Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit

What Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit does

Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit (CAAAPU) is an Aboriginal Corporation established in 1991 and headquartered in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. It operates residential rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people in Central Australia affected by alcohol and other drug misuse, delivering a 56-day program across a men's 20-bed facility and a women's 9-bed facility situated on a four-hectare site. Service delivery is organised around a four-stream Model of Care that integrates clinical, cultural, spiritual, and family/kinship intervention, with a 48-hour assessment turnaround and an online, CRM-backed referral system.

The organisation is structured as a non-profit Aboriginal Corporation with a workforce of 11–50 staff. Client contributions are set at $200 per week, collected via Centrelink payment-deduction arrangements, and the organisation relies on partnerships with Aboriginal community organisations across Central Australia to source referrals. Demian Coates serves as Chief Executive Officer.

The operating model combines individual client fees with government and Indigenous-specific grant funding streams that are characteristic of Aboriginal Corporations delivering health and social services in remote Australia. The four-stream culturally grounded methodology, locally embedded workforce, and long-standing institutional presence since 1991 constitute the principal operating assets, while growth is implicitly constrained by the fixed 29-bed capacity and reliance on a single regional catchment.

Name

Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit

Legal name

Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit Ltd

Website

https://caaapu.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit is an Alice Springs–based Aboriginal Corporation operating a 29-bed residential rehabilitation service for Aboriginal adults in Central Australia, delivering a 56-day, four-stream cultural and clinical recovery program funded by government grants and Centrelink-deducted client contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboriginal AOD Residential Rehabilitation

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Alcohol rehabilitation services
• Aboriginal health services
• Residential recovery programs
• Substance abuse treatment
• Culturally grounded healing

Headquarters

HQ city

Alice Springs

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Client Program Fees: CAAAPU charges $200 per week for program participation, which includes full bed, board, meals, program and support services. This payment can be deducted directly through Centrelink. The organization also appears to receive government funding as a community health organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAAAPU provides residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) rehabilitation for Aboriginal people in Central Australia through structured 8-week (56-day) programs delivered at its Alice Springs facility. Service lines include a 20-bed Men's Residential Program, a 9-bed Women's Residential Program, Cultural Healing (Elders, Country visits, traditional practices), Life Skills & Wellbeing workshops, and Comprehensive AOD Assessments, all integrated through a four-stream Model of Care combining behavioural, cultural, clinical, and longer-term pathway support.

Product overview

CAAAPU provides residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people in Central Australia through an integrated four-stream Model of Care. The core offerings include a 20-bed Men's Residential Program and a 9-bed Women's Residential Program, both delivering 8-week structured treatment with 24-hour support. These programs are complemented by Cultural Healing services (connecting clients with Elders and Country), Life Skills & Wellbeing workshops, and individualized AOD assessments. The Model of Care encompasses Behavioral & Personal Growth, Longer-Term Pathways (education and reintegration), Culture & Cultural Identity, and Substance & Clinical Treatment streams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Residential Program A 20-bed residential rehabilitation facility offering a structured 8-week (56-day) program for Aboriginal men affected by alcohol and substance misuse, delivering therapeutic care, cultural activities, counselling, life-skills training, and pathways to healthier living.
• Women's Residential Program A 9-bed residential rehabilitation facility providing 24-hour care in a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal women, offering structured support, daily routines, therapy, cultural activities, and physical wellbeing programs with a focus on family, wellbeing, and cultural identity.
• Cultural Healing Program Culture-based healing services connecting clients with Elders, Traditional Owners, Country visits, and cultural practices to strengthen identity, belonging, and recovery, including onsite kangaroo tail cook-ups and cultural activities.
• Life Skills & Wellbeing Program Workshops and training in health, nutrition, financial management, literacy, and employment readiness supporting lasting change and community reintegration for clients of CAAAPU's residential programs.
• Comprehensive AOD Assessment Individualized alcohol and other drug assessment considering medical, psychological, cultural, and social factors to design personalized treatment plans for each prospective client, available by phone or face-to-face with outcomes issued within 48 hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48-hour assessment outcome turnaround
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body for alcohol and other drug agencies in the Northern Territory. CAAAPU works alongside AADANT as part of the NT AOD sector network.
• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation (CAAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal-controlled health organization providing primary health care services. CAAAPU collaborates with CAAC for comprehensive client healthcare support.
• NAAJA (North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal-controlled legal organization providing culturally appropriate justice services. Partnership supports wraparound care for clients with justice involvement.
• Money MobminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal financial wellbeing organization providing financial literacy and support services.
• Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNT Government drug and alcohol service provider. DASA provides additional treatment and support services in coordination with CAAAPU programs.
• Penangke Cultural ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural consultancy providing Traditional Owner engagement and cultural guidance for programs.
• Sandstone Therapy Centre IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTherapy service provider offering counselling and psychological support for clients.
• Services AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government agency providing Centrelink services. Enables direct payment deductions for program fees.
• STEPS GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous employment and training organization supporting client pathway development.
• Tangentyere CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak Aboriginal organisation for Alice Springs town camps providing community support services.
• Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network (ADARRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide network of AOD residential rehabilitation services. CAAAPU's Model of Care reflects the ADARRN Model of Care.
• Maloney Kan AccountantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm providing financial management and bookkeeping services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation: NSW-based Aboriginal-operated residential AOD rehabilitation facility offering long-term (3-month) programs grounded in culture and community, directly comparable to CAAAPU in mission, target population, and operating model.
• Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation: WA-based Aboriginal corporation offering residential AOD rehabilitation and family reunification services, comparable in target community, governance structure, and program length to CAAAPU.
• Namatta Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council: Aboriginal AOD advocacy and rehabilitation service provider in the NT/SA region focused on culturally safe treatment pathways, comparable in mandate and target population to CAAAPU.
• The Glen Centre: NSW residential AOD rehabilitation centre delivering structured programs with focus on long-term recovery, broadly comparable in residential rehab model and program length to CAAAPU.
• Ngnowar Aer Wah Aboriginal Corporation: WA Aboriginal-controlled residential rehabilitation service providing AOD treatment with cultural healing for men and women, structurally similar to CAAAPU's residential program delivery model.
• Oolong House: NSW-based residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility operating a structured live-in program, comparable in residential AOD treatment delivery, though not Aboriginal-specific.
• Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation: WA-based Aboriginal residential AOD rehabilitation and sobering-up service, operating as an Aboriginal corporation with cultural healing programs analogous to CAAAPU's four-stream model.

Others

• Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network (ADARRN): Network body that supports Aboriginal AOD residential services across the NT, of which CAAAPU is an active member and whose Model of Care informs CAAAPU's own program design.

Broad incumbents

• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC): Major Alice Springs-based Aboriginal community-controlled primary health organisation and core CAAAPU partner; broader scope (primary healthcare, social services) but overlapping in client base and the wraparound care ecosystem.
• Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA): NT Government-funded non-residential AOD treatment and counselling provider that complements CAAAPU's residential programs through coordinated outpatient support, a key referral and treatment partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caaapu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit