First Step Solutions
FS Academy (First Step Solutions) is an Australian NDIS-registered education provider delivering NDIS-funded capacity-building programs in financial literacy and safe relationships to people with disabilities, across six Australian cities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPlayford, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Step Solutions does
First Step Solutions, operating as FS Academy, is an Australian NDIS-registered education provider delivering capacity-building programs to National Disability Insurance Scheme participants. Founded approximately 2018, the company focuses on two curriculum pillars — financial literacy and safe relationships — for people with disabilities, addressing documented vulnerabilities including elevated susceptibility to online scams and gaps in consent education. Its service suite comprises four NDIS-funded programs: Date-Ability™ (an 11-week group program on friendships, dating, boundaries, consent, online safety, and sexual health), Guide to Adulting (an 8-week program for 17–21 year olds covering money skills, safe relationships, and confidence), Financial Literacy (a 12-week small-group program on budgeting, bills, savings, financial safety, and self-advocacy), and Relationship Skills (a 6-week 1:1 counselling program with a qualified counsellor).
The underlying technology is a proprietary, evidence-informed curriculum designed by a multidisciplinary team of Sexologists, Counsellors, and Teachers with clinical expertise in the disability and community services sector. The curriculum has been refined and rewritten annually for over six years, and the Date-Ability™ name is a registered trademark. Programs are delivered in-person in small group and 1:1 formats across six Australian cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Tasmania). The company has no disclosed app, API, or technology platform; delivery is fundamentally human-led and facilitator-dependent.
The business model is a managed-services, government-funded arrangement. All programs are billed through individual NDIS participant plans at undisclosed, quote-based pricing, with no out-of-pocket cost to participants. Customer acquisition is community-led: participants are referred into programs by support coordinators, healthcare providers, and disability organizations, with additional inbound via a website referral form, 1800 phone number, and email. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, management team bios, or financial figures. Revenue is entirely dependent on a single funding source — the Australian NDIS — and on policy continuity in disability support funding.
First Step Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Step Solutions
- Legal name
- FS Academy
- Website
- https://fs-solutions.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FS Academy (First Step Solutions) is an Australian NDIS-registered education provider delivering NDIS-funded capacity-building programs in financial literacy and safe relationships to people with disabilities, across six Australian cities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Step Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Education and Capacity-Building Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adult Numeracy & Math Foundations (EDAAAAAB)
Keywords
Where First Step Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Playford
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices6 records
Markets served
First Step Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- NDIS Funded Programs: FS Academy operates as an NDIS-registered provider delivering capacity building and education programs funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Programs are pre-funded through participant plans, functioning as a recurring revenue model based on government disability funding allocations to eligible participants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | NDIS Funded Programs - All service tiers covered under participant NDIS plans |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
First Step Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Step Solutions, operating as FS Academy, is an NDIS-registered Australian education provider that delivers capacity-building programs for people with disabilities. Its core offering consists of four programs — Date-Ability™, Guide to Adulting, Financial Literacy, and Relationship Skills — funded through individual National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant plans and delivered in-person in small group and 1:1 formats across six Australian cities.
Product overview
FS Academy (First Step Solutions) is an NDIS-registered service provider offering a suite of education and capacity-building programs for people with disabilities. The company provides four core programs: Date-Ability™ (an 11-week group program on relationships, boundaries, consent, and sexual health), Guide to Adulting (an 8-week program for 17-21 year olds covering life skills and financial literacy), Financial Literacy (a 12-week small-group program on budgeting and money management), and Relationship Skills (a 6-week 1:1 counselling program). All programs are NDIS-funded and designed to build independence, confidence, and informed decision-making.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Date-Ability™: An 11-week NDIS-funded group program for people with disabilities to learn about friendships, dating, boundaries, consent, online safety and sexual health in a supportive, inclusive space.
- Guide to Adulting
- Financial Literacy
- Relationship Skills
Products and services
- Date-Ability™ An 11-week NDIS-funded group program for people with disabilities covering friendships, dating, boundaries, consent, online safety and sexual health in a supportive, inclusive space. Designed for NDIS participants seeking education in healthy relationships and consent.
