Celebrating one year of impact at Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre
On Wednesday 11 June 2025, Sonder proudly celebrated the 1st Anniversary of the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre (NAMMHC) with a special breakfast event at the centre, located at 23 Gillingham Rd, Elizabeth.
Launched in April 2024, the NAMMHC was established as part of a national initiative to deliver free, walk-in mental health support to community members in Northern Adelaide. One year on, the Centre has welcomed nearly 3,000 guests.
The anniversary event brought together over 70 guests, including community members, staff, funders, partner organisations, and key dignitaries. Guests enjoyed coffee and breakfast while reflecting on the Centre’s achievements and the impact of its unique model of care.
The formal proceedings began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Uncle Frank Wanganeen, before Senior Peer Practitioner Chris Foord introduced a series of guest speakers who shared their reflections on the Centre’s impact.
Sonder CEO, Sageran Naidoo, described the Centre as “a place of safety, welcome, and hope.” Reflecting on the past year, he shared that almost 3,000 people had accessed the service, with 85% arriving as walk-ins. “Thanks to the incredible team here, what they found was compassion, expertise, and care that met them where they were—without the usual roadblocks of waitlists or the need for a referral,” he said.
Sarah Burden, Acting Divisional Director of Allied Health and Community Mental Health at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN), spoke about the Centre’s role in easing pressure on emergency departments by offering accessible, community-based care. “Almost 30% of guests explain they wouldn’t have known where else to turn if the service didn’t exist,” she shared, highlighting the Centre’s role in providing timely intervention during moments of mental health distress.
Representing Adelaide PHN, Executive Manager Tamira Pascoe acknowledged the power of partnership in bringing the service to life. “The NAMMHC is a great example of intergovernmental collaboration—funded jointly by the Australian Government through Adelaide PHN and the South Australian Government—to meet a critical need in the community,” she said.
Adding a deeply personal perspective, Peer Practitioner Jadee-Mae delivered a powerful speech on the critical role of lived experience in shaping mental health services. She emphasised the need to embed lived experience at all levels of care—not as a replacement for clinical expertise, but as a vital complement to it. “It’s about bringing more chairs to the table,” she said, “and working together to build a better system for all.” Her reflections underscored how lived experience not only improves service design and delivery but also fosters greater connection, trust, and hope for those seeking support.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to co-locate the Centre alongside the Crisis Stabilisation Centre at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in 2026, creating even greater integration with emergency mental health services in the region.
Sonder extends its sincere thanks to all partners, staff, and community members who have contributed to the Centre’s success—and to those who joined us in celebration. Together, we’re reimagining mental health support for the Northern Adelaide community.
To read more about the Centre’s reach and impact over the past 12 months—including guest demographics, referral pathways, outcomes, and community feedback—view our anniversary infographic: Download the infographic (April 2024–2025).
To learn more about the Centre, visit sonder.net.au/medicare-mental-health, phone 1800 565 774 or email medicarementalhealth@sonder.net.au
