News & Events
Newsletter April 2025
It’s been a great start to the year at Somerville. Read our latest newsletter to get up to date with what we’ve had on! Read here
The Honorable Jinson Charls MLA visits Katherine
This week, we had the privilege of welcoming the Honorable Jinson Charls, Minister of Disability, and his team to our properties in Katherine. Minister Charls had the opportunity to visit our Specialist Disability Accommodation, meet and greet with our participants and staff. Our participant, Marlene, had a great time meeting the Minister.
Luke and Wesley’s move to Alice Springs
Just recently, Luke and Wesley were supported in successfully transitioning from the Top End back to Central Australia. In May 2023, the duo left Supported Independent Living in Tennant Creek to join Somerville in Darwin. After nearly two years, Luke and Wes are now a bit closer to home in Alice Springs and have settled…
Harmony Day celebrations at Somerville!
Across Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs, we celebrated Harmony Day with staff and participants. It was a chance to recognise the many backgrounds that make up our Somerville team and to appreciate the cultures we all bring to our workplace. Harmony Week (March 17-23) celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and promotes inclusivity, respect, and a…
Support coordination success – Jim’s story
Meet Jim – a kind, cheeky, and hilarious participant who has long dreamed of going on a holiday. For many, this is a simple thing to do, but for those with disabilities, it can be a huge challenge without the right support in place. That’s where Support Worker Jannatun stepped in with extraordinary determination and…
International Women’s Day
This morning, we celebrated International Women’s Day with some of our staff in Darwin and Palmerston – we also had staff dialling in virtually from Katherine and Alice Springs to hear from our guest speakers. Our guest speakers were Donna Rousham, OAM – 2025 Darwin Citizen of the Year and founder of Starfish Swim group,…
Happy Lunar New Year
At Somerville, we are proud of the rich multicultural diversity among both our participants and staff. Many in our community have recently celebrated Lunar New Year, a time of joy, tradition, and community. Thank you to the Chung Wah Society Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe for their fantastic performance over the weekend at our Wagaman…
Vale patron Austin Asche AC KC
Somerville Community Services mourns the passing of the Honourable Austin Asche AC KC, our patron since 1993. His remarkable legacy continues to inspire, reflecting his lifelong commitment to justice, education, and community. We are proud to have such an extraordinary leader as part of our story at Somerville Community Services. We would also like to…
Somerville Community Services appoints Natasha Fyles as new CEO
Somerville Community Services is pleased to announce Natasha Fyles as its incoming Chief Executive Officer following a competitive and rigorous recruitment process. Natasha is a passionate advocate and supporter of ensuring people living with a disability can access the quality care they need. She has extensive experience and knowledge of the Territory’s disability sector and…
Celebrating our staff: 2024 Margaret Somerville Awards
The annual Margaret Somerville Awards were celebrated on November 8, as a chance to reflect on the great work done by the staff. These awards honour individuals whose dedication and leadership embody the values of care, service, and community. This year’s winners and runners-up from across the regions highlight what it means to lead with…
CEO Announcement
Somerville Community Services would like to advise that after 7 years of service, Lawson Broad will finish as Chief Executive Officer at the end of November. Lawson has reflected on the last few years with the following sentiments: “It has been such a huge privilege to work with the amazing people that make…
R U OK Day
Across Alice Springs, Katherine, Palmerston and Darwin – we took some time out of our day to catch up over afternoon tea and discuss R U OK? day. We had printed conversation starters, and used that as an opportunity to meet with colleagues. It was an opportunity to check in with each other, have meaningful…
Team planning day
Our Coordination of Support Team met yesterday for their annual Team Planning Day in Palmerston. Team members from Alice Springs also travelled up for the event. Somerville’s Coordination of Support Team provides services to people with disabilities and their families across the Northern Territory. The day focused on team discussions, quality improvement, and service development.…
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability with Somerville Community Housing! On 3 December, we unite to recognise the International Day of People with Disability. At Somerville Community Housing, we embody “the courage to be…”— a commitment to creating supported homes that empower and celebrate the unique abilities of every individual. Home is Where Courage…
Introducing Somerville Housing
Somerville is proud to share the launch of Somerville Housing, a not-for-profit specialist housing provider in the Northern Territory. It provides Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) to people with disability and specialist housing needs. The SDA is thoughtfully designed to strike the right balance of independence, functionality and comfort. The architect designed homes are purpose built,…
