Our history

Community Action for Better Living began in 1968 when a group of local community members joined forces with the then Mayor of Burwood, the late Alderman Keith Smith, and the Mayoress, Alderman Bonnie Smith, to establish ‘Burwood Aid Services’.

In 1976, the service expanded and became known as the Burwood Information and Aid Centre (BIAC). Over the next 10 years, led by local volunteers Fred and Jean Skead, and with the dedication and hard work of over 60 volunteers, BIAC provided information to local residents on childcare, youth services, accommodation, legal aid, and ethnic services. The Centre also delivered a Meals on Wheels service and organised recreational activities for the aged community in the Burwood area. The Centre was always a welcoming place for community members. As Philip Taylor, Mayor of Burwood at the time, stated: “The idea behind all these programs is to form friendship groups among people who would normally be isolated from the community.”

In 1988, BIAC moved to the bicentennial building, Skead House, and became known as Burwood Community Welfare Services Inc. (BCWS). The services provided by BCWS became more specialised and included a Family Support Service, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Support Services, Meals on Wheels, and Volunteer Counselling. These services extended beyond Burwood residents, reaching other Inner West local government areas, including Strathfield, Canada Bay, the former Ashfield, and Canterbury-Bankstown.

In 2013, due to the redevelopment of the site where Skead House was located, BCWS relocated its main operations to 2 Wyatt Avenue, Burwood, with Meals on Wheels operating from premises at the Dutton Centre, Strathfield (eventually relocating to Concord).

In 2023, with over 20 staff and 80 volunteers, the organisation transitioned to a new name, Community Action for Better Living Inc. (CABL), along with a new brand. The name CABL reflects a new era as a dynamic and future-focused community organisation. It works collaboratively with partners, offering a vibrant and accessible wellbeing and support hub for residents of Sydney’s Inner West.

While CABL has changed significantly since its establishment in 1968, the organisation maintains the same commitment and dedication to assisting people. The staff and volunteers share a strong sense of care and social justice, devoting themselves to providing services that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

In 2025, CABL moved from Wyatt Ave to new premises in Homebush. The organisation aims to continue evolving as a progressive not-for-profit organisation that plays a key role in supporting the local community.