Community and Learning

ac.care's Community Centres provide visitors with a welcoming, safe and friendly environment to participate in adult learning opportunities, receive support when experiencing hardships and gain new skills to achieve their life goals.

The Millicent and Mount Gambier Community Centres are multi-function centres providing a range of ac.care services including educational and recreational activities, emergency relief, family support, information about other forms of assistance and life skills training. Other organisations also use the room hire facilities of the centres to run their outreach programs.

The Millicent Community Centre is a Services Australia Agent and also a Service SA rural agent and Service Agent.

Community Connections


Social connections mean better quality of life


Community Connections supports people to increase their independence in the home and build stronger social and community connections. Strong social connections can improve quality of life and provide better health outcomes.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates around one in ten people experience social isolation and that it has a negative effect on their mental and physical health and their ability to participate in the community.

Who is eligible for Community Connections?

The program is available for South Australians aged 18 to 64 - and 18 to 49 for Aboriginal people - who are not eligible for Federal Government programs such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and My Aged Care.

Priority will be given to:

  • Aboriginal people
  • People from diverse cultures
  • Unpaid carers
  • People who are financially disadvantaged
  • People living in disadvantaged locations and communities.

How does Community Connections work?

Community Connections Partners across South Australia provide short-term support for up to 12 weeks or connect you with longer term support if required.

This may include helping you to take part in community activities, find new support groups or receive extra help at home.

Contacting a partner:

Talk to a Community Connections Partner about how the program can help you reach your goals.
Your local representative can support you to connect with the most appropriate Community Connections Partner.

Limestone Coast: (08) 7725 3000
Riverland: (08) 8580 5300
Murraylands: (08) 8531 4900

Interested in Community Connections? Let us know:

Emergency and Relief
Millicent Community Centre
Mount Gambier Community Centre

Recluse to Employment

26 year old Ms E was in regular contact with our emergency accommodation team who suggested that she may like to enrol in our Adult Community Education courses, as Ms E had become a recluse and very rarely left her home. She attended our cooking class on a regular basis and it was here that she offered to help out at the Centre. It was not long before she was undertaking regular administration duties on the front reception as an ac.care volunteer. Ms E then attended our 6 week Employment Pathways course which concentrated on employability skills and personal presentation.

Ms E is no longer a volunteer with ac.care, as she has been offered independent employment.

Help to adjust

Ms N had had a successful career as a nurse, but now suffers from health issues that prevented her from continuing in her profession. She needed some help adjusting to a lower income and a different lifestyle. Apart from financial counselling and participating in the Money Minded course, Ms N also enjoyed computing and art classes. This is her story in her own words:

“I was in a state of contemplating suicide as I thought there was no way out of this situation that I found myself in. No-one seemed to understand that I was grieving for my loss of income, my profession, and my self esteem. I came to ac.care for some financial counselling and found there a very caring and professional team. They helped me see that this was not my fault, helped me negotiate with my creditors, helped me with financial literacy with the Money Minded Course and for the first time I understood my own finances, and I was made very welcome there. I know that I can come back for a chat and a cup of coffee at any time. They are a great bunch of lovely people.”