Bethany

What Bethany does

Meli is a non-profit community services organization incorporated in Victoria, Australia, formed in 2024 through the merger of BCYF and Bethany (a predecessor entity). It operates across the Geelong region, Bellarine Peninsula, Colac, Wimmera South West and Surf Coast, delivering an integrated portfolio of early childhood, family support, foster care and employment services. Headquartered in North Geelong (8/33 Mackey Street) with regional offices in Geelong, Warrnambool, Horsham and Colac, Meli is one of the largest kindergarten providers in the region, operating 32 kindergartens (expanding to 33 with the 2027 opening of Yirrama Community Hub in Charlemont), the Northern Futures Work and Learning Centre (one of five WLCs across Victoria in partnership with Brotherhood of St. Laurence), and an extensive suite of free parenting and family violence programs (including Safe at Home with McAuley).

The organization's core offering comprises kindergarten programs for three- and four-year-olds, foster care recruitment and support (including the Children's Village volunteer program), NDIS-aligned early childhood intervention, drop-in family support across five sites (Armstrong Creek, Bannockburn, Norlane, Surf Coast, Whittington), supported playgroups, and structured parenting education programs (e.g., Bumps to Bubs, Circle of Security, Tuning in to Kids/Teens). State-of-the-art co-located facilities such as Poa Banyul Community Hub and the upcoming Yirrama Community Hub integrate kindergarten with maternal and child health, allied health, and community spaces, with the Yirrama hub purpose-built around Wadawurrung cultural knowledge.

Meli has no proprietary technology platform; its core is in-person service delivery. The business model is a hybrid of government contracts (federal and Victorian Departments of Families Fairness and Housing, Health, Education and Training), donations and philanthropy (including corporate giving programs with partners such as Coles and Our Village), and in-kind community fundraising (e.g., the Our Village partnership delivered 3,784 essential items worth over $445,000 to Meli-supported children last year). All direct services are provided free of charge to families. The organization is led by CEO Robyn Hayles (who succeeded Grant Boyd in 2025) under a board governance structure typical of an Australian charitable entity, with no disclosed private equity, venture capital or parent-company ownership.

Name

Bethany

Legal name

Meli

Website

https://bethany.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Meli is a Victorian non-profit community services organization formed in 2024 from the merger of BCYF and Bethany, delivering 32–33 kindergartens, foster care, family support and employment services free of charge to vulnerable families across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Colac, Wimmera South West and Surf Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services and Social Support

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nursery School Readiness & Transition Programs (EDACACAL), Inclusive Early Intervention & Transition-to-Preschool Services (EDACAFAM)

Keywords

• Community services
• Early childhood education
• Foster care
• Family support
• Kindergarten programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Meli receives government funding from federal and state government departments including Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Department of Health, and Department of Education and Training to deliver community services, kindergarten programs, family violence services, and foster care.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Meli receives donations from individuals, corporate partners (such as Coles), and philanthropic organizations. The organization runs donation campaigns and has philanthropic supporters who contribute to supporting families in need.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Meli partners with corporate entities like Coles for community donation campaigns, where donated items are distributed to families. These partnerships provide both financial and in-kind support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bethany is one of the founding entities behind Meli, a non-profit community services organization providing free kindergarten programs, family support services, foster care, early childhood NDIS services, parenting education, and employment support. The organization operates 32 kindergartens across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, and Colac, with the network expanding to 33 upon Yirrama Community Hub opening in 2027.

Product overview

Meli is a community services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of early childhood education and family support services. The core offerings include 33 kindergarten services (expanding from 32) across Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Colac, and the new Yirrama hub in Charlemont; foster care and out-of-home care; Northern Futures employment and training working centre; and an extensive range of family support programs including parenting groups, supported playgroups, and free drop-in services. Meli combines the strengths of BCYF and Bethany and operates facilities including Poa Banyul Community Hub and the new Yirrama Community Hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northern Futures: Work and Learning Centre providing job-seeking support, career opportunities, and education and training services
• Poa Banyul Community Hub
• Yirrama Community Hub

