The Salvation Army Northern Territory
Disclaimer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website may contain images, videos and voices of deceased persons.
Are you sleeping rough and need a safe place to stay? Are you experiencing family and domestic violence? Are alcohol and drugs making your life too hard? Do you need someone to talk to? The Salvos are here for you, with services throughout the Northern Territory including Darwin, Berrimah, Katherine and Alice Springs.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters throughout Australia. We pay our respect to Elders and acknowledge their continuing relationship to this land and the ongoing living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. We also acknowledge future aspirations of all First Nations peoples. Through respectful relationships we will work for the mutual flourishing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. We commit ourselves in prayer and practice to this land of Australia and its people, seeking reconciliation, unity and equity.
Indigenous support services
The Salvation Army is committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We want to support communities, families and individuals to experience safety, justice, equity and freedom.
Our various Indigenous Australian support services throughout the Northern Territory include:
- Homelessness and housing services
- Family and domestic violence support and safe house
- Drug and alcohol support programs
- Community centres for places of meeting
Select an area of service and how they support Indigenous communities, families and individuals.
Indigenous homelessness and housing
If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, we can help you. Homelessness includes whether you are sleeping rough, in your car, living in overcrowded housing or in an inappropriate dwelling.
Red Shield House 49
Located in the Darwin area, House 49 offers safe accommodation to singles and couples, aged over 25, for up to 12 months. A case manager will support you with your needs and goals, help with finding longer-term housing and provide referrals to other services, as needed.
We also have an outreach service for people at risk of homelessness and can provide emergency financial relief.
The Sunrise Centre
The Sunrise Centre in Berrimah offers short-stay accommodation of three months to singles aged 18 or over. During your stay at The Sunrise Centre, a caseworker will work with you to find long-term accommodation, help you apply for government income support, and equip you with appropriate knowledge and resources to achieve independence.
Homelessness support for Indigenous families
The Salvation Army offers transitional housing for families in Alice Springs and Darwin through our Towards Independence programs. This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family support service helps families move from crisis housing to independent living in their community.
Accommodation and support for men
The Todd Street Men’s Program in Alice Springs provides accommodation to men over 18 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We offer independent living units and help to equip participants with the skills needed to enhance their quality of life.
Indigenous family and domestic violence service
If you are experiencing family and domestic violence and need a safe refuge, please get in touch with us. Catherine Booth House in Darwin offers crisis accommodation to women of all cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women affected by family violence.
We offer support and advocacy to help women regain their independence and confidence.
Our caseworkers are also advocating to raise awareness of the impact of domestic and family violence in Indigenous communities, so more women can find safety and freedom.
Indigenous alcohol and other drugs recovery services
The Sunrise Centre
The Sunrise Centre in Berrimah supports Indigenous Australians experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug issues. If alcohol or drugs are making your life difficult, or affecting people around you, we are here to help.
The Sunrise Centre, also known as Top End AOD services is located on Larrakia lands in Berrimah. The service provides a 12-week voluntary residential rehabilitation and day program for single people over 18 wanting to address problematic substance use.
The Sunrise Centre has 25 bedrooms, each with their own ensuite, and the fees for the service include accommodation, utilities, food, programs and activities. The Foundation Program provides psycho-educational groups and opportunities for participants to improve their health and wellbeing through individual treatment plans using the strength-based models. The program also allows participants to further strengthen their connection to community and provides opportunities to engage in healthy social activities, onsite and offsite.
Each participant has a case manager who provides support and service coordination in a holistic manner, plus, participants have access to an onsite psychologist. Located at the centre is a gym, a swimming pool, basketball court, yarning circle, art room, pool table, table tennis table, and musical and sporting equipment. Our onsite chaplain facilitates reflections and spiritual awareness, individual and family support, and participants wishing to attend church.
Red Dust Partnership Program
The Salvation Army has partnered with a community organisation called Red Dust to deliver an intergenerational alcohol and other drugs program on Arrernte lands in Alice Springs for men 18 years and over. The partnership aims to increase engagement and participation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Alice Springs, for better outcomes.
This non-residential program is delivered by facilitators in the form of psycho-educational groups, individual and group therapy sessions called ‘yarns’, vocational training workshops and bush camps. The facilitators are local, initiated Aboriginal men who are active and positive community role models.
Please contact 0438 094 944 for more information.
Other Indigenous support and services in the Northern Territory
The Salvation Army operates two community centres that invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and other members of the community from all backgrounds, to drop in and find a safe place of meeting. Each centre exists to meet the needs and interests of those who gather there.
The Waterhole in Alice Springs hosts art workshops, provides comfortable sofas for friendly connection and yarning, as well as offers basic facilities such as showers and washing machines.
The Salvos Hub in Katherine has various activities on offer including art and creative space, basic facilities, and a drop-in community area with access to local agencies and support.
The Flying Padre – a ministry to Northern Territory
The Flying Padre is a ministry of The Salvation Army to people living in isolated areas of the Northern Territory and top end of Western Australia. Assistance may be a friendly face and a listening ear with our Salvo chaplain, or someone to talk to about the Bible and Christian faith. Our chaplains also conduct weddings, funerals and dedications.