STEPS Group Australia

What STEPS Group Australia does

STEPS Group Australia is a not-for-profit organization founded circa 1989-1990 by Carmel Crouch AM, headquartered in Caloundra, Queensland, and operating across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania through 17+ physical locations and an online learning platform. It delivers four interlocking service lines: government-funded adult education and training (Skills for Education and Employment Program, Adult Migrant English Program, Skilling Queenslanders for Work, and Tasmanian-subsidized Certificate III in Individual Support); registered NDIS disability services (Supported Independent Living, Individualised Living Options, Community Engagement, Work Mates employment coaching, and Positive Behaviour Support); fee-for-service short courses in First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and Manual Handling; and social businesses including STEPS Café on George, STEPS Garden Centre, STEPS Pathways College (a boarding college for young adults with disability and autism), and STEPS Pathways Charity. Core technology is administrative rather than product-facing; the value proposition rests on regulatory accreditations (RTO 1847, NDIS registration, ISO 27001:2022) and a regional physical footprint.

Revenue mechanics are dominated by multi-year government contracts — Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Home Affairs, Queensland Government DESBT, and Tasmanian Department of State Growth — supplemented by NDIS plan-funded service delivery, modest fee-for-service course fees ($60-$285 per course), social enterprise revenue from the café and garden centre, and charitable donations. The organization is governed by a Board chaired by founder Carmel Crouch AM with CEO Cassie Stanley leading operations and a CFO (CPA) with 18 years of NFP sector experience. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining grassroots outreach (careers expos, community groups, refugee week participation), referral relationships with employment and settlement agencies, and direct inbound via a Customer Care Team across 1300-number phone lines and email channels. Customer segments include NDIS participants, job seekers, migrants and refugees, aged care and disability sector trainees, young people with disability and autism, and Queensland youth aged 15-19.

Name

STEPS Group Australia

Legal name

STEPS Group Australia

Website

https://stepsgroup.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

STEPS Group Australia is a not-for-profit organization delivering government-funded education, NDIS disability services, employment support, and mental health services to job seekers, migrants, and people with disability across Queensland, Northern Territory, and Tasmania through 17+ locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Disability Support Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Vocational education training
• NDIS service provider
• Community support programs
• Government funded training

Headquarters

HQ city

Caloundra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government-funded training programs: Revenue from delivering Australian Government-funded programs including Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program, Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), and Skilling Queenslanders for Work. Programs are free for eligible participants with funding received from government departments.
2. NDIS disability services: Registered NDIS provider delivering disability support services including Supported Independent Living, Community Engagement, Employment Support (Work Mates), and Positive Behaviour Support. Services funded through participant NDIS plans.
3. Fee-for-service courses: Some courses offered on a fee-for-service basis for non-eligible participants or those seeking specific certifications. Examples include First Aid Short Course ($95), Mental Health First Aid ($285), and Manual Handling Refresher ($60).
4. Social enterprise operations: STEPS Café on George and STEPS Garden Centre provide employment opportunities for participants while generating revenue. Garden Centre supports STEPS Pathways College.
5. Donations and charity: STEPS Pathways Charity accepts donations to support young people with disability and autism through STEPS Pathways College.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STEPS Group Australia is a not-for-profit provider of integrated education, training, employment, disability support (NDIS), and mental health services to individuals across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania. Core offerings include government-funded Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) and Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), nationally recognised vocational qualifications, NDIS-funded Supported Independent Living, employment coaching, and community engagement services, complemented by social enterprises and mental health programs.

Product overview

STEPS Group Australia is a not-for-profit organisation offering a diverse portfolio of education, employment, and community support services across Australia. The core offerings include the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program and Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) as primary government-funded training initiatives, supplemented by nationally recognised vocational courses (Certificate III in Business, Certificate II in Hospitality, Certificate III in Individual Support, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Manual Handling). Employment services include the Work Mates disability employment program and Supported Independent Living. The organisation operates social businesses including STEPS Café on George, STEPS Garden Centre, STEPS Pathways College (boarding college for young adults with disability and autism), and STEPS Pathways Charity. Additional programs include Get Set for Work for youth, Five STEPS Housing Program for rental skills, and Mental Health Services. The portfolio spans Queensland and Northern Territory with 17 locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Work Mates: NDIS-funded disability employment coaching program supporting NDIS clients to gain and maintain paid employment
• STEPS Pathways Charity
• STEPS Pathways College
• STEPS Café on George
• STEPS Garden Centre
• STEPS SEE Program
• STEPS AMEP
• Five STEPS Housing Program

