Woden Community Service (WCS)

What Woden Community Service (WCS) does

Woden Community Service (WCS) is a Canberra-based, not-for-profit charitable organisation founded in 1969 that delivers an integrated portfolio of community services across the Australian Capital Territory. It operates seven core service streams: Children's Services (Early Learning Centres, Out of School Hours Care, School Holiday Programs, PEEPS Playgroups); Child, Youth and Family Services (Youth Engagement Team with Anglicare ACT, Raw Potential homelessness prevention, T25 Clinic, Family Case Management); Mental Health and Wellbeing (Early Intervention, Sub-Acute Support including Step Up Step Down and The Way Back); Aged Care (Home Support, Transport at $6/trip, Social Groups); Housing Support (Tenancy Assistance Program, Hoarding and Advocacy Support); Community Services (The Little Pantry food relief, Community Development, Room Hire at $20-$70/hour, Mural Projects); and Social Enterprises (Catering Services, Canteens 4 Kids operating 26 school canteens, and management of The Big Issue ACT operations).

The organisation serves Canberrans across all life stages, with primary segments including children and families, youth aged 12-25, seniors (65+, or 50+ for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander peoples), people experiencing mental health challenges, individuals at risk of homelessness, and culturally and linguistically diverse community members. WCS does not rely on proprietary technology platforms; service delivery is conducted through paid staff, volunteers, and partnerships, with administrative systems for enrolment (Kangarootime, My Family Lounge), event registration (Eventbrite), donations (Square), bookings (Cognito Forms), and surveys (Microsoft Forms).

Revenue derives from a hybrid model combining government grants and contracts (ACT Government Community Services Directorate, Child Care Subsidy administration), fee-for-service programs (childcare, OSHC, room hire, transport, social groups), and earned income from social enterprises (catering, school canteens, The Big Issue magazine distribution). Effective 27 November 2025, WCS unified with Northside Community Service under a shared governance and leadership model while continuing to operate under both organisations' trusted names, combining over 100 years of community services experience.

Name

Woden Community Service (WCS)

Legal name

Woden Community Service Limited

Website

https://wcs.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Woden Community Service (WCS) is a Canberra-based not-for-profit founded in 1969 delivering integrated community services across children's services, youth, mental health, aged care, housing support, and food relief to ACT residents of all ages through government funding, fees, and social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)

Keywords

• Community services
• Aged care support
• Mental health programs
• Out of school hours care
• Housing assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Services: WCS receives government funding to deliver community services including children's services, aged care, mental health services, youth programs, and housing support under various government contracts and subsidies.
2. Fee-for-Service Programs: Services such as Children's Services (Early Learning Centres, OSHC), catering services, canteens, and venue hire generate revenue through user fees.
3. Social Enterprise: Social enterprise activities including catering services, Canteens 4 Kids (operating 26 school canteens), and The Big Issue magazine distribution create earned income while supporting community objectives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Woden Community Service (WCS) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that delivers a broad portfolio of community and human services to individuals and families across the Australian Capital Territory. Its offerings span children's services (early learning, OSHC, playgroups, school holiday programs), youth engagement, mental health programs, aged care (home support and transport), housing and tenancy assistance, social enterprises (catering, Canteens 4 Kids, The Big Issue), and community development initiatives including room hire at the Woden Community Hub.

Product overview

Woden Community Service (WCS) is a not-for-profit community services organisation providing a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services across all age groups throughout the ACT. Rather than a unified software product, WCS delivers community-facing services organised into distinct programs: Children's Services (Early Learning Centres, OSHC, School Holiday Programs, Playgroups), Child Youth and Family Services (Youth Engagement Team, Raw Potential, T25 Clinic, Family Case Management), Social Enterprise (Catering Services, Canteens 4 Kids, The Big Issue), Mental Health and Wellbeing (Early Intervention, Sub-Acute Support), Aged Care (Home Support, Transport, Social Groups), Housing Support (Tenancy Assistance Program, Hoarding Support), and Community Services (The Little Pantry, Community Development, Room Hire, Mural Projects, English Classes, Board Games Group). These services operate from multiple locations including Woden Community Hub, Woden Youth Centre, and the WCS Main Office, with shared infrastructure for enrolments, bookings, and client management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Little Pantry: Emergency food relief service providing non-perishable foods and personal items to those in need
• Canteens 4 Kids
• Raw Potential
• T25 Clinic
• Youth Engagement Team (YET)
• Woden Community Hub
• WCS Connect

