A Conversation That Matters: Welcoming Minister Natalie Cook to Cooinda
On Saturday 10th January 2026, Toc H South Australia was honoured to welcome Nat Cook, Minister for Human Services, to Cooinda Retreats for a generous and thoughtful conversation about community, place, and the future of human services on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Minister Cook spent time on site with representatives of Toc H South Australia (Chair, Michael Thomas, CEO, Adam Hooper and Executive Director, Rebecca Butler), engaging deeply with the work being undertaken at Cooinda Retreats and the direction being shaped through the Cooinda Community Centre Village initiative.
That the Minister chose to visit on a Saturday reflected a genuine commitment to place-based engagement and an understanding that meaningful community work happens every day of the week.
A Familiar Place, Revisited
One of the most affirming moments of the visit was hearing Minister Cook reflect on her own long-standing connection with Toc H and the Cooinda Retreats site.
Before entering Parliament, Natalie Cook visited Cooinda Retreats on several occasions, presenting to children attending camps here. She spoke warmly of those experiences and of her familiarity with Toc H.
That continuity, from community advocate to Minister for Human Services, brought a shared understanding to the conversation and reinforced the enduring presence of Toc H in the life of our South Australian community.
Toc H, Then and Now
Toc H’s story began during the First World War with Talbot House, established in 1915 in Poperinge, Belgium.
Talbot House is widely recognised as one of the very first community centres. Created just behind the front lines, it offered servicemen a place of welcome, rest, conversation, and dignity, regardless of rank. In a time defined by hierarchy and hardship, Talbot House was radical in its simplicity. Everyone entered through the same door. Humanity came first.
Those principles laid the foundations of Toc H and continue to shape its purpose more than a century later.
Cooinda Retreats, as a Toc H South Australia initiative, reflects a modern interpretation of these original ideas. Its evolution into a Community Centre Village draws directly on the same belief that community is built through shared space, inclusion, service, and everyday connection.
It is also with interest that Toc H South Australia notes similar contemporary directions being pursued by Toc H organisations internationally, including within the United Kingdom, as they continue to seek modern expressions of Toc H’s UK contribution to the common good.
Across the Toc H movement, there is a shared understanding that while contexts change, the heart of the work remains constant: creating places of welcome, responding to real human need, and bringing people together across difference.
A Place-Based Conversation About Priorities
Minister Cook spoke about the importance of strong, ongoing partnerships across the human services sector and the opportunities that arise when government and community organisations work collaboratively.
The discussion reflected shared priorities that sit squarely within Toc H South Australia’s focus, including:
Strengthening intergenerational connection and youth engagement
Creating inclusive environments that support wellbeing and reduce isolation
Building community-led responses that are preventative, relational, and sustainable
These themes closely align with the intent and design of the Cooinda Community Centre Village.
Transport, Access, and Connection
A particularly practical and constructive part of the conversation focused on transport and access.
Minister Cook highlighted the importance of enabling participation and connection, especially in regional communities where populations are geographically spread. This strongly resonated with Toc H South Australia’s experience of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
During the visit, we shared how the Community Centre Village incorporates a transport model, including the planned acquisition of two minibuses. This approach supports:
Access to programs and services at Cooinda Retreats
Outreach and connection across the wider South Coast
Participation for young people, older residents, and those without private transport
Transport is understood as a core enabler of inclusion and an essential part of building connected communities.
The Cooinda Community Centre Village
Cooinda Retreats is evolving as a Toc H South Australia initiative into a Community Centre Village that is staged, scalable, and grounded in strong governance, volunteer leadership, and partnership.
The Village is designed to:
Operate as a recognised community centre for Victor Harbor and the South Coast
Host wellbeing, learning, and social connection programs
Support intergenerational and youth-focused initiatives
Provide inclusive volunteering and participation opportunities
Offer purpose-driven accommodation that supports the site financially and brings community connection
Act as a hub for collaboration with government, services, and grassroots organisations
This approach reflects Toc H South Australia’s long-term stewardship of the site and its commitment to delivering enduring community benefit.
Why Engagement Like This Matters
When Ministers visit places like Cooinda Retreats, conversations are grounded in lived experience.
Policy, strategy, and practice come together in the environments where community life actually unfolds. For Toc H South Australia, the opportunity to engage directly with the Minister for Human Services reinforces the importance of partnership, shared understanding, and place-based action in responding to complex social challenges.
With Thanks
We extend our sincere thanks to Minister Cook and her office for taking the time to visit, listen, and engage so openly. We also acknowledge the contribution of our Chair, Executive Directors, members, volunteers, and broader community who continue to shape Cooinda Retreats as a place of welcome, service, and connection.
It is moments like this remind us that Toc H continues to grow, adapt, and respond, while staying true to its enduring purpose: creating places where people matter.
We look forward to continuing the conversation.