Yourtown
Yourtown is an Australian nonprofit charity (formerly BoysTown) delivering 24/7 counselling (Kids Helpline), youth employment programs, family violence services, and accommodation for young parents across five states, funded primarily by Art Union prize draws and government contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBrisbane, Australia
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Yourtown does
Yourtown (formerly BoysTown) is an Australian nonprofit charity organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Brisbane, with operations across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. The organization delivers wraparound support services to children and young people aged 5-25 and their families, including mental health and crisis counselling (Kids Helpline, Parentline), youth employment and training (Transition to Work, jobactive, social enterprises), domestic and family violence refuges, and accommodation for vulnerable young parents (San Miguel). The organization rebranded from BoysTown to yourtown in recent years and is governed as a registered charity (ABN 11 102 379 386) under CEO Tracy Adams.
The core technology stack spans a multi-channel service delivery platform including 24/7 phone counselling via 1800 55 1800 (free even from mobile, regulated under Australian telecommunications rules), the world-first Kids Helpline WebChat service launched in 1999, video-calling delivery into classrooms under Kids Helpline @ School, the purpose-built My Circle peer-support chat room platform launched in 2020 with Bupa Health Foundation support, and the niggle consumer wellbeing tracking app launched in 2019. Identity is managed via Microsoft Azure AD B2C with OAuth 2.0 for the myplace account portal, and donations are processed through GoFundraise.
The revenue model is hybrid. Approximately 57% of funding comes from Art Union prize draws (luxury homes, prestige cars including Porsche, BMW, and Maserati, plus gold bullion in partnership with As Good As Gold Australia), with tickets sold online, by phone (1800 555 079), and through the recurring myplace subscription programme (entitling members to 70+ bonus draws). The remainder is sourced from federal and state government contracts (Transition to Work, jobactive, family violence services), tax-deductible donations across one-off, seasonal appeal, workplace giving, philanthropic giving, bequests, and corporate partnership streams, and Social Enterprises that provide paid work experience and training to disadvantaged youth, including the ARC/Griffith University-evaluated Yarrabilba construction-skills project with Lend Lease. Services to clients are provided free of charge.
Yourtown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yourtown
- Legal name
- yourtown
- Website
- https://yourtown.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Yourtown is an Australian nonprofit charity (formerly BoysTown) delivering 24/7 counselling (Kids Helpline), youth employment programs, family violence services, and accommodation for young parents across five states, funded primarily by Art Union prize draws and government contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yourtown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth and Family Community Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
Keywords
Where Yourtown is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brisbane
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices5 records
Markets served
Yourtown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Art Union Prize Draws: Lottery-style prize draws (Art Union) offering luxury homes, prestige cars, and gold bullion as prizes. Ticket sales form the primary revenue source, generating 57% of yourtown's total funding according to their own reporting. Multiple draws per year with homes in prestige locations.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate partners, community supporters, and workplace giving programs. Christmas and seasonal appeals drive donation campaigns.
- Government Funding: Federal and state government grants and contracts to deliver services including employment programs (Transition to Work, jobactive), Kids Helpline operations, and family violence services.
- Social Enterprises: Yourtown Enterprises provides training and employment programs for disadvantaged youth, generating revenue through training services and providing work experience opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time | Tax-deductible donation tiers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Prize Draw Tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Yourtown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Yourtown is an Australian nonprofit charity organization that delivers free community services to children, young people (aged 5-25) and families, including 24/7 counselling (Kids Helpline), youth employment and training programs, domestic and family violence support, and accommodation for vulnerable young parents. These services are primarily funded through Art Union prize home and prestige car lottery draws (57% of funding), with the balance from donations, government grants and social enterprise activities.
Product overview
Yourtown (formerly BoysTown) operates as a charity organization providing community services for children and young people, primarily funded through its Art Union prize home and car draw program. The core service portfolio includes Kids Helpline (24/7 counselling for ages 5-25), employment programs (Transition to Work, jobactive), family services (Parentline, Domestic and Family Violence Service, San Miguel young parent accommodation), and social enterprises for training disadvantaged youth. The Art Union and myplace subscription programs conduct regular prize draws as the primary fundraising mechanism, contributing 57% of organizational funding. Digital offerings include WebChat counselling, Kids Helpline @ School video program, My Circle peer support platform, and the niggle wellbeing tracking app.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kids Helpline: Australia's only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
- Parentline
- myplace
- Prize Homes
- My Circle
- niggle App
- Kids Helpline @ School
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of young people obtain employment, re-engage with education, or continue training after completing Yarrabilba social enterprise project
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Yourtown
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Yourtown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Yourtown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Australian Research CouncilcoreJoint research partnership with Griffith University to evaluate BoysTown's social enterprise projects including the Yarrabilba initiative. The ARC-funded study found that 73% of young people achieved positive outcomes (employment, education, training) after completing programs.