Products and services

• Kindergarten Services High-quality three and four-year-old kindergarten programs operated at 32 kindergartens throughout Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Colac, with the addition of Yirrama Kindergarten bringing the total to 33. Services are government-funded and free for eligible families.
• Community Support Services Compassionate support services offering preventative and early response approaches for individuals and families across all stages of life, delivered free to community members.
• Early Childhood (NDIS) Family-focused services for children aged zero to eight years across the Barwon region, including early childhood approach services under the NDIS.
• Northern Futures Working Centre One of five Work and Learning Centres in Victoria, providing free personalised support for jobseekers and people in public housing to access employment, training and study pathways. Operated in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence.
• Foster Care Foster care services connecting children and young people with caring families, including support for foster carers and the Children's Village volunteer program.
• Parent and Family Groups Parenting education programs including Bumps to Bubs, Bubs to Tots, Circle of Security, Navigating Separation and Co-parenting, Bringing Up Great Kids, Tuning in to Kids, and Tuning in to Teens.
• Family Support Free drop-in service providing support to families for building parenting skills, accessing community resources, and referrals to other services. Available in Armstrong Creek, Bannockburn, Norlane, Surf Coast, and Whittington.
• Supported Playgroups Safe, welcoming playgroups for parents, caregivers and preschool children run in partnership with local schools and communities to encourage learning through play.
• Poa Banyul Community Hub State-of-the-art facility offering kindergarten, maternal and child health services, family support consulting rooms, and community spaces for hire.
• Yirrama Community Hub Purpose-built community hub under construction in Charlemont featuring kindergarten rooms, maternal and child health services, allied health, and multi-purpose community spaces, inspired by Wadawurrung cultural knowledge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 582 requests responded to by Our Village partnership supporting 1,489 babies and children
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• ColescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2026Meli partners with Coles for community donation campaigns. Local shoppers across Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast donate essential items through Coles stores, which Meli then distributes to families, women and children fleeing violence, young people, and kinship/foster care families. The partnership has generated over 2,400 essential items and more than $7,000 in donations.
• Our VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOur Village (formerly Geelong Mums) takes donated pre-loved nursery and children's items and rehomes them to vulnerable babies and children supported by Meli. Last year, Our Village responded to 582 requests from Meli caseworkers, supporting 1,489 children with 3,784 essential items worth over $445,000. The partnership allows Meli to provide practical supports to families navigating challenging circumstances.
• Brotherhood of St. LaurencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeli is one of five Work and Learning Centres (WLCs) across Victoria in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. The WLCs support jobseekers and people living in public housing to access meaningful employment, training and study pathways through free, personalised support.
• McAuleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeli partners with McAuley to deliver the Safe at Home program in the Geelong region, supporting women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their homes.
• City of Greater GeelongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly funded by City of Greater Geelong and Victorian Government, the Yirrama Community Hub is being purpose-built with Meli as operator. The hub will offer kindergarten, maternal and child health services, allied health, and community spaces for Charlemont and Armstrong Creek families.
• Victorian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly funded by Victorian Government and City of Greater Geelong, the Yirrama Community Hub represents a significant government partnership for Meli to expand early childhood and community services in growing areas like Charlemont and Armstrong Creek.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Smith Family: National children's education charity focused on supporting disadvantaged young people's learning — comparable on the early-years education and family-support mission, with similar donation-dependent funding model but a broader national footprint.
• Uniting Vic.Tas: Large multi-service community organisation providing foster care, family services, early learning and community programs across Victoria and Tasmania — broader geographic and service footprint but overlapping capability set and funding base.
• YWCA Australia: Federation of YWCAs delivering women's and family services including family violence support, housing and community programs — directly comparable on the family violence and women's-services elements of Meli's portfolio and overlapping funder base.
• Mission Australia: National community-services organisation delivering family, homelessness, employment and community programs with similar reliance on government contracts and philanthropy — broader national scope but overlapping service lines with Meli.

Direct peers

• Brotherhood of St. Laurence: Victorian community-services organisation focused on employment, training, family support and research — already a partner of Meli via the Work and Learning Centres, and comparable in mission around supporting vulnerable families through community-based programs.
• Anglicare Victoria: Large Victorian provider of foster care, kinship care, family services and early childhood programs — directly comparable service mix and funding model, including government contracts and donations, with similar regional multi-site delivery.
• MacKillop Family Services: Catholic agency providing foster care, kinship care, residential care and family services across Victoria and other states — directly comparable on the out-of-home care and family-support side of Meli's offering.
• Berry Street: One of Victoria's largest family-services organisations, operating foster care, family violence, early childhood and family support programs across the state — directly comparable to Meli's integrated portfolio and similar reliance on government funding and donations.
• Goodstart Early Learning: Australia's largest not-for-profit early childhood education provider with hundreds of centres nationally — the closest large-scale peer on the kindergarten/early-learning core of Meli's business, serving similar families with similar government-subsidised programs.

Emerging players

• Drummond Street Services: Victorian community organisation delivering family support, counselling and inclusion programs — comparable on the family-support and community-services dimensions, smaller scale than Meli but overlapping target population and operating geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/meli.community
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meli-community
• Instagraminstagram.com/meli.community

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bethany