BackTrack
BackTrack is a nonprofit founded in 2006 in Armidale, NSW, that helps vulnerable and at-risk young people aged 11–18 reconnect with education, training, and community through holistic programs, a social enterprise, and supported accommodation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersArmidale, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What BackTrack does
BackTrack Youth Works Ltd is a private nonprofit organization (company limited by guarantee, ABN 66 612 831 919) founded in 2006 by Bernie Shakeshaft in Armidale, New South Wales, to support vulnerable and at-risk young people aged 11–18 who are disengaged from mainstream education. The organization operates a holistic, multi-program model delivered through its Armidale headquarters (including the shed, classrooms, and the Warrah accommodation facility with a main house and four tiny homes), a permanent BackTrack Works operation in Tenterfield established in 2023, and the gifted Cubba Cubbah working farm acquired in 2022. Since inception, BackTrack has helped over 1,000 young people reconnect with education, training, families, and community.
The portfolio includes BackTrack Core (1:1 curriculum-aligned teaching, vocational training across agriculture, metalwork, woodwork, hospitality, and mechanics, delivered with local RTOs), BackTrack Works (a social enterprise established in 2018 delivering commercial services in agriculture, construction, fabrication, disaster recovery, and asset maintenance), the Paws Up dog program integrated into daily operations, the BackTrack Network (a peer-mentorship ecosystem of 8like-minded organizations across NSW and QLD), and the Night Crew pilot program (launched 2025 to divert overnight youth crime).
BackTrack's revenue model is dominated by donations and philanthropy (individuals, foundations such as Minderoo, Sony Foundation, MEHF Trust, N
BackTrack firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BackTrack
- Legal name
- BackTrack Youth Works Ltd
- Website
- https://backtrack.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- BackTrack is a nonprofit founded in 2006 in Armidale, NSW, that helps vulnerable and at-risk young people aged 11–18 reconnect with education, training, and community through holistic programs, a social enterprise, and supported accommodation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BackTrack industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN), Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved) (EDAAAOAG)
Keywords
Where BackTrack is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Armidale
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
BackTrack business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: BackTrack relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization actively seeks donations through its website, newsletter, and direct outreach. Donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia.
- Social Enterprise (BackTrack Works): BackTrack Works delivers commercial services across agriculture, construction, fabrication, disaster recovery and asset maintenance. Revenue from these services helps fund operations while providing employment and training opportunities for young people.
- BackTrack Foundation Endowment: Established in 2023, the BackTrack Foundation is an endowment fund aimed at long-term financial sustainability. It sits with Australian Communities Foundation as part of their Future Fund.
- Bequests and Planned Giving: BackTrack accepts bequests through wills, allowing donors to leave gifts to support long-term operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
BackTrack product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BackTrack is a nonprofit organization that provides holistic support, education, vocational training, accommodation, and employment pathways to vulnerable young people aged 11-18 who are disengaged from mainstream education in regional NSW and QLD, Australia. Its core service combines 1:1 curriculum-aligned teaching, hands-on vocational training across agriculture, construction, fabrication, and trades, supported accommodation at Warrah, and animal-assisted engagement through the Paws Up dog program, all delivered free of charge through a voluntary, long-term 'whatever it takes' engagement model. Revenue is generated through donations, philanthropy, grants, and the BackTrack Works social enterprise that delivers commercial services.
Product overview
BackTrack is a not-for-profit youth organization offering a multi-faceted, integrated approach to supporting vulnerable young people. The portfolio consists of the BackTrack Core program (core product) providing holistic youth work and education for 11-18 year olds; BackTrack Works (social enterprise) delivering commercial services that create employment pathways; the BackTrack Network (peer network) sharing methodology with like-minded organisations; and Paws Up (dog program) integral to daily operations. Additional support services include Accommodation (Warrah) with tiny homes, The Farm (Cubba Cubbah) for agricultural training, Night Crew crime reduction program, and documentary media content (BackTrack Boys and Chasing Dreams). The organization also operates BackTrack Foundation for long-term financial sustainability and disaster recovery services engaging youth in community relief work.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BackTrack Core Core youth work and wellbeing program for 11-18 year olds who are disengaged from mainstream education. Provides literacy, numeracy, life skills, and employability training through 1:1 curriculum-aligned teaching and hands-on vocational training across agriculture, farming, horticulture, dog training, metalwork, woodwork, hospitality, and mechanics.
- BackTrack Works Social enterprise established in 2018 providing pathways for training and employment. Delivers commercial services across agriculture, construction, fabrication, disaster recovery, and asset maintenance. Provides accredited training, traineeships, and employment opportunities for young people.
- BackTrack Network Peer network of like-minded organisations established in 2018, operating across NSW and QLD. An online platform provides access to resources and the BackTrack methodology, enabling communities to set up or scale up their work with young people.
- Accommodation (Warrah) Safe accommodation for BackTrack kids in a supportive family atmosphere in Armidale. Includes a main house for fully supported living and four tiny homes for young people to build rental history and transition to independent living. Staffed by around-the-clock youth workers.
- The Farm (Cubba Cubbah) Working farm gifted to BackTrack in 2022, providing a place for extended family to feel belonging for generations to come. Serves as a training ground for young people to learn agricultural life, with long-term plans for land and habitat regeneration.
- Disaster Recovery Services BackTrack Works disaster recovery crews providing skilled, purposeful work during natural disasters. Engages at-risk youth in disaster relief and preparedness. Services include clearing debris, fence repair, and access way creation. Crews are self-sufficient with own catering and gear.
