A mobile education unit was commissioned in 1976 as a completely new concept in the education and advancement programme for Aborigines in South Australia. Previous attempts of institutionalised educational programmes had proved generally unsuccessful as adult Aborigines living in their own lands had not responded well to conventional approaches.

The Department of Further Education accepted the need to preserve and develop Aboriginal society and to provide effective training within that society. As a result, opportunities were offered to adult Aborigines in the north west of the state to acquire domestic and mechanical skills in locations of their own choosing and in a way appropriate and in harmony with, traditional life styles.