KARI

What KARI does

KARI is a Sydney-headquartered, Aboriginal-led non-profit organisation operating across three legal entities: KARI Limited (established 1999, the foundational child protection entity), KARI Foundation (established 2016, delivering community, cultural, education, sport and leadership programs nationally), and KARI Aboriginal Procurement (launched 2021, facilitating corporate procurement from Aboriginal businesses). It is the largest Aboriginal Permanency Support Provider in Australia, case managing over 430 children and young people in out-of-home care across NSW, and holds full five-year accreditation from the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian (renewed 2025). KARI employs 180+ staff, of whom approximately 80% identify as Aboriginal, and operates nationally across NSW, Queensland and Victoria, including two Container Deposit Scheme depots in Melbourne.

The organisation is funded primarily through NSW Department of Communities and Justice contracts to deliver the Permanency Support Program, Aboriginal Family Support Program, and Targeted Early Intervention services, supplemented by donations, corporate partnerships (Optus, HSBC, Transurban, John Holland, JCDecaux, Wilson Security), sporting sponsorships (Sydney Roosters NRLW, Indigenous All Stars, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans, Western Sydney Wanderers), and government grants in NSW and Queensland. Service delivery spans case management and out-of-home care, multidisciplinary health services via the KARI Clinic in partnership with South West Sydney Local Health District, scholarship programs (Optus Year 10, HSBC Years 11-12), driving instruction (Transurban Aboriginal Driving School), cultural immersion workshops, the KARI Foundation Ella 7s rugby tournament, and digital literacy training (OneTraining Digital Ready). GTM is community-led, with a hybrid segmentation across Aboriginal individuals/families, foster and kinship carers, Aboriginal students and job seekers, and corporate/government clients.

KARI has no proprietary technology stack to speak of; it is a social services organisation, not a technology company, and there is no evidence of in-house AI, machine learning, or software product development. Commercial-style activities (KARI Aboriginal Procurement, cultural workshops, sporting sponsorships, events such as Unity Day and the Aboriginal Education and Employment Expo) function primarily as relationship, fundraising, and impact-delivery mechanisms rather than discrete profit centres. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; most programs are free to eligible participants.

Name

KARI

Legal name

KARI Limited

Website

https://kari.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KARI is an Aboriginal-led Australian non-profit operating through KARI Limited, KARI Foundation and KARI Aboriginal Procurement. It is the largest Aboriginal Permanency Support Provider in Australia, serving Aboriginal children, families and communities in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboriginal Community Services and Child Protection

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Aboriginal child protection
• Community support services
• Cultural immersion programs
• Permanency support program
• Aboriginal business procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: KARI Limited is funded by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to deliver community programs, early intervention, and the Permanency Support Program across Metropolitan Sydney.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: KARI accepts donations from the public and corporate partners to support programs and services for Aboriginal families and communities.
3. Corporate Partnerships: KARI partners with corporate organisations (Optus, HSBC, Transurban, etc.) for sponsorships, in-kind support, and co-funded programs such as scholarships and cultural workshops.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KARI delivers Aboriginal community services across Australia through three operating entities. KARI Limited (est. 1999) provides child protection services including the Permanency Support Program, Aboriginal Family Support Program, and Targeted Early Intervention, case-managing over 430 children and young people in out-of-home care across NSW. KARI Foundation (est. 2016) delivers cultural, educational, sporting, leadership, and business enterprise programs nationally. KARI Aboriginal Procurement (est. 2021) facilitates supply of Aboriginal-owned business products and services to corporate Australia. Together these entities deliver scholarships, the Transurban Aboriginal Driving School, Unity Day events, KARI Ella 7s rugby tournament, scholarship mentoring, cultural workshops, and reconciliation support services.

Product overview

KARI is the collective term for three Aboriginal community organisations: KARI Limited (established 1999), KARI Foundation (2016), and KARI Aboriginal Procurement (2021). Together they form a comprehensive suite of services supporting Aboriginal children, families, and communities. KARI Limited focuses on child protection, permanency support, and out-of-home care programs, while KARI Foundation delivers culture, sport, education, creative arts, leadership, and business enterprise programs nationally. KARI Aboriginal Procurement facilitates corporate procurement from Aboriginal businesses. The three entities operate in concert with shared governance under one board of directors, offering both direct service delivery programs (foster care, family support, clinic services, scholarships) and community engagement initiatives (cultural workshops, sporting partnerships, Unity Day events, employment expos).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KARI Limited: Primary entity providing Aboriginal child protection, foster care, permanency support program, family preservation, and targeted early intervention services.
• KARI Foundation
• KARI Aboriginal Procurement

