What Relationships Australia Victoria does

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a Victorian non-profit organization founded in 1948 (originally as the Marriage Guidance Council of Victoria) that delivers a broad portfolio of family, relationship, and wellbeing services to individuals, couples, families, and communities across the state. Its service lines span counselling, family dispute resolution, mental health support, family violence programs, men's behaviour change programs, forced adoption support, intercountry adoptee services, Open Place for Forgotten Australians, multicultural and parenting programs, workplace support, and youth mental health delivered through headspace centres in Bairnsdale, Sale, and Wonthaggi. The underlying operating model is human-led, trauma-informed clinical and therapeutic service delivery, supported by a Centre for Learning and Innovation that provides accredited training to the broader sector.

RAV operates through a hybrid physical-and-digital distribution network of more than 20 sites across metropolitan and regional Victoria, complemented by telepractice and outreach. The organization is part of the national Relationships Australia federation and co-designs specialized programs with community partners such as the Afghan community (Tuning in to Kids for Afghan Mothers) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Its 2024 SIMNA Excellence in Social Impact Measurement Award and its partnership with the Australian Institute of Family Studies on a national Theory of Change for Men's Behaviour Change Programs reflect a deliberate investment in evidence-based practice and outcomes measurement.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: services are provided free of charge to clients, with primary revenue sourced from the Australian Government Department of Social Services and the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, supplemented by tax-deductible public donations. A workforce of 400+ employees, more than 20,000 clients served annually, and a 620,000+ cumulative client base since 1948 underscore RAV's role as a scaled, government-embedded social services provider rather than a market-facing enterprise.

Name

Relationships Australia Victoria

Legal name

Relationships Australia Victoria

Website

https://relationshipsvictoria.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Relationships Australia Victoria is a Victorian non-profit founded in 1948 that delivers free, government-funded counselling, family dispute resolution, family violence, mental health, and multicultural support services through 20+ sites, serving 20,000+ clients annually across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family and Relationship Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Family counselling services
• Relationship support
• Family dispute resolution
• Men's behaviour change
• Family violence support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ballarat

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from Australian Government Department of Social Services and Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. Services are provided free to clients.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from the public. All donations of $2.00 and above are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a not-for-profit social services organisation that delivers free, government-funded counselling, family dispute resolution (mediation), men's behaviour change programs, family violence support, mental health services, forced adoption and intercountry adoptee support, multicultural parenting programs and workplace support to individuals, couples, families and communities across Victoria. It supplements direct service delivery with accredited training through the Centre for Learning and Innovation.

