Our Story
Our journey begun with a shared vision of ambition and innovation.
This is a tale of vision, determination, and relentless pursuit of a dream that has now grown into a thriving reality.
Meet Mariah, a brilliant mind with passion for making a difference. She possesses an innate ability to identify opportunities in even the most challenging situations, and believed that she could create something extraordinary.
Her journey towards founding Benjicare was filled with inspiration, setbacks, and unwavering resilience.
She founded Benjicare with Dr Gabi Anderson-Courtney, who has resigned from being a director in March 2025.
They met working for the same company and quickly realised not only that they worked very well together, but also how much difference they could make together.
The idea was simple yet revolutionary: to transform the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing them with a touch of luxury and a dash of innovation, offering not just daily support, but also travel experiences, luxury adaptive vehicles, lifestyle assistants, and experiences that seamlessly merged style and accessibility.
Mariah believed that people with disabilities deserved not just basic access but the same luxurious experiences that others enjoyed. True luxury was not just about opulence and extravagance but about the freedom to live life on one's terms.
As her dream evolved into a reality, her commitment to her mission never wavered.
Mariah's story is a testament to the power of vision, determination, and the pursuit of one's dreams. It serves as an inspiration not only for Benjicare's team but they also remind us that with passion and unwavering commitment, we can turn our dreams into reality.
Benjicare's team has created a world where disability was not an obstacle but a unique facet of the human experience. Mariah has proven that the true luxury of life was the opportunity to live it fully, regardless of the challenges that might come one's way.
Benjicare was named after Benjamin Hartshorn, aka. Benji, Mariah's miniature schnauzer, who sadly passed away in 2023.
Click here to read more about Benji.
Mariah Hartshorn
CEO Business Operations
Mariah is dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals and families, with extensive experience in NDIS, aged care, and child safety. She holds a Diploma of Community Welfare, a Certificate III in Individual Support, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing, and various certifications in areas like dementia, palliative care, conflict resolution.
Mariah’s roles as a tertiary educator, national critical response advisor, and federal advisor in 2023 highlight her expertise. Her commitment to justice is evident in her collaboration with the Australian police from 2018 to 2023, advocating for the vulnerable and holding offenders accountable.
Mariah has over 10 years’ experience in operations and management of day services, in-home care, community access and various other programs such as SIL, SRS, SDA, STA and MTA, ECEI at a national level. Mariah envisions that through Benjicare, everyone—regardless of age, gender, race, or disability—can reach their full potential and enjoy life's finer things.​