The word "KARU" means child in Gurrindji spoken by the people of Dagaragu in the Wavehill - Kalkarinji region south west of Darwin.

Our Mission: Through family based services, assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities to attain emotional, social and cultural well-being which is fundamental for the control and ownership of our lives.

Past practices of placing Aboriginal children with non-Indigenous families led to the establishment of KARU in 1983 (refer NT Community Welfare Act 1983, s.69).

KARU is a community based organisation incorporated under the NT Associations Act and  a member of the Secretariat of National Aborginal & Islander Child Care  (SNAICC).