The Right Start Foundation

What The Right Start Foundation does

The Right Start Foundation Ltd is an Australian charitable non-profit (ABN 82 863 430 224) headquartered at 28 Hill St, Camden NSW, founded in 2009 as a parent-led support group and formally incorporated as a charity and foundation in 2011. It operates exclusively in the Wollondilly-Macarthur region of New South Wales, providing peer support, information, and community connection to families of children with Down syndrome. Core offerings include the Right Start Family Support Group, monthly sensory play meetups at 'The Shine Shed' in Campbelltown, downloadable educational resources, and two annual fundraising events (a Gala Ball and the Rotary Club of Camden Charity Golf Day). Since the 2018 introduction of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the foundation has shifted its role away from direct financial assistance toward peer mentorship and information sharing, after a prior 2015–2019 partnership with Community Links Wollondilly delivered subsidised therapies.

The organisation has no technology product; its platform is a community-based service model with a WordPress website (therightstart.org), Facebook (RightStartFoundation2.0), Instagram, and YouTube presence. Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible donations (bank transfer, cash, cheque, online), the two annual fundraising events, and a broad base of corporate sponsorships including Bendigo Bank, Hillbrick Bicycles, Getmilk, Pinnacle Accountants, Caldwell Martin Cox, Rotary Club of Camden, and Shining Stars Foundation. Notable one-off funding includes a $100,000 donation from Geoffrey Scharer and approximately $100,000 raised by Brendan and Sharon Sammit via a home auction in 2014. The foundation is governed by a board chaired by Bill McGookin, with founder Glenda Graban as the originating voice, and currently assists 23 families in the region through a project coordinator.

Name

The Right Start Foundation

Legal name

The Right Start Foundation Ltd

Website

https://therightstart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Right Start Foundation is an Australian non-profit that supports families of children with Down syndrome in the Wollondilly-Macarthur region of NSW through peer support groups, monthly sensory play meetups, educational resources, and community awareness, funded by donations, sponsorships, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability support and Down syndrome community services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (61171), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Parenting Education for Special Needs & Developmental Differences (EDACALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Down syndrome support
• Family support services
• Disability community programs
• Charitable foundation services
• Sensory play programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Camden

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The foundation accepts donations of any amount which are tax deductible. Donations support families touched by Down syndrome and connect them to services while raising community awareness.
2. Fundraising Events: The organization runs annual fundraising events including a Gala Ball and Charity Golf Day to generate revenue for operations and support services.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor the foundation including Bendigo Bank, Hillbrick Bicycles, Getmilk, and others, providing financial and in-kind support.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Right Start Foundation provides free, in-person support services to families of children with Down syndrome in the Wollondilly-Macarthur region of NSW, Australia. Core offerings include the Family Support Group, monthly sensory play sessions at The Shine Shed, and educational resources about Down syndrome. The foundation also runs annual fundraising events and accepts tax-deductible donations to fund its programs.

Product overview

The Right Start Foundation is a charitable organization (not a technology company) offering a portfolio of support services for families touched by Down syndrome. The core offering is The Right Start Family Support Group, which provides peer support, information sharing, and community connection for parents of children with Down syndrome. This is supplemented by monthly sensory play sessions at The Shine Shed, educational resources, and fundraising events including the annual Gala Ball and Charity Golf Day. The organization does not operate a software product or platform, but rather provides direct support services and connects families with therapy and assistance resources. Donations are accepted through multiple channels to fund these community services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Right Start Family Support Group A peer support group for parents of children with Down syndrome, providing emotional support, networking, and connection with other families in similar circumstances. The group helps reduce social isolation and provides opportunities for adults to form friendships and develop informal support networks in the Wollondilly-Macarthur region.
• The Shine Shed Sensory Play Sessions Monthly meetups held at Campbelltown's The Shine Shed, a sensory play space for children with conditions like autism and Down syndrome. Sessions help children develop gross motor skills, increase social skills, enhance communication, and have fun through sensory play activities.
• Educational Resources and Materials Downloadable resources hosted on the foundation's website, including lesson plans, informational comics about Down syndrome, and a comprehensive resources document available in both colour and black-and-white formats for community education and awareness.
• Gala Ball Fundraising Event Annual fundraising gala event celebrating the foundation's anniversary, featuring dinners and entertainment to raise awareness and funds for Down syndrome support services. The 15th anniversary Gala Ball is scheduled for November 2025.
• Charity Golf Day Annual charity golf day held every October at Studley Park Golf Club in Camden, organised in partnership with the Rotary Club of Camden to raise funds for the foundation.
• Donation Processing Tax-deductible donation acceptance through multiple channels including direct bank transfer (ABN: 82 863 430 224, BSB: 802 388, Account: 79083), cash or cheque by mail to the Camden office, in-person donations, and online donations. Donations support families touched by Down syndrome and raise community awareness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assists 23 families in the region through project coordinator