- BackTrack Foundation Endowment fund established in 2023 by the board to secure long-term financial sustainability. Built over time to preserve capital and create income to contribute to BackTrack operations. Sits with Australian Communities Foundation as part of their Future Fund.
- Paws Up Dog Program Dog program integral to daily operations, ensuring dogs are part of every day. Young people engage in regular dog jump events, cattle trials, and twice-weekly dog handling training. Includes Schools Outreach program where young people and dogs visit remote primary schools to read with younger children.
- Night Crew Program Groundbreaking 12-week pilot program launched in January 2025 that engages and diverts at-risk young people during overnight hours. Addresses immediate needs including transport to prevent bail breaches, meals, clothing, and mentorship to divert younger kids from destructive behaviours and crime.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 young people helped since 2006 reconnect with education, training, families and community
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BackTrack
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BackTrack technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BackTrack partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Gotcha Park (Taree)minorSupplier of Speckle Park cattle to BackTrack's Cubba Cubbah farm. When Taree floods hit, Gotcha Park was severely affected and BackTrack disaster crews helped with relief efforts, demonstrating mutual community support.
- Local Registered Training OrganisationscoreBackTrack partners with local RTOs to deliver accredited training to young people. This includes vocational training across various disciplines including agriculture, construction, and trades.
- Armidale Neighbourhood WatchminorPartnered with BackTrack in the Night Crew pilot program (2024) to address night-time youth crime in Armidale. Also involved Local Council and NSW Police in the initiative.
- NSW PoliceminorCollaborated with BackTrack on the Night Crew pilot program addressing youth crime in Armidale.
- Armidale Local CouncilminorPartnered with BackTrack on the Night Crew pilot program addressing youth crime in Armidale.
- BackTrack Network (8 founding organisations)corePeer network of like-minded youth organizations operating across NSW and QLD since 2018. In 2024, evolved with both offline and online initiatives. Online platform provides access to resources and BackTrack methodology. Members support each other in helping young people.
- Joblink PlusminorLocal employment services provider and supporter. Logo displayed on supporters page.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BackTrack competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OzChild: Australian nonprofit supporting vulnerable children, young people, and families through therapeutic, education, and care services. Comparable to BackTrack in trauma-informed, long-term engagement of at-risk youth.
- Jesuit Social Services: Australian social services organisation with strong programs in youth justice, education, and mental health, including the former Whitelion program. Comparable to BackTrack in justice-involved youth work and intensive engagement model.
- CREATE Foundation: National peak body for children and young people in out-of-home care, advocating and providing programs. Comparable to BackTrack in serving disengaged/vulnerable youth and youth-led program design.
- Melbourne City Mission: Victorian-based nonprofit providing youth services, education, and homelessness support including trauma-informed programs. Comparable to BackTrack in holistic youth-focused service model and target cohort.
- YSAS (Youth Support and Advocacy Service): Victorian specialist youth AOD, mental health, and wellbeing organisation. Comparable to BackTrack in serving complex-needs adolescents with wraparound, voluntary, outreach-based support.
- BoysTown (Australia): Australian charity supporting at-risk children, young people, and families through counselling, residential care, and training. Comparable to BackTrack in mission and youth-crisis intervention focus.
- The Smith Family: Large Australian children's education charity focused on disadvantaged youth and learning support. Comparable to BackTrack in serving at-risk young people through education and wraparound programs, though at much larger national scale.
Emerging players
- Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): Australian government-funded youth mental health service network for 12-25 year olds. Comparable to BackTrack in serving the same youth cohort, but with a more clinical, federally commissioned model rather than holistic education/employment focus.
Broad incumbents
- Salvation Army Australia: Major Australian charity providing youth accommodation, crisis services, and employment programs. Comparable to BackTrack in mission and youth homelessness focus, but operates at vastly larger scale with broader religious affiliation.
- Mission Australia: One of Australia's largest community services organisations serving disadvantaged people including homeless and at-risk youth. Comparable to BackTrack in mission and target population, with much broader geographic and service-line coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BackTrack social profiles
Digital presenceBackTrack financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BackTrack leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
BackTrack subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
BackTrack funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BackTrack 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 BackTrack
What does BackTrack do?
BackTrack is a nonprofit organization that provides holistic support, education, vocational training, accommodation, and employment pathways to vulnerable young people aged 11-18 who are disengaged from mainstream education in regional NSW and QLD, Australia. Its core service combines 1:1 curriculum-aligned teaching, hands-on vocational training across agriculture, construction, fabrication, and trades, supported accommodation at Warrah, and animal-assisted engagement through the Paws Up dog program, all delivered free of charge through a voluntary, long-term 'whatever it takes' engagement model. Revenue is generated through donations, philanthropy, grants, and the BackTrack Works social enterprise that delivers commercial services.
Is BackTrack a public or private company?
BackTrack is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BackTrack founded?
BackTrack was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is BackTrack based?
BackTrack is headquartered in Armidale, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does BackTrack make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are social Enterprise (BackTrack Works), backTrack Foundation Endowment and bequests and Planned Giving.
Who are BackTrack's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OzChild, Jesuit Social Services, CREATE Foundation, Melbourne City Mission, YSAS (Youth Support and Advocacy Service), BoysTown (Australia) and The Smith Family. Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Salvation Army Australia and Mission Australia.
Does BackTrack have an API?
No public API is recorded for BackTrack.
What industry is BackTrack in?
BackTrack's product category is Youth Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAL, Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDANAJAF, Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.