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.

Tony Zappia MP supports Helping Hand’s request for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

On Monday December 9, Mr Zappia joined staff and residents at the Mawson Lakes care home for high tea and to formally present them with the requested flags and a new national flag.

When preparing for this year’s Remembrance Day service, Natalie McCarthy, Acting Wellness Program Manager for Helping Hand, discovered there was no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags at Mawson Lakes care home. It was an omission she was determined to fix.

“I believed it was very important to obtain them,” she says. “There is an Aboriginal resident in the Mawson Lakes care home and plenty of staff who also wanted these flags available to include in cultural events.”

Mabel is a Kaurna elder who has been a significant figure in Australia as an Aboriginal rights activist. Her grandfather was an Anzac who died at war, and her father was born on 25 April 1915 (the first Anzac Day) and was named Anzac. The family is now up to five sons named Anzac, including Mabel’s grandson.

Natalie put her head together with Lifestyle Assistant Magda and decided to reach out to MP Tony Zappia’s office to request the flags. The response from his receptionist Anne was both immediate and positive.

“Anne was incredibly helpful and asked if we would like Tony to present the flags to the care home.  We discussed this offer with the residents, and it was agreed that we should put on a high tea for Mr Zappia, as well as family and friends to formalise the occasion.”

The occasion was attended by around 25 people. Mabel’s son John performed a beautiful Welcome to Country and Mr Zappia explained the significance of each flag.

The new flags will be proudly hung up and displayed around the care home during future events.

Helping Hand would like to thank Mr Zappia for his generosity and time.