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Down Syndrome NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership with Down Syndrome NSW brings support services to the region. Jointly sponsors the annual 'Step UP! for Down syndrome' event and the 'Healthy Me, Healthy YOU' conference for carers of people with disabilities.
• The Shine ShedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Monthly meetups run at Campbelltown's 'The Shine Shed', a sensory play space for anyone with conditions like autism and Down syndrome. The facility has a sensory room that helps calm children and allows sensory-enhanced children to socialise with peers.
• Community Links WollondillycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Formal partnership established in 2015 gave families access to subsidised therapies and specialised support. The Right Start Foundation funded Community Links to engage a project officer providing counselling, social work, subsidised speech, physio and occupational therapies, as well as a permanent meeting venue for support groups. Partnership continued until approximately 2019.
• Bendigo BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal branch sponsor providing financial and marketing support to the foundation.
• Rotary Club of CamdenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Charity Golf Club Day fundraiser hosted at Studley Park Golf Club, Camden every October with 8:15am shotgun start.
• Shining Stars FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Right Start Foundation providing financial support.
• Caldwell Martin CoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal firm sponsor providing financial support to the foundation.
• Pinnacle AccountantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting firm sponsor providing financial support to the foundation.
• Hillbrick BicyclesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor that has also raised funds through bike rides from Canberra to Camden.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Life Without Barriers: Large Australian disability and community services provider operating across NDIS-related family support and disability services; broader scope than The Right Start but comparable target population and service philosophy.
• Down Syndrome Australia: National peak body for Down syndrome in Australia, operating across all states with broader reach than The Right Start's regional scope; comparable mission around Down syndrome awareness, family support, and policy advocacy.
• Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia): Large Australian autism-specific support and services organization; comparable organizational model (parent-founded, family support, therapy access, awareness) but focused on autism rather than Down syndrome.
• Inclusion Australia: National disability advocacy organization representing people with intellectual disability and their families; overlaps with The Right Start's mission to support families navigating disability systems and inclusion.

Regional players

• Community Links Wollondilly: Wollondilly-based community services organization and former strategic partner of The Right Start Foundation (2015-~2019), delivering subsidised therapies and family support in the same regional footprint.

Direct peers

• Down Syndrome NSW: State-wide Down syndrome advocacy and support organization in NSW; The Right Start Foundation is a formal partner, jointly running Step UP! and the Healthy Me, Healthy YOU carer conference, making it the most direct functional peer.
• Shining Stars Foundation: Australia-based charitable foundation supporting children with Down syndrome and their families; listed as a corporate sponsor of The Right Start Foundation and pursues a comparable family-support and awareness mission.

Emerging players

• The Shine Shed: Sensory play facility in Campbelltown hosting The Right Start Foundation's monthly meetups for children with Down syndrome and autism; comparable niche disability-inclusion programming in the same geographic region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1v6ENqu_79z81C19NhCYvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/RightStartFoundation2.0
• Instagraminstagram.com/rightstartfoundationltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-right-start

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Right Start Foundation