Products and services

• Permanency Support Program (PSP) Core case management program supporting Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care across NSW, with goals of fewer entries to care, shorter time in care, and better care experiences. KARI's PSP is the largest Aboriginal-led Permanency Support Program in Australia, currently case-managing over 430 children and young people.
• Aboriginal Family Support Program A voluntary holistic service delivery program pairing Aboriginal families with dedicated Family Support Workers to strengthen parenting capacity and create safe, nurturing homes. Funded through NSW DCJ.
• Targeted Early Intervention Early intervention services delivered across Metropolitan Sydney under NSW DCJ funding to support Aboriginal families at risk of entering the child protection system.
• KARI Clinic Multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals providing therapeutic assessment, intervention, and coordinated care including paediatric, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology services for Aboriginal children and young people in KARI's care, operated in partnership with South West Sydney Local Health District.
• Scholarship Programs (Optus Year 10 and HSBC Years 11-12) Year 10 scholarship co-funded with Optus and Years 11-12 scholarship co-funded with HSBC for Aboriginal students in the Sydney Metropolitan area, providing financial support, mentoring workshops, and (for HSBC recipients) access to the HSBC Lead Program for leadership development.
• Cultural Immersion Programs Workshops and immersive cultural experiences for corporate clients and groups including Yidaki (didgeridoo), weaving, carving, traditional Indigenous games, cultural art, cooking, smoking ceremonies, spear and boomerang throwing, cultural talks, traditional fire-starting, and on-Country experiences such as bush walks and camps.
• KARI Aboriginal Procurement (KAP) Procurement service facilitating supply of Aboriginal business products and services to corporate Australia, including appliances, technology, fruit and vegetables, and first aid equipment, while supporting Aboriginal businesses with supply chain onboarding.
• Business Enterprise Program Offers business support, mentorship, and advice to Aboriginal entrepreneurs and community organisations in business, financial, and governance management, delivered through KARI Aboriginal Procurement.
• KARI Leadership Program Annual four-part leadership development program for Aboriginal leaders including workshops, belonging brains trust, bi-monthly webinars, and just-in-time learning circles.
• Aboriginal Education and Employment Expo Annual expo connecting Aboriginal students and job seekers with employers, universities, and training providers across industries including construction, hospitality, retail, health, and public service.
• Transurban Aboriginal Driving School Program funded by Transurban that teaches Aboriginal youth driving skills and provides support to help participants gain independence, access education and employment, and become active community members.
• Optus Donated Data Program Partnership with Optus providing eligible Aboriginal community members with free prepaid SIM services including minimum 20GB data monthly and unlimited national talk and text.
• LOVE BiTES Respectful Relationships Program KARI Foundation's Community Programs team are facilitator trained to deliver the LOVE BiTES program, originally developed by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), educating young people aged 15-17 on healthy relationship development and violence prevention through interactive workshops.
• KARI Online Carer Support Hub Dedicated digital platform providing KARI foster carers with access to a Carer Resource Guide, emergency contacts, upcoming events, and training opportunities to support them in providing foster care.
• Greater Western Sydney Opportunity Hub NSW Government-funded program supporting Aboriginal students through cultural mentoring, career exploration, and educational activities across schools in Greater Western Sydney.

