Only 148 kilometres from Adelaide, Kadina (aboriginal meaning Lizard Plain) is the largest town on the Yorke Peninsula and is one of three Copper Triangle towns famous for their shared copper mining history. The three towns (Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo) are collectively known as "Little Cornwall" due to the large settlement of Cornish copper miners who lived in the region after copper was discovered near Kadina in 1859. Kadina has a population exceeding 5,000 people and is a main commercial centre for a very prosperous agricultural region.

Close proximity between towns and attractions on Yorke Peninsula makes for a leisurely drive, so travel at your own pace, stop when you want and enjoy the sights! It's only two and a half hours drive from top to bottom and around 30 - 40 minutes from coast to coast.

Kadina is less than a 2 hour drive from Adelaide. Yorke Peninsula Coaches operate regular services to a number of towns on Yorke Peninsula, departing from the Adelaide Central Bus Station on Franklin Street.

Working for the Department for Child Protection in Kadina

The Kadina office employs approximately 15 people and is one of five offices in the northern region. As a member of this team, you will work with other professionals to deliver child protection services to children, families in the local community of Kadina and surrounding areas. With a focus on local child-focussed and culturally appropriate practice, you will find working with us rewarding and challenging simultaneously.

Your co-workers will become your friends within this small office and will provide a foundation of support, good humour and professional guidance when embarking on your journey in Kadina. You may never leave.

The team works collaboratively by supporting each other on a professional level. As a member of this team, you will also work with and develop strong partnerships with other internal and external partners, many of which will be located within the community.

With a laid back lifestyle on offer, you will contribute and be a part of improving outcomes for the community on a daily basis. You will work with and alongside professionals from other government agencies and non-government organisations that have a passion for child protection and who offer great assistance in their roles.

Kadina town hall

Schooling, Pre-schooling and Kindy and Childcare

  • Kadina Memorial School
  • Harvest Christian College
  • Wallaroo Mines Primary School
  • Kadina Preschool Centre
  • Minalton District Kindergarten
  • Community Kids Kadina Early Education Centre
  • Kadina Child Care Centre

Vocational Education & Universities

Tafe SA has its own campus in Kadina offering a student lounge with kitchen facilities during normal campus opening times. The Kadina Library has a joint use arrangement with TAFE SA. There is also an online TAFE SA Library.

Employment Prospects in Kadina

The agriculture sector is a major employer within the region and is well supported by significant bulk grain handling and commodity facilities at the deep-sea port of Wallaroo. Growth in the manufacturing sector has been strong, due to increased production in the agricultural sector and associated value-adding industries. Other manufacturing activities within the region include the production of transport equipment, building, construction and other related services.

The region also hosts significant extractive industries, including limestone, granite, dolomite, gypsum, copper and sand mining.

The Copper Coast has a healthy fishing industry supporting scale fish, prawn, crab and abalone fisheries. Oyster and mussel farming are fast emerging as an industry of the future as is the growing of brine shrimp in the regions many saltpans.

The region has well-developed transport and communication networks, together with a soundly established business and service infrastructure. In recent years there has been strong growth in the health and community services, clerical, sales and services, professional and associate professional occupation sectors.

The most common occupations in Kadina (Urban Centres and Localities) included Technicians and Trades Workers 15.2%, Sales Workers 14.4%, Labourers 13.1%, Professionals 13.0%, and Community and Personal Service Workers 12.8%. Of the employed people in Kadina, 5.9% worked in Supermarket and Grocery Stores. Other major industries of employment included Aged Care Residential Services 4.3%, Takeaway Food Services 2.8%, Combined Primary and Secondary Education 2.6% and Grain Growing 2.5%.

Aerial photo of Kadina oval

Community & Annual Events

  • Northbank Family Fishing Competition
  • Kadina Motocross Racing
  • Rotary Markets
  • Wallaroo Mines Bowling Club Bingo
  • Kadina Garage Sale at Kadina Showgrounds
  • Copper Coast Miniature Train Rides
  • Yorke Peninsula Dinner Dance
  • Miners Marathon
  • Kadina Swap Meet
  • Kadina Annual Show

Parks and Sporting Facilities

A feature of the town is Victoria Square. This beautiful shady parkland also features a playground, a new amenities block, BBQ facilities, historic rotunda which still used on a regular basis, and public amenities.

Kadina Apex Club is leading the way with its Walk in the Trees play equipment project in Victoria Square, on the edge of the CBD across from the post office and police station. Walk in the Trees is an elevated adventure playground, allowing children to play among the treetops in a safe yet exciting setting. It opened in December 2018 and will complement the existing playground nearby, which features extensive equipment as well as the Apex Express train centrepiece.

Sport in the Yorke Peninsula is of high importance, many local residents play multiple sports over the summer and winter seasons. The Copper Coast Sport and Leisure Centre’s main users are cardio & gym (670+ members), basketball (700+ members), netball, tennis and the Kadina Memorial School. Other activities include; futsal, sport aerobics, children's activities and vacation care.

Kadina offers all the facilities of a large town including supermarkets, variety stores, medical services and much more. The wide range of accommodation as well as being close to a number of stunning scenic and family friendly beaches in Moonta Bay, Port Hughes and Wallaroo, makes it a popular destination.

Banks

Most major banks have a branch in town, including ANZ, CommBank, Bank SA, and NAB as well as a number of ATM’s.

Shopping

Yorke Peninsula offers some great shopping throughout the region. You'll find major shopping hubs at Kadina, Moonta, Ardrossan, Maitland, Minlaton and Yorketown. Boutique and niche stores can be found across the peninsula along, with children’s and homeware shops, bookshops, vintage goods and much more. If you love to get a bargain, several towns have charity op shops, with pre-loved treasures waiting to be found or you can go bargain hunting on the Copper Coast Op Shops, Second-hand and Antiques Trail. There are also craft and produce markets, held monthly or at specific times of the year at many towns across Yorke Peninsula.

Frances Terrace includes the Woolworths supermarket at one end of the CBD, and the new Aldi supermarket at the other. Aldi's arrival in the town hub is expected to provide a further boost for the modernised, vibrant shopping district.

Health Services for you & your family

Wallaroo Hospital and Health Services is part of the Yorke and Lower North Health Services and is the closest hospital to Kadina. The hospital is a 21 bed complex and is located with a seven bed private hospital. They have inpatient care in general medicine for adults and children, as well as palliative care.

The Kadina Medical Associates provides comprehensive care covering all aspects of medicine including obstetrics, anaesthetics and surgery. All doctors in this practice are vocationally registered as general practitioners. They are an R.A.C.G.P Accredited Training Practice and have fully qualified doctors undertaking advanced training in Rural Medicine.

Residents in Kadina also have access to individual health care services in areas of mental health, dental, aged care, optometry, audiology and home health care services.

Kadina is considered Outer Regional and may attract the following additional incentives for certain roles:

  • Remoteness Area Payment up to $6,500
  • Attraction Difficulty Payment between $3,500 and $5,000
  • Airfare Allowance up to $1,000
  • Travel Leave up to 3 days’ travel leave may be granted per year, non-cumulative for eligible employees to attend personal matters that cannot be attended to in the centre.

Return to Working with us in Regional SA page to see benefits available in other regions. To see currently available regional opportunities go to the DCP Jobs Board.