Tika Tirka

Tika Tirka is a Kaurna phrase for “Sit / Stay and Learn”. This facility is built and operates on Kaurna Land. We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the Adelaide region, and we pay our respects to elders past and present.

Giving young people a sense of place and community to find comfort and shelter while also allowing them to empower themselves and celebrate their abilities is vital to overcoming disadvantage and providing opportunity to grow.

Tika Tirka provides an accommodation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote and outer regional communities undertaking post-secondary studies. Providing students with the best opportunity to be successful in their education and learning, Tika Tirka allows young Aboriginal people to independently live and study in a metropolitan environment while fulfilling their cultural and heritage needs. The project incorporated a mix of flexible common spaces and individual residential accommodation for up to 20 students.

Greenway undertook furniture design, selection and supply in a Phillips Pilkington-designed building, creating a homely, comfortable and welcoming environment delivered with commercial and robust yet recognisable and relaxed materials and finishes.

It is furnished predominately with Australian furniture, including unique light fittings made by Yolngu weavers from Echo Island Arts in collaboration with Koskela. Suppliers registered with Supply Nation were sourced and selections were robust, comfortable, culturally appropriate and commercially viable.