The next steps in the Commission’s engagement and listening phase begin this week, with travels to the Riverland and Murraylands to meet with sector and community representatives, including service providers in Berri, Renmark and Murray Bridge. We will also tour the Mobilong Prison facility, meet with regional Mayors, Aboriginal health workers and the Australia Migrant Resource Centre.

This trip is the fifth regional visit. We have already held listening sessions and site visits in Port Pirie/Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island and Mt Gambier.  As I mentioned in my last update, just before the Christmas break, the team and I are grateful for the opportunities we have been given to sit with, listen to and learn from South Australians across the state. We are also planning further sessions in Ceduna and in the APY Lands in April.

This information, in addition to the submissions received and the results from our Share With Us survey, and the feedback from our metropolitan and regional sessions, is very much helping build a picture of what we need to focus on over the next six months.

Our next Public Hearings will be held in late February and into March, and I look forward to sharing more details on the themes and topics to be covered. A reminder also, that transcripts of each Public Hearing are available on our website.

Thank you all again for your ongoing support of the Commission’s work.

Natasha Stott Despoja AO

Commissioner