CARAD - The Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees

When the pantry shelves are bare, or rent is due with nothing left in hand, hope can feel out of reach. For many asylum seekers in Australia — people who’ve already fled war, violence, or persecution — building a safe life here often begins with very little support to fall back on.

That’s where CARAD quietly steps in.

The Last Resort, for 25 Years

Based in Perth and powered by more than 200 volunteers, CARAD has been a lifeline for people with nowhere else to turn.

For over 25 years, they’ve provided food, shelter, and urgent assistance to people who can’t access mainstream support. They fill the gaps others can’t always reach — offering food, clothing, and visits to people in immigration detention, teaching life skills like English and public transport, and helping families secure housing and employment once stability returns.

Anna, CARAD’s Relationship Manager, explained:

“We try to be as client-centred as possible. Meeting someone’s needs looks different for each person, so we tailor support to them. In our client services program, which covers food, healthcare and housing, we support around 200 people. In our Opening Doors program — employment coaching, English tutoring, education for kids and adults — there are another 200, and we always have a waitlist.”

A Pantry of Possibility

Much of CARAD’s work begins in their pantry — sustained entirely by donations. It’s where families find food, clothing, and essentials to make everyday life manageable.

Heather, one of CARAD’s long-time volunteers, described it this way:

“You’ve seen the fresh fruit and vegetables we get donated, and the pantry cupboards, which can be rather bare at times. We’re constantly reaching out to the community and shops to keep it going. What people need varies so much — so we encourage them to take the things they want, especially the fresh fruit and vegetables, so they can live healthily.”

For Heather, the experience is deeply personal: “Getting to know clients, hearing their stories… it makes me feel very privileged to live the life I live.”

Each week, the pantry sustains more than 125 people. The food security officer who oversees it put it plainly:

“My job is making sure we’ve got enough food to nourish 125 people a week. And we run on donations alone — so it’s vital we grow partnerships to keep the shelves stocked. We’re the lifeline for some people.”

Cars for Good Steps In

Through Cars for Good, easyauto123 has contributed a $1,000 donation to CARAD — supporting the continuation of food parcels, rent relief, and other essentials that keep families safe and connected.

Anna explained how every dollar matters:

“Our biggest expenses are in housing and healthcare. Even with donations from the community, the needs keep increasing as more people are forcibly displaced around the world. This donation will go directly to clients — covering rent, food, or hygiene products when they need it most.”

She also shared her excitement about the support:

“The money will make a massive difference, and a partnership with businesses such as easyauto123 can help spread the message about our relatively unknown, but crucial charity.”

Why It Matters

CARAD is proof that even when formal support feels out of reach, communities can still step forward.

They remind us that safety is more than documents, and belonging is built through people as much as place. It’s about dignity, compassion, and the chance to hold onto hope at the hardest point in life.

One pantry. Hundreds of lives. That’s CARAD.