Banksia Academy
Banksia Academy (Humans of Purpose Academy Ltd) is an Australian not-for-profit that runs a trauma-informed virtual hub providing free digital-skills training, mentoring, and employment pathways to women rebuilding their lives after domestic and family violence, funded by philanthropic foundations and government contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Banksia Academy does
Banksia Academy is the trading name of Humans of Purpose Academy Ltd, an Australian not-for-profit (ACNC Registered Charity, Social Traders Certified) operating a trauma-informed virtual education and employment-readiness platform for women rebuilding their lives after domestic and family violence. The product portfolio centres on a Virtual Community Hub accessible via app or mobile/desktop, where participants access mentoring, peer support, monthly masterclasses and a structured curriculum. Three named programs — the Virtual Community Hub, the Fit for the Future of Work Program (delivered in partnership with the NSW Government), and the Brighter Futures five-week self-paced course — sit alongside four specialised curriculum tracks covering Content & Social Marketing, Data Pathways, AI Tools & Workflows, and Strong Foundations (nervous-system regulation). The underlying technology is a self-serve web/app registration funnel (HubSpot forms) feeding into a virtual hub; no proprietary AI models, APIs or SDKs are disclosed.
The business model is philanthropic and grant-funded rather than commercial: all programs are provided free to participants, with revenue sourced from foundation grants (Minderoo, Goodman, Paul Ramsay, Snow, Vasudhara, Sydney Community Foundation, Dermalogica), an NSW Government contract for Fit for the Future of Work, the NSW DCJ Start Safely Program, and individual donations via SupporterHub. The disclosed capital base is modest — AUD 170,000 in seed funding in October 2022, of which AUD 100,000 came from the Vasudhara WildWomen Fund — and the organisation operates with 11-50 employees under a Board chaired by Mark Osborn with founder Melanie Greblo as Executive Director.
Go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven rather than demand-gen: participants enter the funnel via frontline DV referral partners (Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre, Domestic Violence Service Management, The DV Collective, Re-Love), organic social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook), and direct website applications. A separate employer-facing pipeline ("Hire from us") plus a recruitment partnership with Beaumont People creates an outcome-side placement channel that monetises through employer relationships rather than participant fees. The organisation serves exclusively the Australian market, with operational presence in Collingwood VIC and Sydney NSW.
Banksia Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Banksia Academy
- Legal name
- Humans of Purpose Academy Ltd
- Website
- https://banksiaacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Banksia Academy (Humans of Purpose Academy Ltd) is an Australian not-for-profit that runs a trauma-informed virtual hub providing free digital-skills training, mentoring, and employment pathways to women rebuilding their lives after domestic and family violence, funded by philanthropic foundations and government contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Banksia Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Education
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Banking & Payments (Accounts, Cards, Digital Payments) (EDAAAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Credit & Debt Management (Credit Scores, Loans, Repayment) (EDAAAJAC)
Keywords
Where Banksia Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Banksia Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Philanthropic/Funder Support: Seed funding from philanthropic organizations including Vasudhara WildWomen Fund ($100,000 of $170,000 total). Ongoing funding relationships with foundations including Minderoo Foundation, Goodman Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Snow Foundation, and others.
- Government Grants and Partnerships: Partnership with NSW Government for Fit for the Future of Work Program delivery. Support from government programs including NSW DCJ Start Safely Program.
- Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting women's economic inclusion. Donation portal available via SupporterHub.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free unlimited access to all programs and services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Banksia Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Banksia Academy is a not-for-profit virtual education platform delivering free, trauma-informed training, mentoring, and peer support to women re-entering the workforce after domestic and family violence. It bundles a Virtual Community Hub with structured programs (Fit for the Future of Work, Brighter Futures) and a curriculum across Content & Social Marketing, Data Pathways, AI Tools & Workflows, and Strong Foundations, culminating in a direct employer hiring pipeline into the digital economy. All programs are provided free of charge and delivered via online hub plus government-partnered wraparound support.
Product overview
Banksia Academy, operating as Humans of Purpose Academy, is a not-for-profit virtual education platform providing a suite of interconnected programs and curriculum tracks. The core portfolio includes the Virtual Community Hub (a trauma-informed online gathering place with resources, mentoring and masterclasses), the Fit for the Future of Work Program (a NSW Government-partnered pathway into digital employment), and the Brighter Futures Program (a five-week self-paced personal development course). These are supported by a monthly Exclusive Masterclasses calendar and four specialized curriculum tracks — Content & Social Marketing, Data Pathways, AI Tools & Workflows, and Strong Foundations — which together form a coherent pathway from personal recovery and skills development to digital economy employment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Virtual Community Hub An online gathering place (accessed via app or mobile/desktop) created by women with lived experience of domestic and family violence, providing free, unlimited access to real conversations, professional support, learning resources, mentoring, masterclasses and trauma-informed community for women on the journey to thriving.
- Fit for the Future of Work Program A program delivered through partnership with the NSW Government providing practical, wraparound support to help participants secure jobs in the digital economy, covering digital-skills training, mentoring, and a direct pathway to paid employment. Free to participants.