Products and services

• Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program Free, government-funded training program helping adults build language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for employment or further study, with nationally recognised qualifications available. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
• Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business
• SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality
• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support
• First Aid Short Course
• Mental Health First Aid
• Manual Handling Refresher
• Get Set for Work
• Five STEPS Housing Program
• Basic English Class
• Decked Out
• Work Mates
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)
• Individualised Living Options (ILO)
• Community Engagement Groups
• Positive Behaviour Support
• Mental Health Services
• STEPS Café on George
• STEPS Garden Centre
• STEPS Pathways College
• STEPS Pathways Charity

Quantifiable outcome

• Free training for eligible participants - no out-of-pocket costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anglicare NTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEPS partnered with Anglicare NT and Heart Foundation to deliver the Darwin Multicultural Walking Group, helping AMEP clients and Darwin migrants stay fit and connect with community through regular walking activities.
• Heart FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEPS partnered with Anglicare NT and Heart Foundation to deliver the Darwin Multicultural Walking Group, helping AMEP clients and Darwin migrants stay fit and connect with community.
• STEPS Pathways CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEPS Pathways College is the first and only boarding college of its kind in Australia for young adults with disability and autism. Every plant purchased from STEPS Garden Centre helps provide transformative independence education.
• Refugee Council of AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEPS participates in Refugee Week coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia, sharing stories and celebrating the contributions of AMEP clients.
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards CommissioncoreOthersSTEPS is a registered NDIS provider regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, ensuring compliance with NDIS Practice Standards.
• Community Groups (Various)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTEPS partners with community groups to deliver programs including the Five STEPS Housing Program in regions where STEPS offer services. Open to partnering with housing support providers and community organizations.
• Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace RelationscoreOthersSTEPS delivers Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program, fully funded by the Australian Government through this department.
• Australian Government Department of Home AffairscoreOthersSTEPS delivers Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.
• Queensland Government (DESBT)coreOthersSTEPS delivers Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs including Get Set for Work, supported and funded by Queensland Government through Department of Tourism and Sport.
• Tasmanian Government Department of State GrowthcoreOthersSTEPS delivers Certificate III in Individual Support in Tasmania, subsidized by the Department of State Growth.
• Bundaberg Regional CouncilminorOthersSTEPS participated in Bundaberg Careers Expo 2026 organized by Bundaberg Regional Council, showcasing training programs and career opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northcott: NSW-based NDIS-registered disability service provider delivering accommodation, daily living, and employment support — comparable operational model to STEPS' NDIS services.
• Life Without Barriers: Australia's largest national NDIS-registered disability and community services provider delivering NDIS support, out-of-home care, and community programs across every state — the most direct scale comparison to STEPS' NDIS services portfolio.
• Aruma: National NDIS-registered disability services provider (formerly House with No Steps) delivering SIL, ILO, employment support, and community participation — directly overlaps with STEPS' core NDIS service lines.
• Mission Australia: Large Australian community services non-profit delivering employment services, training, youth programs, and community support — shares STEPS' integrated education/employment/community model and federal program delivery (SEE, AMEP-adjacent).
• APM Employment Services: Major Australian provider of DES, NDIS employment, and Workforce Australia programs — competes head-to-head with STEPS' Work Mates disability employment support and wider employment-services mandate.
• MAX Solutions: Australia-wide employment services, training, and NDIS Disability Employment Services provider — directly comparable to STEPS' Work Mates and SEE program delivery footprint.
• MTC Australia: National employment, training, and youth services non-profit delivering government-funded workforce programs — overlaps with STEPS' Skilling Queenslanders for Work and SEE program focus.
• Wesley Mission Queensland: Queensland-based community services non-profit delivering disability, mental health, aged care, and community support — comparable to STEPS' integrated social services model in overlapping geographies.
• Salvation Army Employment Plus: Australia-wide employment services arm of the Salvation Army delivering DES and workforce programs — comparable to STEPS' Work Mates and federal employment-program contracts across regional Australia.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE Queensland: State-owned vocational education institution and the dominant RTO in Queensland — competes with STEPS' RTO-delivered vocational certificates (Cert III Individual Support, Business, Hospitality) though on a much broader scale and public-mandate remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stepsgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/StepsGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steps-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/stepsgroupaustralia/?hl=en
• Xx.com/stepsgroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STEPS Group Australia