Local Community Partnership

Caring for a child can be tough and very challenging. While every child is a joy to their parents, families of children with a disability find simple everyday living more difficult. Financial assistance, respite care - time out and community support can make a world of difference.

The Westfield Community Program was launched in early 2008 to address these needs in our local communities. Each Westfield Centre across Australia partners with a local disability service provider to help improve the quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.

Westfield West Lakes encourages you to support its local community partner Cara (Community Accommodation Respite Agency).

Cara (Community Accommodation Respite Agency)

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Cara provide a range of quality community based accommodation and respite services to children and adults with severe and multiple disabilities and their families in South Australia.

Westfield is pleased to be involved in a partnership that will refurbish a Cara respite care house in South Australia.

The Respite Care House will provide over 70 children and their families with a great new service that is designed to give parents a break and children a fun, safe place to spend time. Respite is especially important for those families who have the responsibility of care for a child with a disability. That care can often include constant broken sleep, time consuming meals, heavy lifting and regular personal care. Some children with severe disabilities may also have difficulty in physically expressing their thoughts and feelings and so many parents have the added challenge of monitoring their child’s emotional state, pain management and overall well being without their child being able to tell them. It takes great skill and is not an easy task.

That is why overnight respite houses provided by Cara are so vital in supporting families. They provide a break for a weekend or a few days over the school holidays for up to five children, giving families the ‘time out’ they need.

Take action

Donate: Donations are gratefully received at Concierge Desks at Westfield West Lakes, Westfield Tea Tree Plaza and Westfield Marion, or you can send a cheque to Cara Inc PO Box 237 Woodville SA 5011