In May 1995, Cara formally became an independent organisation, operating as the Community Accommodation and Respite Agency (CARA). The transition marked a major milestone in the organisation’s history, establishing Cara as a dedicated provider of accommodation, respite and support services for adults with disability across South Australia.

The move to independence reflected a broader shift occurring throughout the disability sector. Increasingly, people with disability were seeking greater choice, autonomy and opportunities to live meaningful lives within their communities. As an independent organisation, Cara was able to focus exclusively on supporting adults with disability through services that promoted independence, community participation and individual choice.

The establishment of Cara created a strong foundation for future growth and innovation. What began as a specialist provider of accommodation and respite services would continue to evolve over the decades that followed, expanding its reach, expertise and impact across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Guided by the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live the life they choose, Cara continued to build on the legacy established by the families, advocates and volunteers who came before.

This milestone represented more than organisational independence. It signalled the beginning of a new chapter, one in which Cara could shape its own future while remaining committed to supporting people with disability to live lives filled with greater choice, connection, joy, purpose and belonging.