporting regional communities goes far beyond infrastructure. While we are dedicated to ensuring older people can age in place locally, we are equally focused on building a strong, skilled workforce that can support them now and into the future.
In 2026, Helping Hand has proudly sponsored two Adelaide University Whyalla Campus students through our Allied Health Study Support Grant. This one-off financial contribution helps to reduce financial barriers, so students can complete their studies and undertake placements, including with Helping Hand. This year’s Whyalla-based recipients are Matilda Dixon, Occupational Therapy student, and Ann Jins, Physiotherapy student.
Helping Hand’s Allied Health Manager, Helder Borges, recently attended the Adelaide University Whyalla Campus Student Acknowledgement Evening, where he presented both grants and celebrated the students’ achievements ahead of their upcoming placements.
L-R: Ann Jins, Physiotherapy student, Matilda Dixon, Occupational Therapy student and Helder Borges, Allied Health Manager at Helping Hand.
When asked how the funding would support her studies and what inspired her to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, Matilda said:
“The support from this grant will help me undertake my placement locally, as I live in Port Augusta and am passionate about giving back to regional communities. I chose to study Occupational Therapy due to personal experiences with family members living with dementia. Seeing firsthand how an Occupational Therapist supported them to live their best lives made me realise this is something I really wanted to be part of.”
Fellow recipient Ann also spoke about the impact of the grant and her motivation to study physiotherapy:
“Receiving this grant not only supports me to complete my degree, but also allows me to become more involved in my community since moving rurally, with the financial freedom to explore opportunities such as volunteering as a medic or first aid assistant,” she said. “My interest in physiotherapy comes from wanting to support people beyond a purely clinical setting. In my previous volunteer roles at Calvary Adelaide Hospital and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, I saw the benefit of building strong relationships between physiotherapists and their patients and gained insight into the many different settings where physiotherapists can make a difference.”
Investing in the next generation of skilled workers is vital, not only for the sustainability of the sector, but particularly for regional communities like Whyalla, where Helping Hand is the sole residential aged care provider. Maintaining a strong workforce in regional areas remains an industry-wide challenge, and one we are committed to addressing.
By supporting students like Matilda and Ann, Helping Hand is building a pipeline of future professionals who will play a vital role in helping older people to live well within the communities they call home.
Find out more about Helping Hand’s Allied Health services.
Home/There to Care Awards – 2026 Q2 Community recipients
Our values of excellence, respect, compassion, and community shape the way we support our clients, work alongside one another and contribute to the communities we are part of every day. Through our quarterly There to Care awards, we recognise team members who bring these values to life through their actions and the positive difference they make to those around them.
The 2026 Q2 recipients featured below were recognised for bringing our community value to life. Through their actions, they have helped create connections, foster a sense of belonging and strengthen the communities they are part of. Their nomination quotes provide just a glimpse of the impact they have had on those around them.
Home/North Adelaide Wing Renamed in Honour of Gladys Elphick MBE
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.
The award recognises our intergenerational program with neighbouring Gleeson College, launched in 2024, which brings together residents and students to build meaningful, genuine connections.
For residents the program provides the opportunity to share their life experiences and common interests. For students, it fosters empathy, confidence and a deeper understanding of older people.
We are incredibly proud of the Golden Grove team for creating a program that goes beyond clinical care, to further support the overall wellbeing of residents.
What began as a pilot has now evolved into an ongoing program, welcoming a third student intake in 2026. It has seen many students continue to visit Golden Grove residents in their own time to maintain the connections formed, reflecting the program’s lasting impact.
Image above, (back, left to right): Sarah McLoughlin, Gleeson College Teacher; Rachel Carson, Lifestyle Coordinator – Helping Hand Golden Grove and Melinda Richardson, Executive Manager Residential Services – Helping Hand. Front (left to right): Madeline Cooke, Gleeson College Teacher; Tanya McIver, Group Manager Residential Services – Helping Hand; Upasana Singh, Residential Services Manager – Helping Hand Golden Grove and Madeleine Laylock, Gleeson College Teacher.
Watch the full nomination video featuring residents, students and Helping Hand staff here:
Home/There to Care Awards – 2026 Q1 recipients announced
The latest There To Care Awards recipients have been announced! The awards, which focus on celebrating our values of excellence, respect, compassion and community, help us to celebrate the amazing work our people do every day.
Harry, Exercise Physiology Manager
Harry made the transition into aged care in late 2023 after working in a private practice and hospital setting. He has not looked back, particularly enjoying providing personalised care within client’s homes.
His career growth has gone from strength to strength, in particular stepping into a leadership role and undertaking out of hours training to familiarise himself with new systems.
The There to Care Awards recognises Hotel Services Assistant and café worker Carmel for creating a warm, welcoming environment and consistently providing excellent customer service that goes above and beyond at Mawson Lakes.
While her role involves providing hotel services and serving meals, Carmel believes the most vital part of her work is building genuine connections with residents.
Caring for others isn’t just a job for Jyoti, it’s at the heart of who she is. Ensuring residents are happy and comfortable has become her lifelong mission.
Providing such personalised care gives families peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are in safe hands.
Over the past seven and a half years, Lisa has shown remarkable versatility starting in servery and house services before becoming a skilled cook and transitioning into utilities.
While her current role was only supposed to be as a temporary support, it has turned into a full-time permanent position at Golden Grove and she couldn’t be happier.
Enes has been part of Helping Hand for 24 years, beginning her journey as a placement student.
“I never intended to stay but I loved it so much. It’s really rewarding and I‘ve met some amazing people,” she says. “The whole team is amazing and it’s always a real team effort.”
Jackie has been recognised for her attention to detail and her ability to add that extra touch of love into all she does.
Through her work, it’s the genuine warmth she pours into every dish, in particular her desserts and sweets, that serves as her way of showing kindness towards residents.
With six years of experience in aged care, Linna has spent over four of those years dedicated to the Memory Support Unit. Recently, she has stepped into the role of team leader always guiding staff in a respectful way and greeting residents with a smile.
“I feel honoured to be part of the family and care for residents in their final chapters along their life’s journey,” she says.
Caring is embedded in Leema, having previously worked as a nurse in India before moving to Australia in 2011.
Since joining Helping Hand in 2016, she has demonstrated impressive versatility, most recently stepping into a four-month contract as a Business Systems Analyst to support staff and oversee the implementation of new systems, all while continuing to pick up shifts to care for residents.
Only two years out of university, Dermott splits his time between home-based client visits and Helping Hand’s Golden Grove Wellbeing Centre. His path to aged care started from his love of helping others.
“I’ve always loved sport and when I was younger I really wanted to work in sports rehabilitation,” he says.
Dedication to making therapy fun is the reason Therapy Assistant, Aleks, has been recognised in Helping Hand’s There to Care Awards.
Aleks stepped into this role six years ago after beginning her career as a care worker at Helping Hand. “I’m such a people person. I’ve always enjoyed helping people, and in aged care you can make a real difference in residents’ everyday lives.”
To mark the start of our $22M redevelopment of Yeltana and Copperhouse Court Residential Care Homes, Helping Hand held a milestone event at Yeltana on Thursday 5 March 2026. Respected local Barngarla elder Yvonne Abdulla opened the event with a traditional Welcome to Country, with residents, families and community members attending.
Whyalla is experiencing a high demand for aged care, and this development will ensure that more residents have access to quality care locally. The project includes the addition of eight new residential care rooms, six at Copperhouse Court and two at Yeltana.
Beyond the new rooms the development also includes upgraded resident rooms and amenities, new flexible spaces for dining and activities as well as enhanced outdoor areas. The long-term benefits of this upgrade are immense as Helping Hand remains the only residential care provider in Whyalla and one of the biggest employers.
Mr Chris Stewart, Helping Hand’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “After much consideration and careful planning, we are delighted to see this redevelopment get underway. Thanks to the support of the Australian government, we are expanding our services and ensuring that more Whyalla residents can age in place, close to their family and community.”
Helping Hand has appointed Kennett Builders to deliver the project, having worked successfully with them on previous regional developments in Jamestown and Port Pirie. Kennett Builders has appointed a local site manager, Ben Butler.
General Manager of Kennett Builders, Anthony Carbone said, “We’re committed to maximising local trade involvement on this project, creating genuine opportunities for businesses in Whyalla and across the Eyre Peninsula. Strong local partnerships are critical to the success of this development. To date, 25 per cent of engaged trades are registered in Whyalla, rising to almost 40 per cent when including the broader Eyre Peninsula region.”
Given the scale of these improvements, works at Yeltana and Copperhouse Court will run consecutively to allow project completion as efficiently as possible. Copperhouse Court is expected to be completed by August 2026, with the Yeltana redevelopment continuing for approximately two years.
Photo (L-R): Phill Stone – Mayor of Whyalla City Council, Chris Stewart – Helping Hand Chief Executive Officer, Samantha Giorgatzis – Helping Hand Executive Manager People, Strategy & Engagement, James Kennett – Director Kennett Builders, Eddie Hughes – MP State Member for Giles
Home/Celebrating International Mother Language Day
21 February is International Mother Language Day, a reminder that language is more than words. It carries culture, identity, history and belonging.
At Helping Hand, our residents and clients speak more than 20 languages, and our staff speak nearly 60. Every language represents a lifetime of stories, traditions and memories. That richness shapes the way we deliver care every day. When someone can express themselves in their first language, especially in later life, it builds trust, dignity and connection.
International Mother Language Day highlights the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting inclusion. In aged care, this matters deeply. Communication is central to person-centred care. Understanding someone’s language helps us understand their story. For many older people, their first language is the language of comfort. It’s the language of childhood, family and home. Being able to speak and be understood in that language helps people feel safe, respected and truly known.
International Mother Language Day reminds us that diversity is something to value and protect. We’re proud to be recognised as an Inclusive Employer by Diversity Council Australia, reflecting our commitment to inclusion for our residents, clients, families and staff.
We celebrate every language spoken across our community, and the connections they create. To our team members who bring their languages, cultures and lived experiences to work each day: thank you. You strengthen our organisation and enrich the lives of the people we support.
Home/Helping Hand Recognised as an Inclusive Employer for Second Year in a Row
We are proud to announce that Helping Hand has once again been recognised by Diversity Council Australia as an Inclusive Employer for 2025-2026. This marks our second consecutive year receiving this recognition and reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a workplace where everyone is valued, respected and supported to thrive.
At Helping Hand, we believe diversity and inclusion are two of our greatest strengths. Our workforce represents team members from 74 cultural backgrounds, who speak 57 different languages, and come from 46 countries. This rich diversity enables us to provide culturally sensitive care and foster a respectful, supportive environment for residents, clients, staff and volunteers.
This achievement is based on insights from more than 700 team members who participated in the DCA survey, sharing their experiences of inclusion, respect, and belonging. Their voices help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can continue to improve.
Chris Stewart, Chief Executive Officer at Helping Hand said,
“Helping Hand is proud to be recognised by the Diversity Council Australia as an Inclusive Employer for 2025–2026, for the second consecutive year. This recognition reflects the culture our people shape every day, grounded in our values of excellence, respect, compassion and community. The survey insights will directly inform our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, guiding how we strengthen inclusion across our organisation.”
Below, you’ll find a detailed infographic highlighting our key survey findings. They provide a visual snapshot of what the data tells us about diversity and inclusion at Helping Hand, both of which remain core strengths and priorities of our workplace culture.
