Connecting with communities across South Australia
Pictured (left to right): Isaiah, Alex (Senior Community Development Officer), Tyson, skilled volunteer Carmen and Terrel.
So far in 2026, we’ve met with 11 community partners in South Australia - a significant effort as we continue to establish our presence in the state.
Senior Community Development Officer Alex, has been out on Country, forging new relationships and supporting our existing community partners.
From Kangaroo Island to metropolitan areas, these visits highlight the strength, innovation, and ambition within communities across the state.
Karta Pintingga (Kangaroo Island) - long-term community vision
Alex was invited to Kangaroo Island, known by its First Nations name Karta Pintingga, meaning “Island of the dead.” This culturally significant place has deep connections to the Ramindjeri, Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Nharangga and Barngalla nations, who are believed to have inhabited the area thousands of years ago before rising sea levels separated the island from mainland South Australia.
During the visit, Alex met with new community partners Jake and Chris, two Aboriginal men born and raised on Kangaroo Island and owners of Riverbend KI. After two years of planning, they are now ready to move forward with a very big and exciting housing project, and invited Community First Development to work alongside them.
The project aims to help address infrastructure challenges on the island, particularly following the devastating 2019–2020 bushfires that significantly impacted housing and rebuilding efforts. Encouragingly, the project has already received strong support from the local community through consultation and planning.
Volunteer engineer David, joined the site visit, working closely with stakeholders to map out infrastructure needs including sewage, power, water, roads and potential building locations. The team also visited the permanent water source along the Cygnet River, a central feature of the proposed development area.
This project is still in its early stages, and we’re excited to see where this partnership leads.
Beyond Kangaroo Island, Alex has also been meeting with both current and new community partners across South Australia. These engagements have opened the door to several potential projects planned for 2026, including housing developments, website and marketing support, feasibility studies, grant writing, and business mentoring.
Supporting new community-led ideas
Among the new connections is YAPI Services, run by brothers Tyson, Isaiah and Terrel. Their work focuses on culturally safe mentoring and disability support, building resilience and confidence within community. Community First Development has been invited to support them with business development, including identifying funding opportunities and grant applications. Local volunteer Emma, has been matched to the project, and initial conversations are already underway.
Alex also met with a community member who is planning a mini-series to share the history of his family and his personal journey. With existing support from ICTV, NITV and Screen Australia, we have been invited to assist with film editing and production guidance to bring the vision to life.
Spending time in communities is at the heart of our approach. These visits create opportunities to listen, build trust and understand what matters most to people locally.
We look forward to sharing updates as continue to grow partnerships across South Australia and around other parts of the country.