Australian Business and Community Network

What Australian Business and Community Network does

Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN, ABN 11 114 688 541) is an Australian nonprofit founded in 2005 by a group of Australian CEOs. It operates a membership-based network connecting over 50 leading Australian businesses with more than 200 partner schools to deliver structured workplace-based mentoring programs for secondary students (primarily Years 9-12) from low socio-economic backgrounds. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors currently chaired by Brett Clark (CEO of TAL), with Phil Gardner as CEO since mid-2022.

ABCN's product portfolio is a set of distinct mentoring programs rather than a technology stack. Core programs include GOALS (Year 9 goal-setting and self-management), Accelerate (a three-year scholarship plus mentoring program), Focus (women's leadership), InRoads (career exploration for 16-17 year olds), Find Your Purpose (launched 2024 with The Purpose Project Australia), Full STEAM Ahead (STEM), Digital Careers Expo, Future Thinkers, Leaders of Tomorrow, Influence-Her, and CAREERx programs for career advisors. The ABCN Foundation (philanthropy-funded) administers scholarships and a Career Mentoring Curriculum for First Nations Students co-designed with Aboriginal educators. An Ecstra Foundation-funded financial literacy module is integrated across programs targeting 1,000 students annually. Programs are delivered face-to-face, digitally, or blended, with content, safeguarding, and outcome measurement frameworks developed in-house over 20 years.

ABCN's revenue model is non-commercial: members contribute corporate membership fees and in-kind volunteer hours, and the ABCN Foundation is funded by philanthropic donations (processed via Raisely). Programs are provided at no cost to students or schools. In 2023 the organization reported a record 9,109 students mentored by 4,462 mentors, with stated capacity targets of 10,000 students and 4,500 mentors. Recognition includes a 2007 Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships, 2010 and 2014 Global Best Awards, and a 2021 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies listing. ABCN is a member of the Prime Minister's Business and Education Employment Partnership (BEEP, launched 2012).

Name

Australian Business and Community Network

Legal name

Australian Business and Community Network ABN 11 114 688 541

Website

https://abcn.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ABCN is an Australian nonprofit founded in 2005 that connects 50+ leading businesses with 200+ schools to deliver workplace-based mentoring programs for secondary students from low socio-economic backgrounds, supported by philanthropic scholarships and member contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring and Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET) (BPADAKAD)

Keywords

• Workplace mentoring programs
• Student career mentoring
• School business partnerships
• Scholarship programs
• Youth education mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Company Contributions: Australian businesses pay membership fees or provide in-kind support (employee volunteer hours) to participate in ABCN mentoring programs.
2. Philanthropic Donations: The ABCN Foundation runs entirely on philanthropic support to fund scholarships for young people who need extra support. Donations are collected through Raisely fundraising platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ABCN is a nonprofit membership organization that connects Australian businesses with schools to deliver structured workplace-based mentoring programs for students from under-resourced communities. It operates a portfolio of distinct programs (GOALS, Accelerate Scholarship, Focus, InRoads, Find Your Purpose, Full STEAM Ahead, Leaders of Tomorrow, and others) through a network of over 50 corporate member companies and 200+ partner schools, with the ABCN Foundation providing philanthropic scholarships.

