KARI Aboriginal Resources Incorporated (KARI) was established in 1999 as a not-for-profit community organisation based at Liverpool in Sydney's South West. KARI was founded to address the needs of the Aboriginal communities within the region as at the time there were virtually no Aboriginal community services operating in the area. KARI provides an Aboriginal Out-of-Home Care Program as well as a Community Program for the Aboriginal communities within Sydney's South West.

The service officially opened with a single office and two employees who provided the groundwork for our Out-of-Home Care Program and our Community Programs. The initial service began with the recruiting and training of Aboriginal foster carers and the shared-care of 20 Aboriginal children and young people in care with the DoCS NSW who had case management responsibilities.

Since commencing KARI has grown significantly in service delivery and reputation and is now recognised as being the largest accredited Aboriginal Children's Service in NSW. Over time the model for the KARI Out of Home Care Program has changed, we are now responsible for the full case management of our children and young people and this allows us to be more effective in assuring culturally significant influences are included within our service delivery. The NSW Office for Children has conducted a comprehensive assessment of KARI Out of Home Care and has accredited the program for five years. KARI is building its program to be responsible for the care of 120 children and young people. KARI continues to recruit quality Aboriginal people who are then provided with an extensive training and assessment process. Once successfully completed the new carers then join the KARI foster care team.

Another aspect of our service growth has been the establishment of the KARI Clinic, a comprehensive program that provides various assessments for the health and development of the children and young person who enters our Out-of-Home Care Program. In 2008 the Clinic was awarded the Premier's Excellence Award for Health, Wellbeing, Body and Mind as well as the NSW Aboriginal Health Award for Strengthening Aboriginal Families & Children.

Our Community Programs has been a part of our service delivery since July 2003 and it too has seen an increase in the programs that we provide to our community. The Community Programs four main programs are: Aboriginal Training and Development; Community Unity; Cultural Enrichment and Aboriginal Economic Empowerment. Each program aims to support our vision that the Aboriginal communities of South Western Sydney will become self-sufficient and achieve social and economic equality. Some of our exciting and innovative programs include our School Scholarship Program for students in years 11 and 12; Racing to the Top; Father and Son's Camp; Mothers & Children's Camp; Music & Singing and our Vocal Identification Program.

KARI is committed to providing programs and services that are sustainable and of a high quality that benefit our Aboriginal community. KARI's continued growth and service reputation has been hard won and we are now recognised by many as being one of the state's leading Aboriginal service providers. KARI continues to aim high and we are determined to be the best for our community.