Partnering for community support: Sonder and City of Salisbury

Sonder is proud to partner with City of Salisbury to offer social work services at the Salisbury Community Hub Library.

Increasingly, libraries are being called on to support community with a range of complex needs, and with cost-of-living pressures experienced by many, the City of Salisbury has moved to better support the community and staff by partnering with Sonder to engage an on-site social worker.

The concept of the pilot is for the social worker to act as a liaison for library patrons who might not engage with, or be aware of, available community supports. The pilot will seek to help connect them with services they need through referrals, and provide support and training to staff, so we can offer extra assistance to our community when needed.

The project has been funded by City of Salisbury with support from the Libraries Board of South Australia, which is interested in understanding how library services across our State may evolve to meet changing community needs.

Sageran Naidoo, CEO of Sonder, said:

As a trusted service provider in Northern Adelaide for over 30 years, Sonder understands the unique needs of this community. We’re honoured to partner with the City of Salisbury on this innovative pilot, bringing our expertise in integrated community support to a space as accessible as the local library. This initiative ensures community members can connect with critical resources and assistance, strengthening pathways to support in a familiar, welcoming environment.

Bruce Linn AM, Chair of the Libraries Board of SA, said:

This project exemplifies the vital role libraries play in our communities. By funding social worker roles within these library branches and developing comprehensive training materials, we are investing in a future where libraries are equipped to meet the diverse needs of their patrons. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on both library staff and the community at large.

To learn more about this initiative, contact the City of Salisbury via email at city@salisbury.sa.gov.au