Port Pirie is a seaport on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf, 223 km north of Adelaide and has a population of just over 17,000 people. The Council area includes the city of Port Pirie, a historically significant city and busy commercial regional centre, as well as the rural towns of Crystal Brook, Redhill, Koolunga, Wandearah, Mundoora, Napperby and Warnertown. It is a diverse region encompassing agricultural and industrial activities, with a history as a major manufacturing and export centre, where industry, century old buildings and attractive parks and gardens sit side by side.

Travelling to Port Pirie takes approximately two and a half hours to drive. There is also a regular bus service from Adelaide that takes approximately three and a half hours.

Working for the Department for Child Protection in Port Pirie

The Port Pirie office employs approximately 30 people and is one of six offices in the Far North Far West region. As a member of this team, you will work with other professionals to deliver child protection services to children and families in the local community of Port Pirie 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 Port Pirie. 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 laidback 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.

Schooling, Pre-school and Kindy and Childcare

  • Port Pirie West Primary School
  • John Pirie Secondary School
  • St Mark’s College
  • Mid North Christian College
  • Risdon Park Primary School
  • Risdon Park South Kindergarten
  • Airdale Primary School
  • Port Pirie West Children’s Centre
  • Port Pirie Community Kindergarten
  • Solomontown Primary School
  • Solomontown Kindergarten
  • Mid North Education Centre

Vocational Education and Universities

The Uni Hub Spencer Gulf is a community owned and driven tertiary education facility that brings educational opportunities to the people living in the Spencer Gulf region. The Uni Hub has been established to promote educational access, supported learning, and increase employment opportunities for the local community, and has only recently accepted their first intake of students in January 2019. Tafe SA also has its own campus on Mary Elie Street in Port Pirie.

Employment Prospects in Port Pirie

Port Pirie’s main areas of employment include resources and manufacturing, education, retail, hospitality and healthcare. In addition to the growing mining and resources sector in the region, key business sectors in Port Pirie include:

  • Construction
  • Retail trade
  • Property and business services
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Port Pirie economy is driven by the huge silver, lead and zinc smelters which process the raw ore brought from Broken Hill and the large port which provides transportation for both the metal and rural industries which dominate the town. Having such a large facility located in the region provides ready access to a skilled workforce, metal fabrication businesses and a large range of mining and support services.

Tourism and mining do provide key opportunities for the local region to respond and diversify its economic base, as do expansions in the community services sectors. Tourism has been identified as a growth opportunity and over the period 2001 – 2006, employment in tourism industry related jobs increased.

Community and Annual Events

Regular special events enhance the experience of locals and visitors alike, including:

  • Port Pirie State Masters Games
  • Smelters Picnic
  • Southern Flinders Live Music Festival
  • Port Pirie Producers Market
  • Blessing of the Fleet
  • Tripolis Yachting Classic.

Parks and Sporting Facilities

There are plenty of parks, gardens, reserves and playgrounds around the Port Pirie Region to enjoy a picnic, BBQ and playtime with the kids, not to mention the town's proximity to the majestic Flinders Ranges for hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. The much-loved Yorke Peninsular region is only a 90-mintue drive away too.

Popular youth hangouts include the skate parks in Port Pirie and Crystal Brook. The skate parks are popular with skaters and freestyle cyclists alike.

There are two playgrounds located in the Port Pirie CBD for kids to burn off some energy. The playground at the foreshore is fully enclosed for security and has become a popular meeting spot for families, while the Solomontown Beach playground provides a play environment with a beach backdrop.

Port Pirie has a strong focus on the traditional sports of Australian Rules Football, soccer, cricket, netball, basketball and gymnastics as well as featuring with a large range of other recreation and competitive sporting pursuits. It is for this reason that Port Pirie Regional Council commissioned a Sports Facility Review and was successful in obtaining funding to enable the $21.7m Port Pirie Regional Sports Precinct. The precinct accommodates multiple sports such as football, cricket, soccer, gymnastics, squash and baseball at the Memorial Oval Precinct (incorporating Pirie West Oval) with new lighting, change rooms, canteen and toilet facilities and a function centre with viewing facilities. It has also transformed the Swimming Pool Precinct with a new amenities block, an indoor learn to swim pool and children’s pool together with water play equipment.

The Mid North STARCLUB Field Officer program is a joint initiative of the Office for Recreation and Sport and five local Government areas. Participating Councils include: Port Pirie Regional Council, District Council of Mount Remarkable, District Council of Orroroo Carrieton, District Council of Peterborough and the Northern Areas Council. This large geographical area is home to approximately 250 sport and active recreation clubs and associations. The STARCLUB Field Officer is an important community sport and active recreation resource and is able to support and assist local clubs and associations. This voluntary, free, online program is recognised throughout the State sports industry as a best practice governance model and highly regarded by organisations looking to invest in the sport and active recreation sector.

Image courtesy of Port Pirie Regional Council

All of your day to day necessities are available locally including Banks, Shopping and Healthcare.

Banks

Most major banks have a branch in town, including ANZ, CommBank, Bank SA, People’s Choice Credit Union, NAB, Westpac as well as a number of ATM’s.

Shopping

Check out some bargains in Port Pirie, where the shopping is spread between two areas – the central business district and Centro shopping centre, on Grey Terrace.

Enjoy a mix of large chain retailers: Target, Kmart, Coles, Millers, Jeans West, BWS, Cheap as Chips, Spendless Shoes, Ed Harry, The Reject Shop, Priceline and more.

Smaller boutique offerings: Uptown Girl, Stitch ‘n’ Stitch, Soul Lifestyle, Second Skin Clothing, E Street Clothing & Accessories, Mensland & MES Streetwear.

Port Pirie is known for its great op shopping experience! Lifeline Shop, Vinnies, Goods @ Gertrude, Lifeline Australia, Pirie Secondhand and more, are available if you’d prefer to go vintage.

Health Services for you and your family

    Port Pirie Regional Health Service provides a comprehensive range of medical and surgical services to patients from Port Pirie and surrounding communities throughout the Southern Flinders and Mid North.

    Services provided by Port Pirie Regional Health Service include but not limited to:

  • Accident and emergency services
  • Hospital services
  • Maternity/obstetrics
  • Chemotherapy service
  • Renal dialysis
  • Cardiac rehabilitation program
  • Lymphoedema service
  • Aboriginal health team

The GP Plus Health Care Centre provides a central hub for services across the Mid North community. Multi-disciplinary services provided include reducing health risk factors, early intervention, chronic disease management; such as diabetes, cardiovascular & respiratory disease and services intended to reduce demand on hospital services. Paediatric services for children under four years include behavioural and general developmental issues, speech and language development, play skills, gross and fine movement skills and parenting issues.

Country & Outback Health is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of mental health and general health support services to South Australians living in rural and regional areas. Their diverse team of health professionals are committed to providing high quality health care to improve the mental health and overall wellbeing of those in regional communities.

Neami is another not-for-profit organisation who also provides services to improve mental health and wellbeing in local communities. They provide community-based mental health services that support people to improve their wellbeing, live independently and pursue a fulfilling life.

Housing in Port Pirie

The median house price in Port Pirie is $163,000 and the weekly median advertised rent is $180. This is dependent on the size and location of the property.

Image courtesy of Port Pirie Regional Council

Port Pirie 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.

Cover image courtesy of Port Pirie Regional Council

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.