- Guide to Adulting An 8-week NDIS-funded program for 17–21 year olds focusing on money skills, safe relationships, and confidence as they transition into adult life. Designed for young NDIS participants approaching independence.
- Financial Literacy A 12-week NDIS-funded small-group program covering budgeting, bills, savings, financial safety and self-advocacy using real-life examples and accessible tools. Designed for NDIS participants seeking to build money management and self-advocacy skills.
- Relationship Skills 1:1 A 6-week NDIS-funded 1:1 counselling program exploring boundaries, communication, dating, friendships and safety with a qualified counsellor at the participant's own pace. Designed for NDIS participants needing personalised support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 74% as likely to experience a scam online than adults without disabilities - FS Academy's Financial Literacy program addresses this vulnerability
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Step Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
First Step Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
First Step Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Step Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance: One of Australia's largest NDIS-registered disability service providers, offering a broad portfolio including therapy, accommodation, and education programs. Comparable as a registered NDIS provider delivering educational/capacity-building services to the same participant pool.
- Yooralla: Long-established Victorian NDIS-registered disability services provider offering therapy, accommodation, and community programs. Comparable NDIS-funded service delivery model and participant audience, though with a broader portfolio.
- Northcott: Large Australian NDIS-registered provider delivering disability services including accommodation, therapy, and skill-building programs. Comparable on NDIS registration, multi-city delivery footprint, and capacity-building offerings, though with a much wider service portfolio.
- Aruma: Major Australian NDIS-registered disability services provider (formerly House with No Steps) offering accommodation, employment, and life-skills programs. Comparable NDIS-registered multi-city service model and capacity-building focus.
- Sunnyfield: NDIS-registered Australian disability services provider focused on accommodation, employment, and independent living skills. Comparable on NDIS funding model and life-skills capacity-building programs for participants.
- Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia): Large Australian not-for-profit providing education, therapy, and capacity-building services primarily for autistic individuals, often NDIS-funded. Comparable on educational programming for people with disabilities and NDIS funding pathways.
- Life Without Barriers: National Australian NDIS-registered disability and community services provider covering a wide range of supports. Comparable as an NDIS-registered provider serving similar participants across multiple Australian cities, but operating at significantly greater scale and breadth.
Emerging players
- VALID: Victorian disability advocacy and capacity-building organization that supports NDIS participants with planning and independent living. Comparable on NDIS-aligned capacity-building mission, though with a stronger advocacy/peer-support orientation.
Others
- The Arc (US): US-based national disability advocacy and services organization running education and life-skills programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable thematically on disability-focused life-skills education but operates under a different funding regime (Medicaid/HCBS rather than NDIS).
Direct peers
- Reasonable Bear: An Australian provider of relationships and sexuality education for people with disabilities. Highly comparable niche: similar NDIS-funded curriculum, target audience (NDIS participants), and in-person delivery model, directly competing for the same participant plans in Australia.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Step Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Step Solutions compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
First Step Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Step Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
First Step Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Step Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Step Solutions
What does First Step Solutions do?
First Step Solutions, operating as FS Academy, is an NDIS-registered Australian education provider that delivers capacity-building programs for people with disabilities. Its core offering consists of four programs — Date-Ability™, Guide to Adulting, Financial Literacy, and Relationship Skills — funded through individual National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant plans and delivered in-person in small group and 1:1 formats across six Australian cities.
Is First Step Solutions a public or private company?
First Step Solutions is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was First Step Solutions founded?
First Step Solutions was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Step Solutions based?
First Step Solutions is headquartered in Playford, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does First Step Solutions make money?
One revenue line is on record: NDIS Funded Programs.
Who are First Step Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Yooralla, Northcott, Aruma, Sunnyfield, Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) and Life Without Barriers. VALID is listed as an emerging player. The Arc (US) is listed as an others. Reasonable Bear is listed as a direct peer.
Does First Step Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Step Solutions.
What industry is First Step Solutions in?
First Step Solutions's product category is Disability Education and Capacity-Building Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAAAB, Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAAAB, Adult Numeracy & Math Foundations. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.