Quantifiable outcome

• KARI Limited is the largest Aboriginal Permanency Support Provider in Australia, supporting over 430 children and young people across NSW.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OptuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOptus partners with KARI Foundation on the Year 10 Scholarship Program, providing financial support and mentoring workshops for Aboriginal students commencing Year 10 studies across NSW. Optus also partners on the Donate Your Data Program, providing free prepaid SIM services with minimum 20GB data and unlimited national talk and text to eligible Aboriginal community members. The partnership also includes NAIDOC Week events, cultural workshops, and the Chaz Mostert Indigenous Helmet Reveal initiative.
• HSBCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHSBC partners with KARI Foundation on the Years 11 and 12 Scholarship Program, offering financial support and mentoring to Aboriginal students in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Scholarship holders automatically qualify for the HSBC Lead Program, providing additional mentoring and leadership support.
• TransurbancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTransurban funds the KARI Transurban Aboriginal Driving School, which teaches Aboriginal youth how to drive and provides support, helping participants gain independence, access education and employment, and become active community members.
• JCDecauxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJCDecaux partnered with KARI Foundation by hosting cultural art workshops at their Sydney office, where staff decorated handprints with Aboriginal art-inspired designs. JCDecaux also named KARI as Partner of the Year.
• TDG EnvironmentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI's Cultural Unit delivered a cultural immersion experience for TDG Environmental staff during Reconciliation Week, including a smoking ceremony, spear throwing, boomerang throwing, cultural talk, and traditional fire-starting activities.
• John Holland GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI marked International Women's Day alongside John Holland Group at the Upper South Creek Project Site, highlighting the importance of supporting and empowering women.
• Sydney Roosters (NRLW)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI Foundation has been a proud sponsor of the Sydney Roosters NRLW side since inception. Many players are of Indigenous descent and KARI Foundation works closely with them outside of rugby league to ensure every opportunity to succeed. KARI also sponsors the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy side in the Tarsha Gale Cup and delivers cultural workshops to the team.
• Indigenous All StarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI Foundation has been the proud Supporting Partner of the Indigenous All Stars side since 2019, working with Indigenous male and female teams throughout the All-Stars Campaign week to provide cultural opportunities and a platform for players to share their goals and aspirations.
• Wests TigerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWests Tigers and KARI Foundation are committed to enriching lives and using rugby league's popularity to make a lasting difference in the Inner and South West of Sydney. KARI works alongside Wests Tigers on educational programs, pathways programs, and the Indigenous Women's Pathways Program. Ron Griffiths, a proud Indigenous man, has been employed as a first-grade assistant coach in partnership with KARI Foundation.
• Gold Coast TitanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI Foundation is a proud supporting partner of the Titans Together Program and a presenting partner of the Deadly Futures Program, delivering programs across the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers areas focused on cultural identity, career aspirations, and Indigenous timelines.
• NSWRLcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI Foundation supports NSWRL's pathways for Aboriginal male and female under-16 players to access elite competitions, providing cultural support to help participants feel culturally connected and achieve greater outcomes both on and off the field.
• Western Sydney WandererscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI Foundation partners with Western Sydney Wanderers on Festivals of Football, soccer clinics, and cultural celebrations. The partnership promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, and cultural pride through soccer and interactive activities.
• Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI's Early Intervention Team partners with the Aboriginal Employment Strategy to assist clients with resume writing, job search, job applications, and provides links to employment services.
• South West Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKARI Clinic operates in partnership with SWSLHD to provide the Award-Winning Multidisciplinary Assessment Clinic (paediatric, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology) and Dental Clinic for Aboriginal children and young people in KARI's care.
• Ella Brothers (Gary, Glen and Mark)coreOthersThe KARI Foundation Ella 7s is Rugby Union's flagship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rugby Union 7s tournament named after the famed Ella Brothers – Gary, Glen and Mark. The tournament attracts around 400 athletes and officials and is a key marketing tool to bring Sevens rugby to the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
• OneTrainingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKARI partnered with OneTraining to deliver the Digital Ready program at the Liverpool office – a five-day course building digital confidence for work, study, and everyday life, with nationally recognised units of competency and a free laptop and 12 months of free internet for participants.
• NSW Department of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKARI partners with the NSW Department of Education for the distribution of Transition to High School Backpacks, generally happening in Term 4 of each school year.
• ADCOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI's Cultural Unit visited two ADCO construction sites (Western Sydney Airport and Lane Cove Galuwa Sports & Recreation Centre naming) to deliver cultural team building experiences for staff.
• National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKARI Foundation's Community Programs team are facilitator trained to deliver the LOVE BiTES: Respectful Relationships Program, originally developed by NAPCAN to educate young people aged 15–17 on healthy relationship development and violence prevention.
• IndigiGrowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI collaborated with IndigiGrow to distribute free Native Seedling Kits (Ruby Saltbush, Rosella, and Wattle seeds) during school holidays to connect families with nature, culture, and sustainability.
• Royal Life Saving Society QueenslandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with KARI on the Gwongubungga Swim Program on the Gold Coast, providing certified swimming instructors to support practical water safety and cultural connection for young Aboriginal participants.
• JCDecauxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI participated in JCDecaux's NAIDOC Week event as a supplier, showcasing KARI Aboriginal Procurement's products and services to Optus staff.
• Wilson SecurityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI partnered with Wilson Security to host the Aboriginal Women's Wellbeing Conference and Expo in March 2025, providing a space for women to connect, share, and explore pathways to personal and community wellbeing.
• Connor Watson FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKARI's Cultural Unit facilitated workshops with students involved in the Connor Watson Foundation, including painting boots gifted to Roosters players and cultural sessions at Allianz Stadium.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Life Without Barriers: One of Australia's largest non-government out-of-home care, foster care, and disability providers; directly comparable service mix (foster care, PSP, family support) at national scale, though not Aboriginal-controlled.
• Mission Australia: National community services NGO with significant foster care, homelessness, and family services; comparable in scope of social services and government contract reliance, though not Aboriginal-specific.
• Anglicare Australia: National federation of Anglican community service organisations delivering foster care, family support, and community programs; comparable in target population, funding mix, and accredited service delivery.

Direct peers

• Barnardos Australia: National child welfare and foster care NGO delivering adoption, kinship care, and OOHC services; closely comparable to KARI Limited's Permanency Support Program in target population and service model.
• OzChild: Victorian-based child and family services provider delivering OOHC, foster care, and early intervention; comparable to KARI in target population (children at risk) and government-contract funding model.
• MacKillop Family Services: Catholic agency delivering foster care, residential care, and family services across multiple states; comparable to KARI's PSP and Targeted Early Intervention offerings under government contracting.
• Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care Secretariat NSW (AbSec): Peak Aboriginal community-controlled organisation for child and family services in NSW; directly comparable as the sector advocate and capacity-builder for Aboriginal PSPs and out-of-home care providers across the same client base as KARI.
• Uniting (NSW.ACT): Large NSW/ACT community services provider offering foster care, family preservation, and youth programs; competes for similar DCJ-funded case-management work and Aboriginal family services referrals.

Others

• Supply Nation: Australia's leading Indigenous business directory and corporate procurement connector; adjacent to KARI Aboriginal Procurement's corporate-facing function and serves the same Indigenous procurement mandate from corporate Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KARI.AUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kari-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kari_org_au
• YouTubeyoutube.com/kari

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 KARI