Our Story: Built By Community, For Community
For over seven decades, Caringa Australia has been a beacon of hope and support for people with disabilities in our Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley communities.
What started in 1953 as a small, community-funded school has blossomed into a powerful organisation and all-encompassing community that transforms lives every single day.
Caringa wasn’t born in a boardroom – it emerged from the hearts of local people who believed in creating opportunities for everyone, regardless of ability. Today, we continue that legacy, empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their dreams and live full, meaningful lives.
Why Local Businesses Matter
As a local business owner, you, your team and YOUR community are the backbone of OUR community.
Imagine your business and community as this big, interconnected web where everyone’s success is linked together.
When local businesses step up to support community non-profits like Caringa; it’s adding superglue to the web!
In villages, cities, towns and regional areas like ours, every bit of support you give goes way further than just a donation – it’s community magic happening in real time.
Think about it: when your business or team support Caringa,
you’re not just clicking a link, sharing a social media post,
or attending an event, you’re creating opportunities for people who LIVE
across our Coffs Clarence Community to learn, grow, and contribute.
This means more people (of ALL abilities!) can work, spend money locally, and build a stronger community. For all our much loved Coffs Clarence local businesses, this isn’t just feel-good stuff – it’s a smart strategy. Happy, supported community members become loyal customers, reliable teams, and local brand ambassadors. We talk again and again about the businesses that care or collaborate with us, we shop local, and together we all help create this awesome cycle of support.
When you open your doors wider and understand how to support people with disabilities, you’re not just ticking a box, you’re tapping into an incredible pool of talent, fresh perspectives, and problem-solving skills you might have missed out on. It’s like upgrading your business’s operating system with new features you didn’t even know you needed!
Customers notice this stuff too – they see a business that genuinely cares about including everyone, and that builds the kind of trust and loyalty you just can’t buy with advertising. And let’s be real: in today’s world, where everyone’s fighting for good talent, showing that you’re serious about disability inclusion gives you a serious edge. It’s not just about doing good – it’s about doing better business.
In smaller communities, where everyone knows (or is related to!) everyone, these connections are pure gold. Caringa as a non-profit community organisation works daily towards capacity building, vocational training, daily living supports, career pathways and other training; which means a local business has the opportunity to engage, support or hire a motivated new team member. Our disarupt. program (for under 24-year-olds) might keep young talent in town instead of seeing them move away for accessible supports or career plans.
Supporting Caringa as a community non-profit org is like investing in EVERYONE’S community’s future – and that’s a pretty impressive return on investment you can’t put a price tag on!
The Tangible Impact of Your Support
Disability Advocacy at Work
Having a disability advocate or connecting with different communities or disability support organisations can show you simple tweaks that make your workplace more accessible and inclusive – from physical spaces to communication styles to work processes. These changes often end up benefiting everyone, not just employees with disabilities. Plus, you’ll find your team naturally becoming more empathetic, creative, and collaborative.
Customers notice this stuff too – they see a business that genuinely cares about including everyone, and that builds the kind of trust and loyalty you just can’t buy with advertising.
When you support Caringa, you’re not just donating or publicly cheering us on – you’re:
- Providing new innovative and assistive technologies & programs
- Funding personalised and human-focused support services
- Creating pathways to a future of independence
- Strengthening our entire community’s social fabric
How to Get Involved
Your generous offer of financial support can create ripple effects of positive change that extend far beyond a single donation.
Here’s how you can make a real impact on the Caringa Community:
- Sponsor Our International Day of People with Disability Event: Show your commitment to inclusivity by becoming a special event sponsor. Your contribution helps us ensure our community of clients and participants can attend the event free of charge to celebrate a day for all. You will also be helping to raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities – as all the Comedians are also disabled.
- Workplace Inclusion: Consider creating work experience, an internship or employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Your business could lead by example in demonstrating the incredible talents and potential of the Caringa community members.
- Financial Support: Every donation, big or small, directly funds innovative technologies and personalized services that help people with disabilities achieve their goals.
Ready to be a Caringa Community Champion?
How to Support Us:
- Email us at hello@caringa.com.au – Email Subject: Supporting IDPwD2024
- Send us a direct message on our social media
- Call our office to discuss sponsorship opportunities
- Donate directly and securely online HERE – Donation Reference: IDPwD2024
Tax-Deductible Giving
As a bonus, your contribution is tax-deductible. You’re not just doing good – you’re making a financial decision that benefits your Accounts Team 😉
Our Shared Vision
For 71 years, Caringa has been proving that when a community comes together, anything is possible. Local business owners, community members, creatives, operators, and collaborators like you are crucial in continuing this legacy of support, understanding, and empowerment.
Join the Caringa Community & make a difference.
Together, we can ensure that the Coffs Coast and the Clarence Valley regions remain a place where everyone belongs, everyone matters, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
BECOME a Caringa Community Champion
Donations & Charity Information:
CARINGA AUSTRALIA LTD is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
CARINGA AUSTRALIA LTD has charitable Institution status and is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
All donations and gifts over $2 are tax deductible. ABN 57 250 634 865
You can view the complete Caringa T&C’s online – Read more HERE, or contact Caringa with any queries.