About estara
Founded in 1963 as the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of South Australia, estara began with a small group of volunteers advocating for wheelchair users. Today, we are a registered NDIS provider and charity supporting people with spinal cord injury, neurological conditions and related disabilities.
That expertise is reflected in everything we do: a support model shaped by lived experience, specialist teams, a connected range of services and a commitment to creating real impact.
It’s what sets us apart in South Australia.
Our Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030
We are pleased to share estara’s new Strategic Plan for 2026–2030.
Building on more than 60 years of expertise, the strategy sets a clear direction for estara’s future. At its core, it reflects who we are and what matters most, empowering people and their communities to adapt and thrive, and ensuring we remain a trusted provider of specialist disability support in South Australia.
The strategy is practical, focused and sustainable. It recognises the environment we operate in today, while clearly articulating the role estara will continue to play in the lives of the people we support.
It has been shaped by those who matter most, our clients, members, lived‑experience voices and our team. We thank everyone who attended workshops, shared feedback and contributed ideas throughout this process.
The strategy also provides clarity of purpose for our team and introduces a refreshed set of values that guide how we work with one another, with our clients and with our partners.
Our Purpose
To empower people with spinal cord injury, neurological and related disabilities and their communities to adapt and thrive.
Our Mission
Built on over 60 years of expertise, we support people with spinal cord injury, neurological and related disabilities to live well through specialised supports, expert guidance and strong community connections.
Our Vision
To be the partner and provider of choice, setting the benchmark for specialist disability support in South Australia.
Our Values
Our values guide how we work, how we make decisions, and how we show up for the people we support. Integrity shapes our actions, collaboration strengthens our partnerships, excellence drives best practice, and a solution focus ensures we make a meaningful difference every day.
Ethical
Actions.
We act with integrity by doing what we say, being open and honest, and taking responsibility, building trust through consistent transparent behaviour.
Stronger
Together.
We collaborate by valuing lived experience, embracing inclusion, and working alongside the people we support, their families, our colleagues, and our community to achieve stronger, shared outcomes.
Quality
Driven.
We provide safe, reliable, evidence informed services and continually review and improve to ensure our service provision evolves.
Solution
Focused.
We find practical, person-centred ways to overcome barriers, adapt to challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes.
Our Core Pillars
Our strategic pillars provide the foundation for estara’s long term direction and impact.
They ensure we remain focused on delivering sustainable, person-centred specialist services, investing in our people, culture and organisational capability, strengthening
service excellence and specialist leadership and embedding integrated systems and continuous improvement.
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We will continue to design and deliver services around what matters most to the people we support, drawing on our expertise to offer integrated, reliable supports that are accessible and sustainable over the long term.
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We will build on our strengths in spinal cord injury and neurological disability by strengthening clinical pathways, embedding co‑design, and partnering with clinical, research and academic organisations to continually improve outcomes.
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Our people are central to our success. We will invest in a values‑aligned culture that supports, equips and connects our workforce to deliver quality services.
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We will modernise systems and ways of working to improve access, efficiency and outcomes, using data to inform our decisions and support continuous improvement and keep pace with changing needs.
We represent our community to influence effective change, remove barriers to quality of life and uphold the rights of people living with disability.
estara is a registered NDIS provider. Our passionate and dedicated staff and volunteers work together to provide support and advocacy to enable you to fully participate in the community.
estara is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a benevolent organisation.
Read our Constitution, see our recent Annual Reports and meet Our People.
Our patrons: Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC Governor of South Australia and Mr Rod Bunten are joint patrons of estara.
Our History
Since 1963, when estara was founded as the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of South Australia by a small group of volunteers advocating for wheelchair users, we have worked alongside people with spinal cord injury, neurological conditions and related disabilities. That history means our people understand what works, what doesn’t, and what matters most: you.
Our organisation is shaped by lived experience. From our Board to our frontline teams, that insight helps us design services around what you actually need, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
This unique insight is backed by specialist clinical and support teams with expertise in spinal cord damage, neurological conditions and related disabilities. Together, they deliver practical, person-centred support designed around real life.
We offer a broad range of services across regional and metropolitan South Australia, including in-home and community support, Supported Independent Living (SIL), allied health, peer support, mentoring and support coordination.
Our connected approach means we support you at different stages of life, adapting as needs and goals change over time.
At estara, our focus is simple: helping people live independently, safely and with greater choice.
1963
The Paraplegic Association (now estara) began, run by volunteers to advocate for those using a wheelchair for mobility.
1970s
Services expanded to provide independent living support and social or recreational community support for people with spinal cord injuries.
1980s
Our service offering expanded into in-home support for people with all types of disabilities, not just spinal cord injury, delivering practical and high-quality services through our HomeCare+ team.
2014
The Paraplegic Association (now estara) became known as PQSA (Para Quad South Australia), highlighting our role as the ‘go-to’ organisation in South Australia for spinal cord injury and related conditions
2024
The new name estara unified PQSA and HomeCare+ combining our specialised disability support and our in-home and community support under a single brand.
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