1992

A new management group ( Shoalhaven Youth Refuge Inc) takes control of the Nowra Youth Refuge. Later that year, a newly formed management group (Aunties and Uncles South Coast) starts up the Aunties and Uncles Program in the Shoalhaven.

1994

The Shoalhaven Youth Refuge and South Coast Aunties and Uncles become a single entity named Shoalcare. 5 staff work at the Youth Refuge and the Aunties and Uncles program has one part time coordinator

1996

After being allocated a facility by the Department of Housing at Nowra, Shoalcare begins providing medium term accommodation for homeless young people.

2000

At the request of DoCS the Youth Refuge is closed and recurrent SAAP funding is redirected to establish a foster care program for young people in crisis.

2001

An accommodation service for people with disabilities is established at Nowra. Mentoring services are offered as an extension of the Foster Care Program.

2003

The Aunties and Uncles Program extends to Ulladulla. A crisis accommodation service for homeless young people is reintroduced at Nowra.

2004

Out of Home Care placements grow, funded by short term individual client agreements.

2005

Shoalcare officially changes its name to CareSouth. Supervised Contact is introduced to CareSouth’s program portfolio.

2007

CareSouth becomes lead agency for Brighter Futures, Illawarra. The Family Choices program is established providing alternative family care for children with disabilities in southern and western NSW. The Out of Home Care program achieves 5 year accreditation with the Office of the Children’s Guardian. Aunties and Uncles extends to the Illawarra.

2008

CareSouth’s Wollongong office moves to Ralph Black Drive, North Wollongong.

2009

CareSouth establishes an office in Queanbeyan, expanding services to the area surrounding the ACT. CareSouth secures recurrent funding for OOHC which includes residential placements for young people aged 12 – 18 years and foster care placements for children age 0 – 18 years. Crisis accommodation for young people is moved to the new CareSouth Youth Hostel within a larger premises at Nowra. The Disability Program expands to include a residential Out of Home Care service, Leaving Care placements, Emergency Response placements with an additional accommodation service.

2010

CareSouth completes the establishment of all three residential out of home care services in Wollongong, Nowra and Queanbeyan.

2011

The Mentoring Program becomes a stand alone program. There are 223 employees and 100 + Carers.

2012

As a result of Out of Home Care (OOHC) reform, carer and client placement transitions commence from Family and Community Services to NGOs including CareSouth. OOHC expansion includes funding for an additional 66 foster care placements over the next 4 years, 36 in Southern and 30 in Western also 4 intensive residential placements in Southern. The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) Accreditation visit takes place, and CareSouth passes with no further recommendations for improvement and the highest accolades. There are over 300 employees.