Junction supports over 10,000 South Australians each year, helping people not just survive but thrive. Guided by their ethos, Freedom to Thrive, the organisation works to create long-term, positive change for individuals and communities across 30 local government areas, primarily on Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri country.
Through their social housing program, Junction provides safe, stable homes for nearly 4,500 people, alongside affordable housing options that help strengthen communities. Their place-based approach fosters empowerment and resilience, while their trauma-informed services in child protection, including residential, family, and foster care placements, provide children, families, and carers with nurturing connections and pathways to adulthood. Nearly 400 staff, students, and volunteers are part of Junction’s team, working across Parkside, Marion, Goolwa, Hackham, and Kangaroo Island.
“For us, it’s never just about housing or services, it’s about building communities where people feel safe, valued and able to thrive,” says Junction's Alisa Willis – Head of Service Impact.
Reconciliation is seen by Junction as everybody’s business. “We acknowledge the ongoing impact of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and we know these injustices still shape people’s lives today,” they explain. “That makes reconciliation not just important to us, but essential to the work we do.”
This commitment has gathered real momentum in recent years, shaped by a deeper understanding of what allyship means in practice. From policy changes to everyday actions, Junction’s focus is embedding cultural safety into every layer of its systems, relationships, and service delivery.
“Our progress has been guided by meaningful relationships with Aboriginal-led organisations, Elders, and those with lived experience,” Willis says. “Their wisdom and their challenges to our thinking keep us accountable and help us grow.”
That’s why being a Sponsor of the 2025 Reconciliation SA Gala holds special meaning for Junction. “Reconciliation SA plays such a vital role in truth-telling, equity, and unity,” they note. “The Gala reminds us that relationships are at the heart of lasting change.”
The Gala’s theme:Together Towards Tomorrow, strongly resonates with Junction’s values. “Reconciliation is a shared responsibility. The theme is a beautiful reminder that we need to act together, today, to create change that lasts for generations.”
As the organisation concludes its second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, Junction is now preparing to step into the Stretch stage of its journey. This phase is about transformation. “We’re co-creating a unifying statement of allyship with our staff, Aboriginal partners, and people with lived experience,” Willis explains. “And importantly, we’re shifting responsibility back to our teams on the ground, because reconciliation needs to live in the everyday; not just at the leadership table.”
Events like the Reconciliation SA Gala provide a powerful opportunity to connect. “Change doesn’t only happen through policy, it happens through people, through stories, and through moments of celebration. The Gala honours that,” they say.
One proud milestone for Junction has been seeing reconciliation work rise up from the grassroots. A statement of allyship recently emerged from the Child and Youth Services team, directly from residential care homes. “It was organic, heartfelt, and showed how deeply reconciliation resonates with our people,” Willis reflects. “Moments like that remind us this work is alive across the whole organisation.”
Other achievements include ensuring 100% of staff attend in-person cultural training within their first 12 months, and hosting the third consecutive NAIDOC community celebration in 2024, which saw over 400 people register to attend. “It was one of the biggest events in our calendar; a vibrant and inclusive celebration of culture, connection, and community.”
Partnerships with Aboriginal organisations remain central to Junction’s work. Collaborations with the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services, KWY, Aboriginal Urban Designs, and Ochre Dawn ensure that services and spaces reflect Aboriginal perspectives. Elders and Aboriginal artists have also been consulted in the design of new developments, including Junction’s Tonsley project, which honours the cultural history of the land.
Leadership and governance also reflect this commitment, with Ngarrindjeri Kaurna man Craig Rigney serving on the Board, and cultural voices embedded in decision-making through roles such as the Principal Aboriginal Consultant for Child and Youth Services and an Aboriginal Liaison Officer in the tenancy team. “We want voices not just at the table, but shaping the direction of our work,” Willis says.