- Griffith UniversitycoreAcademic research partnership evaluating social enterprise program effectiveness. Joint research published findings on youth employment outcomes and program efficacy.
- Lend LeasecorePartnership for Yarrabilba social enterprise project - a master planned community development where yourtown delivers employment and training programs for disadvantaged youth. Young people gain construction, landscaping and other skills through on-the-job training.
- OptusminorTelecommunications partner that set up no-charge mobile calls to Kids Helpline on their plans, enabling free access for young people on Optus networks before federal regulation required all telcos to follow.
- eSafety CommissionercoreOngoing partnership in cyber safety education. Kids Helpline was among the first to flag increasing need for cyber safety education and collaborated to launch Cybersmart in 2009, later transitioning to eSafety Commissioner partnership.
- NRL (National Rugby League)minorProud partner of NRL State of Mind program which raises awareness of mental health issues. Kids Helpline promoted through NRL community and sporting events.
- Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa Gold CoastminorHospitality partnership providing work experience opportunities for young people from yourtown's Logan facility. Two-day program gave insight into hotel operations and employment opportunities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Yourtown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ReachOut Australia: Australia's leading online youth mental-health service. Directly comparable to yourtown's Kids Helpline because both serve 12-25 year-olds through digital mental-health channels and rely on a hybrid of government contracts and donations.
- Headspace Australia: Federally funded youth mental-health organization operating physical centres across Australia. Comparable to yourtown because both deliver counselling and wellbeing services to the 12-25 age cohort under federal contracts and have national footprints.
- The Smith Family: Australian children's charity running education and family-support programs for disadvantaged youth. Comparable to yourtown because both serve vulnerable children/young people through education, employment, and family services, and rely on donations and lottery/Art Union-style fundraising.
- Berry Street: Victorian-based nonprofit providing family violence, out-of-home care, and youth services. Comparable to yourtown's Domestic and Family Violence Service and San Miguel Young Parent Service in target population and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- Lifeline Australia: Australia's largest crisis-support phone line. Comparable to yourtown's Kids Helpline because both provide free, 24/7 telephone crisis support and rely on a mix of donations, government grants, and retail fundraising, but Lifeline serves all ages rather than specialising in 5-25.
- Beyond Blue: National mental-health nonprofit providing phone, webchat and clinical services. Comparable to yourtown because both are federally co-funded mental-health providers with similar digital service models, though Beyond Blue focuses on depression/anxiety rather than a youth-only cohort.
- Mission Australia: One of Australia's largest social-services nonprofits running housing, employment, and youth programs. Comparable to yourtown across employment services and youth housing but with a broader client base and service catalogue.
- Anglicare Australia: Federation of Anglican community-service organizations delivering counselling, housing, and family support nationally. Comparable to yourtown in service mix but serves the broader population rather than a youth-only niche.
Emerging players
- Black Dog Institute: Australian research-and-clinical organisation focused on mood disorders with strong digital programs for young people. Comparable to yourtown's digital wellbeing tools (niggle, My Circle) where both invest in evidence-based youth mental-health platforms.
- Orygen Youth Mental Health: Research-driven youth mental-health organization operating headspace centres and digital tools. Comparable to yourtown because both operate youth-focused mental-health services with research partnerships; Orygen has a more clinical/research orientation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Yourtown social profiles
Digital presenceYourtown compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Yourtown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yourtown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Yourtown subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Yourtown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yourtown 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 Yourtown
What does Yourtown do?
Yourtown is an Australian nonprofit charity organization that delivers free community services to children, young people (aged 5-25) and families, including 24/7 counselling (Kids Helpline), youth employment and training programs, domestic and family violence support, and accommodation for vulnerable young parents. These services are primarily funded through Art Union prize home and prestige car lottery draws (57% of funding), with the balance from donations, government grants and social enterprise activities.
Is Yourtown a public or private company?
Yourtown is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Yourtown founded?
Yourtown was founded in 1991. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Yourtown based?
Yourtown is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Yourtown make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Art Union Prize Draws are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, government Funding and social Enterprises.
Who are Yourtown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ReachOut Australia, Headspace Australia, The Smith Family and Berry Street. Broad incumbents are Lifeline Australia, Beyond Blue, Mission Australia and Anglicare Australia. Emerging players are Black Dog Institute and Orygen Youth Mental Health.
Does Yourtown have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yourtown.
What industry is Yourtown in?
Yourtown's product category is Youth and Family Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.