What Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative does

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) is a member-owned Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO/ACCHO) established in 1979 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, and registered as a charity (ABN 33 266 090 956). It is the sole ACCO for the Ballarat and district area, covering four local government areas (Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Daylesford, Scarsdale, and Scotsburn). BADAC delivers 64+ culturally safe programs across 12 program areas, including a bulk-billing medical clinic, social and emotional wellbeing (mental health and drug/alcohol) services, early childhood education (three early learning centres plus the new Gordon Kindergarten), Koorie Family Services, the ACAC-authorised Gobata Burron child protection program, Stolen Generations support, family violence services, local justice support, NDIS-registered disability services, CHSP aged care, and the Wada Warr Borrela Elders Independent Living Village initiative.

BADAC's business model is a hybrid community-controlled co-operative funded primarily by Australian and Victorian government streams — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), NDIS, My Aged Care, and Medicare bulk-billing — supplemented by tax-deductible charitable donations and fundraising campaigns. Services are delivered free or bulk-billed at the point of consumption, with priority given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members (one share at $1.00 per member). Distribution occurs via direct service delivery at multiple sites, inter-agency referrals from DFFH Child Protection, The Orange Door, and allied organisations, plus self-referral through phone, email, and online enquiry. BADAC is governed by an annually elected Board of Directors (Chair Larry Kanoa) with CEO Karen Heap leading operations, and holds accreditations including Rainbow Tick, NDIS registration, and ACAC authorisation under Section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).

The organisation has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a Wix-hosted website, active social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), a quarterly newsletter (Platypus Tracks), and SEEK-based recruitment. Strategic direction is guided by the 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, with current growth concentrated in early childhood expansion (Gordon Kindergarten 2026), aged care infrastructure (Elders Independent Living Village), and statutory child protection authority (ACAC).

Name

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative

Legal name

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative

Website

https://badac.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

BADAC is the sole Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation for the Ballarat and district region, delivering 64+ culturally safe health, social, welfare and community development programs across four local government areas to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboriginal Community Health and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO), Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Aboriginal community health
• Indigenous health services
• Community-controlled healthcare
• Aboriginal family services
• Indigenous early childhood

Headquarters

HQ city

Ballarat

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Charitable Donations: BADAC is a registered charity (ABN 33 266 090 956) and accepts tax-deductible donations from the public. Donations support specific campaigns including Aboriginal Youth Programs, the Wada Warr Borrela Elders Village, and general BADAC programs. The organisation receives government funding to deliver health, social, welfare, and community development programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BADAC is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) delivering health, social, welfare, and community development programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across four local government areas in the Ballarat district. It operates 64+ culturally safe programs across 12 program areas through a bulk-billing medical clinic, early childhood centres, mental health services, family violence support, child protection (ACAC), justice services, aged care, NDIS support, and Stolen Generations healing programs.

Product overview

BADAC is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) delivering health, social, welfare, and community development services. The organisation operates over 64 culturally safe programs across multiple sites in Ballarat and district. Core services include the BADAC Medical Clinic (bulk-billing), Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) mental health services, Cultural Therapeutic Support & Youth Services, Early Years Learning (with three early learning centres), Koorie Family Services, Gobata Burron (Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care), Local Justice Services, Stolen Generation Program, and Family Violence Services. Additional programs include CHSP & NDIS home support, Elders Independent Living Village, and Gordon Kindergarten. The services are delivered through 12 separate programs operating across four sites, unified by Social Inclusion principles and a client-centred approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BADAC Medical Clinic: Bulk-billing medical clinic offering doctor consultations, health assessments, chronic disease management, immunisation, and other healthcare services.
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB)
• Cultural Therapeutic Support & Youth Services
• Koorie Family Services
• Gobata Burron
• Elders Independent Living Village