Product overview

ABCN operates as a purpose-led nonprofit organization connecting businesses and schools to create structured workplace-based mentoring programs for students from under-resourced communities. The organization offers a portfolio of distinct mentoring programs including GOALS (for Year 9 students focused on goal-setting and self-management), Accelerate Scholarship (a three-year financial and mentoring scholarship for high-potential students), Focus (women's leadership development), InRoads (technology career exploration), Find Your Purpose (career direction), Full STEAM Ahead (STEM education), and Financial Capability modules. These programs are delivered through a network of over 50 member companies and 200+ partner schools, connecting students with corporate mentors in face-to-face, digital, or blended formats. The Development Hub serves as the umbrella collection for these structured programs which develop key skills in communication, self-management, and confidence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GOALS A mentoring program designed for Year 9 students from low socio-economic schools that encourages high school completion and widens aspirations. Focuses on goal-setting, self-management, critical thinking, and confidence-building through corporate mentor interactions.
• Accelerate Scholarship A three-year scholarship and mentoring program for high-potential students facing significant socio-economic barriers, providing financial assistance and corporate mentoring during Years 11, 12, and the first year post-school.
• Focus Women's leadership development program that offers female students mentorship from senior business women and develops leadership skills through workplace engagement.
• InRoads Program designed for 16-17 year old high school students in disadvantaged areas with no post-school plan, providing career exploration opportunities in technology and other industries.
• Find Your Purpose Workplace mentoring program developed in collaboration with The Purpose Project Australia to help students discover their career purpose and direction.
• Full STEAM Ahead Annual STEM program for students from Southwest Sydney schools, both primary and secondary, focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics careers.
• Digital Careers Expo Program connecting students with mentors from multiple companies to learn about digital career opportunities and the tech industry.
• Future Thinkers Career exploration session program that brings students into corporate workplaces to learn about various career paths and industries.
• Career Mentoring Curriculum for First Nations Students A three-year curriculum co-designed with Aboriginal educators specifically to support First Nations students, including programs like Aspirations and GOALS for First Nations.
• Leaders of Tomorrow Two-day leadership mentoring program designed to inspire Year 11 students from high-needs schools who demonstrate leadership potential.
• Influence-Her One-day program for female student leaders focused on inspiring the next generation of women leaders through mentorship from senior business women.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,109 students mentored in 2023 (record)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TALcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAL is a member company providing volunteer mentors for ABCN programs. TAL's Pride Committee members have hosted student events as part of diversity initiatives.
• A&O ShearmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA&O Shearman is a member company participating in ABCN workplace mentoring programs.
• nbn (National Broadband Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnernbn is a member company providing corporate volunteer mentors for ABCN programs.
• PwCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPwC is a member company providing volunteer mentors for ABCN mentoring programs.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEY is a member company. EY mentors host programs and former ABCN students have joined EY as employees.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPMG is a founding member company providing volunteer mentors. KPMG has hosted end-of-year events for ABCN scholars.
• Commonwealth BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth Bank is a member company that has hosted Leadership Summit events for ABCN Foundation scholars.
• WestpaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestpac is a member company providing volunteer mentors. Former ABCN students have returned as Westpac mentors.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft is a member company that has gifted perpetual scholarships. They host students at datacentres for career programs.
• OktacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOkta is a member company that hosted Future Thinkers sessions at their Sydney office.
• OptuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptus is a member company that donated free SIM cards to help students learn from home during COVID-19.
• Ecstra FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ecstra Foundation integrates financial capability modules into ABCN career mentoring programs. Aims to develop financial literacy skills of 1,000 students each year.
• Hall & WilcoxsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHall & Wilcox provides pro-bono legal services to ABCN for whistleblower investigations. Previous Chair of ABCN was Managing Partner of Hall & Wilcox.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccenture is a member company providing volunteer mentors. Mentors from Accenture have participated in programs supporting students.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeloitte is a member company providing volunteer mentors for ABCN programs.
• StocklandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStockland employees serve as mentors for ABCN Accelerate scholarship students.
• IAG (Insurance Australia Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAG is a member company providing volunteer mentors for ABCN programs.
• Bain & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBain & Company is a member company participating in ABCN workplace mentoring programs.
• The Purpose Project - AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop and launch the Find Your Purpose workplace mentoring program in 2024.
• Queensland Resources CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through QMEA program providing STEM industry pathways for Queensland students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children Australia: Large international NGO with significant Australian operations focused on children's education, equity, and wellbeing, including school partnerships and youth mentoring programs comparable to ABCN's scope.

Emerging players

• ReachOut Australia: Australian digital mental health and youth support organization that complements ABCN's educational mentoring, addressing broader youth wellbeing outcomes for school-aged students.

Regional players

• Starlight Children's Foundation Australia: Australian charity supporting seriously ill children and young people through hospital and educational programs, sharing a school-aged beneficiary demographic and corporate-partnership fundraising model.

Direct peers

• Yalari: Australian nonprofit offering scholarships and mentoring support for Indigenous students from regional and remote communities to attend leading boarding and day schools, overlapping with ABCN's scholarship and Aspiration programs.
• The Smith Family: Australian national children's education charity supporting disadvantaged students, with comparable mentoring, scholarships, and school partnership programs designed to improve educational outcomes and Year 12 completion.
• JA (Junior Achievement) Australia: Global nonprofit running workplace mentoring, entrepreneurship, and work-readiness programs for school students, with Australian operations that overlap directly with ABCN's GOALS and Focus programs.
• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF): Australian nonprofit providing scholarships and mentoring for Indigenous students to complete secondary education and transition to further study or employment, with a corporate-partnership and school-engagement model comparable to ABCN.
• Beacon Foundation: Australian nonprofit partnering with schools, businesses, and communities to deliver career mentoring and education programs for disadvantaged youth, with a similar workplace-mentoring model and corporate-member base.
• Ardoch Youth Foundation: Australian education-focused nonprofit that connects businesses, schools, and communities to support vulnerable children and young people through workplace mentoring and education programs.

Others

• Microsoft Philanthropies: As a corporate philanthropy function of a major ABCN member, Microsoft operates adjacent youth-skills and education programs globally, including scholarship and digital-skills programs that intersect with ABCN's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abcnoz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ABCN
• Facebookfacebook.com/abcn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abcn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Business and Community Network