Alice Springs

Alice Springs Community

Alice Springs offers practical ways to meet people, share skills and take part in local projects. Community recreation, gardening, making, youth programs and environmental volunteering sit alongside services for people seeking advocacy or short-term assistance. Some organisations work across Alice Springs and the wider Central Australia region, while others are based at a particular community centre, garden or meeting place.

Whether you are looking for a regular activity, a way to contribute or a place to ask about support, the groups below provide varied starting points. Each has a different focus, so the best fit depends on the activity, audience or assistance you need.

🏘️ Neighbourhood & Community Centres

Tangentyere Council Community Centres

Tangentyere operates community-controlled centres at Karnte, Hidden Valley, Larapinta Valley, Little Sisters, Charles Creek, Warlpiri and Trucking Yards Town Camps. These multi-purpose family resources support residents and visitors through community-led programs, outside-school-hours activities, service connection, leadership and governance, cultural identity, training and employment pathways, and other locally identified priorities.

Public office: 4 Elder Street, Alice Springs, NT 0870. ☎ (08) 8951 4222 — general enquiries.

Alice Springs Youth & Community Centre Inc.

This community-operated recreation centre brings together gymnastics, circus, Tiny Tots Fun Time, lion dance and drumming, and martial arts. Activities span early childhood to adults; gymnastics and selected martial arts are offered for children aged five and over. Volunteers help support the centre, and spaces are available for community hire.

Centre: 5 Wills Terrace, Alice Springs NT 0871. ☎ (08) 8952 1649 — general enquiries.

🤝 Volunteering & Service Clubs

Rotary Club of Alice Springs

Rotary combines local community projects with regular club gatherings. People can enquire about volunteering on projects, partnering with the club or considering membership. The club lists weekly Wednesday evening meetings, with the second Wednesday described as an away meeting, giving prospective participants a clear distinction between its regular gathering and project-based involvement.

Meeting venue: Stumps Cafe, 20 Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs, NT 0870. ☎ 0468 331 502 — club contact.

Alice Springs Scout Group (Outback Scouts)

Based in Araluen, this Scouts group includes Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers sections. Young people take part in outdoor adventure, skill development and youth-led programs. Adults can enquire about leadership, group support, specialist activity and general supporter roles, providing several ways to contribute beyond participating as a young member.

Scout Hall & Grounds: 116 Larapinta Drive, Araluen Alice Springs, NT 0870. ☎ 0428 891 070 — general contact; ☎ 0409 795 992 — Group Leader.

🌱 Community Gardens & Local Projects

East Side Community Garden

Members and visitors share local growing knowledge, tend plots, join working bees and socialise through the garden. Volunteer roles include café and garden projects, composting, fundraising produce and practical maintenance. Its activities include organic gardening, permaculture, water-wise methods and reducing waste, making it a practical setting for people interested in growing, repairing and caring for shared spaces.

East Side, Alice Springs, NT.

Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC)

ALEC is a not-for-profit community environment organisation based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, working on environmental protection and sustainable development in arid lands. Its Alice Springs volunteer opportunities include community engagement, communications, office administration, market stalls, events and work at Eastside and Westside community gardens. This offers both hands-on and organisational ways to support environmental projects.

90 Gap Rd, The Gap, Mparntwe Alice Springs NT 0870 (opposite Piggly's supermarket in the Gap). ☎ (08) 8952 2497 — general contact.

🛠️ Friendship & Shared Interests

Men’s Shed Alice Springs Inc.

At Blatherskite Park, the local Men’s Shed provides woodwork and metalwork activities. Its community-minded practical projects include furniture repair and toy building, allowing participants to work with tools while contributing to useful items. The shed’s focus is distinct from a general social venue: making, maintenance and shared practical skills are central to its activities.

Len Kittle Drive, Blatherskite Park, NT 0870. ☎ 0448 782 980 — shed contact.

The Waterhole

The Salvation Army’s Alice Springs community centre provides a place to meet and use facilities. Listed offerings include art workshops, breakfast and lunch, tea and coffee, and places to sit and yarn. It combines a social setting with practical daytime support, giving people an option for conversation, creative activity and shared meals in one community centre.

88 Hartley Street, Alice Springs, NT. ☎ 08 8951 0200 — The Waterhole community centre.

🧩 Disability & Inclusion

Disability Advocacy Service Inc. (DAS)

DAS provides independent disability advocacy for people with disability and their families in Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Tennant Creek and surrounding Central Australia. Alongside advocacy, it holds information sessions, peer-support meet-ups and community gatherings for people with disability, families and supporters. Membership is free, subject to acceptance, and the organisation’s activities include both individual advocacy and shared community participation.

12 Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs, NT 0870. ☎ (08) 8953 1422 — Alice Springs office and enquiries.

❤️ Practical Help & Community Support

Lutheran Care NT Financial Wellbeing and Emergency Relief

Lutheran Care provides financial wellbeing and emergency relief support in Alice Springs and Central Australia. Its Alice Springs office at 2/21 Gregory Terrace is currently closed due to flood damage. Appointments are made by phone, and its team provides emergency relief food vouchers through Foodbank in Alice Springs on listed service days. The address below is retained for identification only while the office remains closed.

2/21 Gregory Terrace (opposite the Alice Springs Library), Alice Springs NT 0870 — office currently closed due to flood damage. ☎ (08) 8953 5160 — appointments for Financial Wellbeing and Emergency Relief.

Alice Springs’ community life is shaped by people who make time for shared activities, practical projects, youth development, environmental work and support for neighbours. Residents and newcomers can choose the level of participation that suits them, from joining a regular group to contributing a specific skill. Local groups, charities, volunteer teams and community organisations with relevant Alice Springs activities are warmly invited to add or update their listing so this guide can continue to reflect the community’s range.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on alicesprings.town.