Products and services

• Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) Before- and after-school care program for primary school children, delivered in partnership with schools and supporting working families in the ACT.
• Early Learning Centres Early childhood education and care for pre-school aged children, delivered through WCS-operated early learning centres.
• School Holiday Programs Structured holiday programs for school-aged children delivered during ACT school holiday periods.
• PEEPS Playgroups Supported playgroup sessions for young children and their parents or carers, focused on early development and parent connection.
• Youth Engagement Team (YET) Engagement and support service for young people in the ACT focused on connection, wellbeing and pathways.
• Raw Potential Youth-focused program supporting young people to build capability, confidence and pathways into education, training or employment.
• T25 Mental Health Clinic Short-term, focused psychological therapy clinic providing evidence-based mental health treatment to individuals in the ACT.
• Family Case Management Case management support for families navigating complex needs, including mental health, parenting and social challenges.
• Early Intervention (Mental Health) Early intervention mental health program for individuals experiencing emerging mental health concerns, providing timely therapeutic support.
• Sub-Acute Mental Health Support Sub-acute community-based mental health support for individuals transitioning from or stepping up from clinical care.
• Aged Care Home Support In-home aged care support services helping older Canberrans maintain independence and remain living safely at home.
• Aged Care Transport Services Transport service assisting older Canberrans to attend appointments, social activities and community programs.
• Aged Care Social Groups Social group programs for older Canberrans designed to reduce social isolation and support community connection.
• Tenancy Assistance Program (TAP) Housing support service assisting individuals and families at risk of homelessness to sustain tenancies and access housing.
• Hoarding and Advocacy Support Service Specialist advocacy and support for individuals experiencing hoarding behaviours and related tenancy or wellbeing challenges.
• Catering Services Social enterprise catering service providing food services to organisations and events while supporting community outcomes.
• Canteens 4 Kids School canteen social enterprise operated by WCS, providing nutritious food service to schools and reinvesting proceeds into community programs.
• The Big Issue Vendor Program Social enterprise activity supporting The Big Issue, providing pathways for vendors experiencing marginalisation to earn income through magazine sales.
• The Little Pantry Community development initiative addressing local food insecurity through a community pantry model.
• Community Development Program Broader community development program supporting local initiatives, capacity building and social connection across the ACT.
• Woden Community Hub Room Hire Community venue room hire service at the Woden Community Hub, providing affordable space for community groups and local activities.
• English Conversation Classes Free English conversation classes supporting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to practice English and connect with the community.
• Game On Board Games Group Free community board games group providing social connection opportunities for local residents through regular game sessions.
• Mural Projects Community-led mural projects that bring together local residents and artists to create public art and strengthen neighbourhood identity.

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northside Community ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025WCS and Northside Community Service united under a shared governance and leadership model effective 27 November 2025. The merger combines over 100 years of combined experience (WCS since 1969, Northside since 1976) to provide stronger, more sustainable community support across ACT. Both organizations continue to operate under their trusted names while sharing expertise in children's services, aged care, and community programs.
• Westfield WodencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create the Woden Community Hub within Westfield Woden, providing a central, versatile, and inclusive space that fosters community connection, collaboration, and delivery of essential services. WCS operates The Little Pantry, community engagement, and room hire from this location.
• Anglicare ACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCS operates the Youth Engagement Team (YET) in partnership with Anglicare ACT. YET is a youth engagement and outreach service for South Canberra, Woden and Weston Creek regions of the ACT.
• The Big Issue AustraliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWCS manages the ACT operations of The Big Issue magazine, a fortnightly independent magazine sold on streets by people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. WCS distributes magazines and provides support, training and materials to vendors.
• ACT Government (Community Services Directorate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT Government supports The Big Issue in ACT through the Community Services Directorate, providing funding and support for the social enterprise program.
• Combined Lyons ChurchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Little Pantry, WCS's emergency food relief initiative, is supported by the combined Lyons Churches, which contribute donations and community support.
• Snow FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Snow Foundation provided funding support for the Hughes Community Mural projects created by WCS Community Development program.
• Davencare FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDavencare Foundation provided funding support for the Hughes Community Mural projects created by WCS Community Development program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Smith Family: Major national children's and education-focused charity delivering learning programs, family support, and youth mentoring. Comparable to WCS youth and family programs but at national scale.
• Mission Australia:
• Goodstart Early Learning: Australia's largest early learning provider with 660+ centres nationally. Directly competes with WCS Early Learning Centres and OSHC, but operates nationally rather than as a community-anchored nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Communities at Work: Large ACT-based community organization providing children's services (early learning, OSHC), youth programs, and community support. Directly competes with WCS in the same ACT catchment.
• Anglicare ACT: Major ACT community services nonprofit providing family support, mental health, housing, and youth services. Already a strategic partner through the Youth Engagement Team (YET) co-delivery arrangement with WCS.
• Uniting ACT: ACT arm of national Uniting network delivering community services, aged care, disability (NDIS), and family support across Canberra. Competes for overlapping ACT government contracts.
• Northside Community Service: ACT-based community services nonprofit providing children's services, aged care, youth programs, and community support across Canberra's northside. Now merged with WCS under shared governance effective Nov 2025, making it both a peer and partner.

Regional players

• Berry Street: Victorian-headquartered nonprofit delivering family services, child and youth programs, and community support. Comparable in service portfolio but operates primarily outside ACT.

Others

• The Big Issue Australia: Parent organization of the street paper that WCS distributes in ACT. Comparable as a social enterprise channel partner rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Australian research and practice nonprofit focused on social disadvantage, family services, and community programs. Comparable mission and service mix but concentrated in Victoria.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/175376455928588

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Woden Community Service (WCS)