Products and services

• BADAC Medical Clinic Bulk-billing medical clinic offering doctor consultations, health assessments, chronic disease management, immunisations, pathology collection, maternal/child health, and visiting allied health services, open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients in Ballarat.
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Program Primary mental health and drug/alcohol service specialising in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, including counselling, psychological treatment, group therapy, and cultural practitioner support.
• Cultural Therapeutic Support & Youth Services Cultural therapeutic care and youth services including men's and women's groups, Koorie Youth Group, Baarlinjaan Dance Group, holiday programs, and cultural awareness training.
• Community Home Support Program (CHSP) & NDIS Services Home support services for older Aboriginal people (50+) and non-Aboriginal people (65+), including domestic assistance, garden maintenance, transport, and NDIS plan implementation for participants.
• Early Years Learning & Development Early childhood services including Bengadak Babab Playgroup, Connected Beginnings program, and three early learning centres (Perridak Burron, Yirram Burron, Yaluk Burron) serving Aboriginal children and families.
• Koorie Family Services Family support programs including Integrated Family Services (IFS), Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM), Family Preservation & Reunification Response (FPRR), and Keeping Families Together (KFT).
• Gobata Burron (Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care) ACAC program authorised under Section 18 of Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), providing culturally informed child protection and out-of-home care services including First Support, Carer Facilitator, and Art Therapist support.
• Local Justice Services Justice support programs helping Aboriginal community members who have been in contact with the justice system to heal and reintegrate into the community.
• Stolen Generation Program Support services for Stolen Generation members including counselling, referrals, confirmations of Aboriginality, family history research, annual healing camps, and bi-monthly client meetings and outings.
• Family Violence Services Family violence support including therapeutic programs, men's case management, Men's and Women's Community Connections Programs, The Orange Door Aboriginal Hub, and Adolescent Family Violence In The Home (AFVITH) program.
• Elders Independent Living Village Culturally vibrant independent living village for Aboriginal Elders, funded by Victorian government, enabling dignified aging outside institutional care.
• Gordon Kindergarten Kindergarten program for Aboriginal children providing early childhood education and care with Expression of Interest open for 2026 enrollment.
• Aboriginal Youth Programs Youth support programs addressing family violence, housing insecurity, poverty, and education challenges, including dance workshops, Indigenous Hip Hop programs, and dance/outfit funding support.
• Baarlinjaan Dance Group Community dance group offering members of all ages the opportunity to connect to Aboriginal culture through dance and storytelling.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64+ culturally safe programs, services and events delivered across 12 programs and multiple sites.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAFS (Community Allied Family Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023BADAC shares the Keeping Families Together (KFT) program with CAFS — a therapeutic case management model that supports families with preserving children in parental care or working toward reunification to prevent children entering the out-of-home care system.
• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)coreOthersDFFH provides government funding for BADAC programs and refers families to BADAC services including AFLDM (Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making) and FPRR (Family Preservation & Reunification Response). DFFH also refers young people in out-of-home care to BADAC's Better Futures/Home Stretch program. BADAC holds ACAC (Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care) authorisation under Section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).
• The Orange DoorcoreOthersThe Orange Door helps protect women, children, and families from violence and provides easier access to family violence and child wellbeing services. BADAC's Aboriginal Hub Practitioners assist clients through The Orange Door referral pathway.
• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)coreOthersBADAC is a registered NDIS provider, implementing approved plans to achieve participants' goals in therapeutic support, community participation, household tasks, and personal care. BADAC also works with Local Area Coordinators at Central Square Ballarat to connect participants to NDIS services.
• My Aged CarecoreOthersBADAC's Community Home Support Program (CHSP) is accessed through My Aged Care assessments. Clients aged 50+ (Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander) or 65+ (non-Aboriginal) are referred through My Aged Care to access BADAC's home support services.
• Ballarat Health ServicesminorOthersListed as a useful link and healthcare partner. BADAC's after-hours medical emergency is directed to Ballarat Base Hospital Emergency Department, indicating a referral pathway for urgent care.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO): State peak body for Victorian ACCHOs, providing policy, advocacy and workforce support. Comparable to BADAC as part of the Victorian ACCO ecosystem and a likely source of funding and advocacy alignment.
• Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW: NSW peak body for ACCHOs, offering policy, training and research support across the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector. Comparable in role to BADAC's broader ACCO ecosystem membership and accreditation peer set.

Direct peers

• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): State-wide Victorian ACCO focused on Aboriginal children, families and self-determination, with extensive child protection, family services and cultural programs. Comparable to BADAC's Koorie Family Services, Gobata Burron ACAC and family violence offerings.
• Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service: Perth-based ACCHO operating multiple clinics and community service sites for urban and metropolitan Aboriginal populations. Comparable as a multi-site, multi-program ACCHO combining bulk-billing primary care with family, aged care and cultural services.
• Victorian Aboriginal Health Service: Melbourne-based ACCHO providing medical, dental, mental health and family services to Aboriginal communities. Directly comparable as a Victorian ACCO delivering a similarly broad integrated health and community services portfolio under a single community-controlled structure.
• Windaan Aboriginal Corporation: Aboriginal community-controlled early childhood and family services provider in Western Sydney. Comparable to BADAC's early childhood centres (Perridak, Yirram, Yaluk Burron) and Connected Beginnings programs from a community-controlled perspective.
• Institute for Urban Indigenous Health: Queensland ACCHO backbone supporting multiple member ACCHOs across South East Queensland. Comparable as an integrated community-controlled primary health and family services operator with multiple programs and accreditation frameworks.
• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress: Large NT-based ACCHO delivering comprehensive primary health care and community services across Alice Springs and remote communities. Comparable to BADAC as a multi-site Aboriginal community-controlled health and welfare organisation with an integrated clinic-plus-social-services model.
• Aboriginal Family Support Services (SA): South Australian Aboriginal community-controlled organisation delivering family preservation, reunification and child protection services. Comparable to BADAC's Koorie Family Services and ACAC-equivalent child wellbeing programs.
• Ngwala Willumbong Co-operative: Melbourne-based Aboriginal community-controlled organisation providing alcohol and other drug, housing and outreach services. Comparable to BADAC as a Victorian ACCO delivering social and emotional wellbeing plus family/community support programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/badacballarat?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiRheklZ9CrTL_iG8Zium4g
• Facebookfacebook.com/badac.ballarat.7
• Instagraminstagram.com/badac_ballarat/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ballarat-and-district-aboriginal-cooperative

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative