ReachOut Australia

What ReachOut Australia does

ReachOut Australia is a Sydney-based, non-profit charitable organization founded in 1996 that operates one of Australia's leading digital mental health services for young people aged 12-25, alongside dedicated portals for parents/carers and schools. Its core offerings are free and anonymous, delivered 100% online: PeerChat, a 1:1 text-based chat with trained peer workers who have lived experience of mental health challenges (Mon-Thurs 3pm-8pm, Fri 11:30am-4:30pm AET); Ask ReachOut, an AI chatbot launched in 2024 and powered by Google Gemini with a proprietary Care Layer that restricts outputs to ReachOut's library of more than 600 evidence-informed resources and detects risk to escalate to Urgent Help; and a curated Tools & Apps directory of third-party wellbeing applications. The platform also publishes articles, quizzes, personal stories, and video content, and extends into culturally specific support for First Nations young people through the Yarn Up sub-brand developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations.

The technology stack is digital-first: a multi-portal web platform (au.reachout.com, parents.au.reachout.com, schools.au.reachout.com) backed by content management, conversational AI via Gemini, and human peer-worker operations. ReachOut monetises through a non-commercial model, accepting donations prominently on the site, securing government grants, and partnering with health-focused NGOs and educational institutions for content co-development and outreach; there are no user fees and no paid tiers. Strategic dependencies include the Google Gemini relationship for AI capability and a clinical referral pathway to Orygen's MOST service for higher-acuity cases. The organization is governed by a chair (Andrew Wilson) and an executive team including a Director of Service Design & Delivery, and is staffed by an 11-50 employee base consistent with a lean digital charity rather than a scaled enterprise.

Name

ReachOut Australia

Legal name

ReachOut Australia

Website

https://au.reachout.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ReachOut Australia is a Sydney-based non-profit operating a free, anonymous digital mental health service for young Australians aged 12-25, alongside dedicated portals for parents/carers and schools, combining human peer-worker chat, an AI chatbot on Google Gemini, and 600+ evidence-informed resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Youth Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools (EDAJAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI), Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Online mental health
• Youth mental health support
• Peer support chat
• Digital mental health platform
• Mental health information resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government & NGO Funding: As a non-profit mental health organization, ReachOut Australia is primarily funded through government grants and partnerships with health-focused NGOs. This supports core operations of the digital platform and peer worker services.
2. Donations: The organization accepts public donations to support critical services. A donation CTA is prominently displayed on the website.
3. Partnerships with Schools & Organizations: ReachOut maintains partnerships with educational institutions and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander organizations for content co-development and outreach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ReachOut Australia delivers free, anonymous, 100% online mental health support to young Australians aged 12-25 through PeerChat (live text-based peer worker support), Ask ReachOut (an AI chatbot accessing 600+ evidence-informed articles), and an extensive library of articles, quizzes, and videos. It also operates dedicated portals for parents/carers (ReachOut Parents) and schools (ReachOut Schools), plus the Yarn Up initiative delivering culturally tailored wellbeing content for First Nations young people.

Product overview

ReachOut Australia operates as a digital mental health service platform offering a portfolio of interconnected products. The core offerings include PeerChat (a free, anonymous text-based peer support chat for ages 16-25) and Ask ReachOut (an AI chatbot providing 24/7 access to mental health information). Supporting the core are curated resource collections including Tools and Apps (professionally reviewed wellbeing apps) and Yarn Up (culturally specific resources for First Nations youth). The platform extends through sub-brands ReachOut Parents and ReachOut Schools, serving different audience segments. All offerings are free, anonymous, and 100% online, designed specifically for and with young people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yarn Up: A safe space for First Nations young people to connect with community, hear from others, and access wellbeing resources and support. Features content from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.

