Cara

What Cara does

Cara (legally Community Accommodation and Respite Agency Inc.) is a South Australian not-for-profit disability service provider founded in 1949, originally as the Spastic Centres of South Australia, and now operating as a registered NDIS provider headquartered in Hindmarsh. It specialises in supporting people with severe and multiple disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability, across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Its service portfolio comprises four core NDIS-funded lines: Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short Term Respite (STR), Home & Community Support (HCS), and personalised Day Options programs delivered from regional hubs at Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, and Mount Gambier, with a recently opened Client Hub in Mount Gambier. It also operates a housing vacancy service bundling SIL with Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) through partnerships with providers such as Alliance Access Homes, Sana Living, and Your Place Housing.

The technology footprint is operational rather than differentiated: Cara runs an in-house stack including EmpLive (rostering), Employment Hero (HR), iDempiere (case management), Viva Engage (internal communications), Microsoft 365, and a Cara Companion mobile app for client engagement. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML, custom platform IP, or external software products; technology investment is focused on workforce management, safeguarding, and client communication rather than productised software. Internal Practice Leaders and a documented quality and safeguarding framework are positioned as the substantive differentiators for complex-needs care.

The business model is funded almost entirely through NDIS plan-managed payments for delivered supports, supplemented by donations, regular giving, gifts in wills, and corporate partnerships. Cara does not publicly disclose revenue. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via registration of interest forms, an intake team, support coordinator relationships, and community and sports marketing partnerships (e.g., Adelaide United Football Club, West Adelaide Women's Football Club). Cara is governed by a Board of Directors and an Executive and Senior Leadership Team, employs 800–1,000+ staff across direct support, management, developmental educator, and corporate roles, and serves 500+ children and adults with disability.

Name

Cara

Legal name

Community Accommodation and Respite Agency Inc.

Website

https://cara.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cara is a South Australian not-for-profit, NDIS-registered disability provider delivering Supported Independent Living, Short Term Respite, Home and Community Support, and Day Options to 500+ people with severe and complex disabilities across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodville

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NDIS Funded Services: Primary revenue through National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding for Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short Term Respite (STR), Home & Community Support (HCS), and Day Options services
2. Donations and Fundraising: Not-for-profit organization accepting donations including regular giving, gifts in wills, and corporate partnerships to support service delivery

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cara is a registered NDIS service provider delivering disability support services to people with severe and multiple disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability. Its core offerings include Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short Term Respite (STR), Home and Community Support (HCS), and Day Options programs across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Product overview

Cara is a registered NDIS Service Provider offering disability support services across South Australia. The organization operates as a 'possibility service' rather than a traditional disability service, providing a portfolio of care services including Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short Term Respite (STR), Home & Community Support (HCS), and Day Options programs across multiple regional locations (Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Mount Gambier). The services also include SIL and SDA housing vacancy management, helping individuals find appropriate accommodation across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Cara serves individuals with complex needs including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Independent Living (SIL) Cara's staff support individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible in traditional share houses, cluster sites of units, or individual apartments. This service is designed for people with severe and multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability.
• Short Term Respite (STR) A range of short breaks and respite accommodation offering opportunities to experience new things, learn and grow while making friends and gaining confidence. Designed for individuals with disabilities and their families/carers needing temporary relief.
• Home and Community Support (HCS) Cara staff work with individuals in their home, family home, or in the community to help them do the things which matter to them. Personalized support services for people with disabilities to live meaningful lives in their chosen environment.
• Day Options - Port Lincoln Day program in Port Lincoln where individuals develop practical life skills, take part in creative activities, or enjoy social experiences in the local community. Reflects individual goals and aspirations.
• Day Options - Mount Gambier
• Day Options - Port Augusta
• SIL & SDA Housing Vacancies

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 500+ children and adults with disabilities across South Australia

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adelaide United Football ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSports partnership and community activation including Adelaide United Activation Round events, signed jersey campaigns, and presence at football matches. Cara engages with supporters and community through sports events and match-day activations.
• West Adelaide Women's Football Club (The Eagles)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive Disability Partner of West Adelaide Women's Football Club. Partnership focused on championing inclusion and community through football.
• Amplifii Music FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of inclusive, accessible and totally joyful music event held at Hart's Mill, Port Adelaide.
• Alliance Access HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSDA Housing Provider partnership providing Specialist Disability Accommodation alongside Cara's SIL services. Example: Seaton property vacancy listing.
• Sana LivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSDA Housing Provider partnership for High Physical Support SDA homes. Example: Pooraka property vacancy with custom features including adjustable benchtops and ceiling hoist provisions.
• Your Place HousingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSDA Provider partnership for Specialist Disability Accommodation services, mentioned in property listings such as Dover Gardens.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yooralla: Victorian-based NDIS-registered disability provider offering accommodation, respite, and community support. Comparable to Cara in core service lines and complex-needs focus, providing a benchmark for state-level service models and scaling.
• Aruma: National NDIS provider formed from the merger of House with No Steps and Scope Australia. Offers SIL, respite, and home and community support comparable to Cara's portfolio, operating at similar scale across multiple Australian states.
• Life Without Barriers: One of Australia's largest NDIS-registered disability service providers, delivering SIL, respite and community support across multiple states. Directly comparable to Cara in service mix, NDIS funding model, and target population of complex-needs participants.
• Minda: South Australian disability provider (headquartered in suburban Adelaide-adjacent locations) offering accommodation, day options, and employment services. Direct geographic and service overlap with Cara in South Australia, making it the closest sub-regional comparable.
• genU (formerly Karingal): National NDIS and community services non-profit delivering disability accommodation, respite, and community participation. Comparable to Cara in not-for-profit operating model, NDIS revenue dependence, and complex-needs client base.
• Endeavour Foundation: Large Australian disability and employment services non-profit delivering accommodation, supported living, and day programs. Comparable to Cara on not-for-profit model, NDIS funding dependence, and breadth of disability services offered.
• Achieve Australia: Sydney-based NDIS-registered disability provider specializing in supported independent living, accommodation, and day programs for people with complex needs. Closely comparable to Cara's SIL-led model and complex-needs specialization.
• Sunnyfield: NSW-based NDIS-registered disability provider offering supported independent living, respite, and community participation. Comparable to Cara on service portfolio, NDIS funding model, and non-profit structure.
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Specialist NDIS provider focused on cerebral palsy and complex disabilities, originally founded as Spastic Centres (mirroring Cara's origin as Spastic Centres of South Australia). Direct comparable in clinical specialization, therapy-led supports, and complex-needs cohorts.
• Northcott: NSW-based NDIS provider offering accommodation, respite, and community participation with a strong complex-needs focus. Directly comparable to Cara on service mix and specialization in high-support participants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/caraorgau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cara-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/carainc
• Xx.com/caraorgau

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cara