- Brighter Futures Program A five-week, self-paced online program (Brighter Future, by Humans of Purpose x Mettle Women) co-designed by women with lived experience to help participants set new life goals, build a personal success roadmap, and remember their strengths as they move forward. Free to participants.
- Exclusive Masterclasses A curated monthly calendar of masterclass topics covering building confidence, emotional regulation, financial planning, professional development, wellbeing, parenting, trauma healing, and more — offered free as part of the Academy's support programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Increased confidence and skills for home, workplace and community
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Banksia Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Banksia Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Banksia Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NSW DCJ Start Safely ProgramcoreGovernment program partner supporting safe housing and economic stability for domestic violence survivors.
- General AssemblycoreEducation partner providing digital skills training and career development programs.
- MinterEllisonminorProfessional services partner supporting organizational and legal needs.
- Today DesignminorDesign partner providing creative and brand development support.
- WorkVenturescoreTechnology and employment partner providing work experience opportunities and digital skills support.
- The Reconnect ProjectminorCommunity organization partner supporting women's reconnection and recovery programs.
- The Laptop InitiativeminorPartner providing technology access for women in need to participate in digital training programs.
- MoorupminorTechnology partner supporting digital inclusion and access programs.
- Women's and Girls' Emergency CentrecoreReferral partner providing pathways for women in emergency situations to access Academy programs.
- Domestic Violence Service ManagementcoreReferral partner connecting domestic violence service management clients to Academy programs.
- The DV CollectivecoreCommunity partner providing referral pathways for domestic violence survivors to access training and employment support.
- Centre for Women's Economic SafetycoreStrategic partner focused on women's economic safety and financial independence.
- Fidelis AdvisorsminorAdvisory partner providing strategic guidance and support for organizational development.
- Social OutcomesminorImpact measurement and outcomes partner supporting program effectiveness evaluation.
- Funding 4 GrowthminorFunding strategy partner supporting growth and sustainability planning.
- Beaumont PeoplecoreRecruitment partner connecting Academy graduates with employment opportunities in partner organizations.
- ForemindminorWellbeing and professional development partner supporting mental health and confidence programs.
- Re-LoveminorSocial enterprise partner supporting sustainable and meaningful employment pathways.
- Worthwhile VenturesminorSocial investment partner supporting impact-focused ventures and programs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Banksia Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit providing training, mentoring and corporate placement for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds; mirrors the wraparound training-to-employment model.
- iRelaunch: Career re-entry programs and returnship design for professionals returning to work after extended absences; analogous re-entry-to-employment model.
- General Assembly: Digital skills training provider already partnered with Banksia Academy; comparable curriculum offerings across data, marketing and AI workflows.
- The Mom Project: Career re-entry platform connecting women, including those returning after career breaks, with employers offering flexible work; comparable focus on women returning to the workforce.
- Per Scholas: Nonprofit delivering tuition-free technology training and career support to adults from underserved communities; closely aligned on digital skills training for economic mobility.
- WorkVentures: Australian nonprofit delivering digital inclusion and employment pathways to disadvantaged Australians; explicit strategic partner of Banksia Academy with a directly comparable mission and region.
- Dress for Success: Global nonprofit supporting women's economic independence and workforce re-entry through training, mentoring and employer connections; most comparable mission and beneficiary profile to Banksia Academy.
- NPower: Nonprofit providing tech skills training and career pathways for veterans and unemployed adults from low-income communities; comparable digital-economy training and employer pipeline approach.
Regional players
- Centre for Women's Economic Safety: Australian organization advancing women's economic safety through research, advocacy and programs; strategic partner of Banksia Academy addressing overlapping mission space.
- Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre: Australian crisis and recovery services organization for women and children; referral channel partner for Banksia Academy and serves the same beneficiary population.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Banksia Academy social profiles
Digital presenceBanksia Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Banksia Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Banksia Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Banksia Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Banksia Academy
What does Banksia Academy do?
Banksia Academy is a not-for-profit virtual education platform delivering free, trauma-informed training, mentoring, and peer support to women re-entering the workforce after domestic and family violence. It bundles a Virtual Community Hub with structured programs (Fit for the Future of Work, Brighter Futures) and a curriculum across Content & Social Marketing, Data Pathways, AI Tools & Workflows, and Strong Foundations, culminating in a direct employer hiring pipeline into the digital economy. All programs are provided free of charge and delivered via online hub plus government-partnered wraparound support.
Is Banksia Academy a public or private company?
Banksia Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Banksia Academy founded?
Banksia Academy was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Banksia Academy based?
Banksia Academy is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Banksia Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic/Funder Support is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Partnerships and donations.
Who are Banksia Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Year Up, iRelaunch, General Assembly, The Mom Project, Per Scholas, WorkVentures, Dress for Success and NPower. Regional players are Centre for Women's Economic Safety and Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre.
Does Banksia Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Banksia Academy.
What industry is Banksia Academy in?
Banksia Academy's product category is Workforce Development Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAJAD, Banking & Payments (Accounts, Cards, Digital Payments), with a secondary code of EDAAAJAC, Credit & Debt Management (Credit Scores, Loans, Repayment). Its NAICS code is 611.