Products and services

• PeerChat Free, anonymous, text-based 1:1 online chat support connecting young Australians aged 16-25 with trained peer workers who have lived mental health experience. Sessions run approximately 45 minutes.
• Ask ReachOut AI-powered chatbot providing 24/7 free, anonymous access to mental health information for young Australians aged 12-25, drawing from ReachOut's library of 600+ evidence-informed resources and guided by a proprietary safety Care Layer.
• Tools and Apps Curated, professionally reviewed directory of mental health and wellbeing mobile applications including Headspace, Calm Harm, MindDoc, and Sleep Cycle, with user ratings and Health Pro ratings.
• Yarn Up A safe digital space for First Nations young people featuring culturally appropriate wellbeing resources, personal stories, and support services developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• ReachOut Parents Separate platform providing expert advice, coaching, and support resources specifically designed for parents and carers of young people in Australia.
• ReachOut Schools Dedicated platform offering credible, flexible resources for teachers and educators, along with engaging activities for students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free, anonymous access removes financial and stigma barriers to mental health support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NGAKKAN NYAAGUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organization partnered with ReachOut for the Yarn Up initiative, contributing to culturally appropriate mental health content for First Nations young people.
• Jasmine Sarin, JS Koori DesignscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKamilaroi and Jerrinja woman from NSW created the 'Healing and Truth' artwork for Yarn Up, exploring the importance of seeking help and feeling supported in healing journeys.
• Studio GilaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organization contributing to the development of Yarn Up resources for First Nations young people's mental health and wellbeing.
• Sancia RidgewaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributor to ReachOut's Yarn Up initiative for First Nations mental health content development.
• Jarara Cultural Centre, Catholic Schools Parramatta DiocesesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution that provided input into the development of Yarn Up resources.
• Djarragun CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution that provided input into the development of Yarn Up resources.
• Narrabri High SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool that provided input into the development of Yarn Up resources.
• Google GeminicoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle's Large Language Model (LLM) powers the Ask ReachOut AI chatbot, enabling natural language understanding and response generation from ReachOut's curated mental health content.
• Orygen's MOSTsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMental health service referral partner for situations where Ask ReachOut cannot adequately support complex conversations, directing users to Orygen's MOST service.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Beyond Blue: Major Australian mental health organization providing information, support and referrals across all ages. Broader remit than ReachOut but overlapping in youth-facing digital content and anxiety/depression resources.
• Lifeline Australia: National crisis support and suicide prevention service in Australia. Overlaps with ReachOut's Urgent Help routing and crisis-risk pathway.

Direct peers

• Orygen: Australian youth mental health research and clinical organization (and operator of specialized services like MOST). Direct partner and adjacent service provider in the Australian youth 12–25 mental health ecosystem.
• Kooth: UK-based digital mental health platform offering anonymous chat, counseling and self-help resources to young people, with stated expansion plans into Australia. Closest international analog in business model and product.
• Kids Helpline (Yourtown): Australia's free 24/7 phone and online counseling service for young people aged 5–25. Overlaps with ReachOut on anonymous crisis-adjacent support and youth digital chat offerings in Australia.
• Headspace (Australia): Australia's flagship youth mental health foundation operating centers, online resources, and clinical services for 12–25 year-olds. Direct overlap with ReachOut on digital mental health content and youth 12–25 audience in Australia.

Emerging players

• Smiling Mind: Australian non-profit providing mindfulness and mental wellbeing programs, often via school and app channels. Overlaps with ReachOut Schools and Tools & Apps directory on youth and educator mindfulness delivery.
• Wysa: AI-driven mental wellbeing chatbot serving global users including employees and young adults. Most direct technology analog to Ask ReachOut's AI-chatbot approach.

Regional players

• QLife: Australia's national LGBTQ+ peer support and referral phone and webchat service. Comparable Australia-only, anonymous, peer-supported model for a defined community.
• Butterfly Foundation: Australian organization focused on eating disorders and body image. ReachOut covers eating disorders as a topic; the two organizations intersect on youth body-image content in Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/reachout_aus
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReachOutAUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reachout_aus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ReachOut Australia