Hartley Lifecare is a Canberra-based, not-for-profit organisation providing a growing range of flexible services and programs, including:

• full-time residential facilities and care
• residential respite facilities and care
• outreach programs to support people in home environments
• assistive technology
• workplace training and development
• community access programs
• a transport service.

We rely on government funding, business and individual sponsors as well as special events to raise the funds needed to carry on with our work.

History

Hartley Lifecare Incorporated was established more than 45 years ago to support children and young adults living with a physical disability and help them to maximise their life potential.

Originally formed to provide a learning facility and therapy support service at The Canberra Hospital, we quickly grew to meet the needs of the many children with disabilities and their families through a residential and respite service. Hartley forged ahead providing a range of much-needed services not then available elsewhere in the ACT.

Our first facility, known as Hartley House, was located in the inner-north suburb of O’Connor. In 1984, a complex of three purpose-built houses, known as Hartley Court, was completed to meet the growing demand of supported accommodation services. Today Hartley Court, located in Hughes, provides 24-hour specialised accommodation and long- and short-term respite care in a ‘home-away-from-home’ environment.

Families learned they could come to rely on Hartley Lifecare and our disability services. We have subsequently expanded again and now operate a residential facility in Fisher designed to support clients with an acquired brain injury. We also now have an Outreach Program, which helps people with a disability in their home environment.