Product overview

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) operates as a not-for-profit social services organization offering a diverse portfolio of relationship and family support services. The organization provides a unified service delivery model across multiple service categories: direct client services (counselling, family dispute resolution, mental health services), specialized support programs (family violence services, forced adoption support, intercountry adoptee services, Open Place for Forgotten Australians, redress support), relationship education programs (parenting courses, men's behaviour change programs, women's empowerment programs), and workforce development (accredited training through the Centre for Learning and Innovation). RAV also delivers youth mental health services through headspace partnerships and multicultural programs including the Tuning in to Kids for Afghan Mothers initiative. Services are delivered through 20+ physical centre locations across Victoria with additional outreach and telepractice capabilities. RAV's Social Impact Hub provides transparency on outcomes measurement, and the organization has been recognized with the 2024 SIMNA Award for Excellence in Social Impact Measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Violence Services Free group programs for women affected by family violence, plus general counselling services for people of all genders experiencing family violence in Victoria.
• Child and Family Services Early intervention services, school-based programs and headspace youth mental health services supporting healthy family relationships for children, young people and families.
• Counselling Supportive counselling services for couples, families, individuals, children and young people experiencing relationship difficulties, delivered free across Victoria.
• Family Dispute Resolution (Mediation) Mediation services helping separating couples and adult family members resolve parenting and property disputes, often required before family court proceedings in Australia.
• Forced Adoption Support Service Free practical and emotional support for people affected by forced adoption practices, including counselling and information services.
• Intercountry Adoptee and Family Support Service Free support for intercountry adoptees and their families, including young adoptees, adult adoptees and adoptive parents.
• Mental Health Services Mental health support services for people of all ages at various life stages, providing counselling and therapeutic intervention free of charge.
• Multicultural Programs Culturally-adapted programs including Tuning in to Kids for Afghan Mothers, designed to provide equitable access to services for culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians.
• Open Place — Support Service for Forgotten Australians Free support for people who grew up in institutional care prior to 1990 (Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers), including counselling, records searches and group programs.
• Men's Behaviour Change Program (MBCP) A free 20-session group program for men who have used violent or controlling behaviours, helping them develop safe, healthy and more respectful relationships.
• Redress Support Services Free and confidential support for anyone making, or considering making, an application through the National Redress Scheme.
• Relationship Education Programs Workshops, short courses and support groups including Tuning in to Kids parenting programs, My Family & Me separation support, and women's empowerment courses.
• Workplace Support Services Counselling, mediation and training support services delivered to private enterprise, government agencies, schools, community organisations and not-for-profit groups.
• Training and Professional Development (Centre for Learning and Innovation) Accredited training and professional development for individuals and organisations in the family and relationship services sector, delivered through RAV's Centre for Learning and Innovation.
• headspace Youth Mental Health Services (Bairnsdale, Sale, Wonthaggi) Youth mental health services at headspace Bairnsdale, Sale and Wonthaggi, providing support for young people aged 12-25.
• Women Making Choices An educational and supportive group program for women who have experienced family violence, helping them regain empowerment and rebuild self-worth.
• My Family & Me A free 4-week group program supporting children aged 8-11 years with the challenges of family separation through engaging activities and guided discussion.
• Tuning in to Kids for Afghan Mothers A culturally-adapted 8-session parenting program co-designed with the Afghan community, delivered in-language by Afghan facilitators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,191 total clients served in 2021-22
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mission AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Australia, through their Communities for Children program, partners with RAV to deliver the Tuning in to Kids program for Afghan Women. Mission Australia co-hosted celebration events and supports program delivery with funding from the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
• Communities for Children (Mission Australia)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding support from Communities for Children for culturally-adapted parenting programs including Tuning in to Kids for Afghan Mothers and Afghan Fathers programs.
• Gippsland Primary Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPHN is the contract manager for headspace Bairnsdale, Sale, and Wonthaggi services managed by RAV. RAV is the managing agency with GPHN overseeing contract compliance.
• University of Melbourne - Mindful CentrecoreTechnology or IntegrationRAV delivers the Tuning in to Kids program, an evidence-based parenting program developed by University of Melbourne's Mindful Centre. Program is delivered under licence with cultural adaptations.
• Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AIFS on a national project to strengthen the evidence base for men's behaviour change programs. Jointly developed Theory of Change with Relationships Australia federation for evaluating MBCPs.
• City of Greater DandenongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partnership for program delivery. Mayor Sophie Tan participated in TIK program celebration event and expressed support for Afghan women in the community.
• Aboriginal Community Controlled OrganisationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAV is committed to First Nations engagement and provides links to ACCHOs including Djirra, VACCHO, Link-Up Victoria, and others for culturally safe referrals.
• Relationships Australia FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the national Relationships Australia network. Collaborates with other state branches on research, MBCP Theory of Change, and sector-wide initiatives.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): National umbrella organization for the headspace youth mental health centers that RAV operates in Bairnsdale, Sale, and Wonthaggi; relevant as the platform owner and commissioning counterparty.
• Lifeline Australia: National crisis support and mental health NFP; overlaps with RAV in mental health service delivery, telephone/online intake, and government-funded support services.
• The Smith Family: National NFP focused on children, families, and education outcomes; comparable in mission and government funding model though oriented toward education and poverty alleviation.
• Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA): National peak body for family relationship services providers including RAV; relevant for sector advocacy, policy positioning, and as a hub for the same government funding streams.

Direct peers

• Jesuit Social Services: Victorian NFP focused on social justice, family and relationship services, and justice-involved support — comparable in mission, government funding reliance, and program mix including men's behaviour change work.
• Berry Street: Victorian NFP providing family violence, child and family services, and therapeutic programs; overlaps with RAV in family violence, trauma-informed counselling, and Aboriginal community-controlled referrals.
• Uniting (Victoria): Large Victorian community services provider delivering family services, family violence response, mental health, and youth programs — direct competitor for government-funded community service contracts.
• Anglicare Victoria: Major Victorian NFP delivering family services, family violence programs, foster care, and youth mental health — competes for overlapping state and federal tenders and shares similar trauma-informed service models.
• Relationships Australia (national federation): National federation of which RAV is the Victorian member; delivers the same family and relationship services portfolio in other states with shared branding, programs (including MBCP), and research partnerships.

Others

• Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS): Federal government research institute partnering with RAV on the Theory of Change for men's behaviour change programs; relevant as a research and evidence-base partner rather than a service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/relaustvic
• Facebookfacebook.com/RelAustVic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Relationships Australia Victoria