Adopt Change

What Adopt Change does

Adopt Change is an Australian not-for-profit charity, founded in 2008 by Deborra-lee Furness, that works to improve outcomes for children in out-of-home care through adoption, foster care, and permanency-focused programs. The organization operates nationally across all Australian states and territories and serves carers, adoptive and kinship families, sector professionals, and the broader public through advocacy, awareness campaigns, training, and direct service delivery.

The organization's flagship revenue and service line is Carers for Kids NSW (formerly My Forever Family NSW), a program commissioned by the NSW Government in 2018 to provide ongoing support, training, and advocacy for foster, kinship, and adoptive carers across New South Wales. Complementary programs include Empower Change, which supports the education of children in care, and Educate Change, which delivers trauma-informed care training for educators and sector professionals. Recurring sector engagement is anchored by the annual National Permanency Conference (since 2017) and the public-facing Yesvumber awareness month (expanded from a single awareness week in 2014), alongside the 'Safe Spaces, Friendly Faces' trauma-informed training series (since 2018).

Adopt Change's business model is a hybrid of government commissioning (anchored by the Carers for Kids NSW contract with the NSW Government), individual and corporate philanthropy, donations, and event-based fundraising. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue, financial KPIs, or headcount, and it has no disclosed technology platform, proprietary models, or AI/ML capability. Recent high-profile board additions in late 2024 and early 2025 suggest an ongoing organizational build-out consistent with continued program and sector expansion.

Name

Adopt Change

Legal name

Adopt Change

Website

https://adoptchange.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adopt Change is an Australian not-for-profit charity, founded in 2008 by Deborra-lee Furness, that delivers programs in adoption, foster care, and permanency for children in out-of-home care, operating nationally and funded by government contracts, donations, and event fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Foster Care Support Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Parenting Education for Special Needs & Developmental Differences (EDACALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Therapy-Integrated Childcare Support (coordination with OT/PT/SLP/ABA) (HSAAAIAM)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Child welfare advocacy
• Trauma-informed care
• Adoption support
• Nonprofit permanency

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Adopt Change relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund their programs and campaigns.
2. Government Grants and Commissioning: The organization operates government-commissioned programs such as Carers for Kids NSW, funded by NSW Government Family and Community Services. This provides operational funding for carer recruitment, support, training and advocacy.
3. Event Revenue and Fundraising: Adopt Change generates revenue through events including the annual THRIVE National Permanency Conference, Healing Homes for Kids Roadshow, and various fundraising initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Adopt Change is an Australian not-for-profit organization that delivers foster care, kinship care, and adoption support services, alongside advocacy and trauma-informed education programs. Its flagship Carers for Kids NSW is a government-commissioned program recruiting, training, and supporting carers across New South Wales. The organization also distributes MyPack first-night backpacks to children entering out-of-home care and runs national awareness campaigns such as Yesvember and #aHomeForEveryChild.

Product overview

Adopt Change operates as a not-for-profit organization providing a suite of interconnected programs and services focused on child permanency, adoption support, and trauma-informed care. The core offerings include MyPack first-night backpacks for children entering care, the government-funded Carers for Kids NSW program for carer recruitment and support, Empower Change for educational support, and Online Lounge Rooms for peer support. The organization also runs major annual events including the THRIVE National Permanency Conference and Yesvember awareness month, supported by the #aHomeForEveryChild campaign. These programs work together to support children, families, and carers through the entire permanency journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carers for Kids NSW: NSW government-funded support service operated by Adopt Change to recruit, support, train and advocate for carers (foster, kinship, guardian and adoptive) of children in care. Formerly known as My Forever Family NSW.

Products and services

• Carers for Kids NSW Government-commissioned NSW support service that recruits, supports, trains, and advocates for foster carers, kinship carers, guardians, and adoptive parents of children in out-of-home care.
• MyPack First-night backpacks for children entering out-of-home care, providing comfort and a sense of belonging through thoughtfully curated packs for children and young people aged 3 and above.
• Empower Change Education support program for children in care, helping them thrive academically and emotionally.
• Online Lounge Rooms
• Educate Change Trauma-informed training and resources for teachers and educators to support children who have experienced early childhood adversity.
• Support Services

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NSW Government Family and Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment commissioning relationship where NSW Government Family and Community Services commissioned Adopt Change to operate the Carers for Kids NSW program for carer recruitment, support, training and advocacy.
• AddisonsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides pro bono legal support to Adopt Change.
• DeloitteminorOthersProfessional services firm providing support to Adopt Change operations.
• The Lantern GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic relations support through Victoria Buchan's Lantern Group which specializes in publicity and media relations.
• Launch RecruitmentminorOthersProvides office space and collaborative working environment for Adopt Change team.
• AjeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFashion brand partnered with Adopt Change on #aHomeForEveryChild campaign, providing design, production and distribution of 2020 campaign t-shirts.
• Corporate Challenge EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate team building provider supporting Adopt Change events including providing bikes and LEGO sets to children in care.
• Key AssetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting events and sector collaboration.
• Life Without BarriersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor child welfare organization collaborating on events and sector initiatives.
• BarnardosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare organization supporting Adopt Change events.
• OzChildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare organization supporting Adopt Change events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MacKillop Family Services: Catholic agency providing foster care, residential care, education and family services across multiple Australian states. Comparable to Adopt Change in foster/kinship carer recruitment, training and trauma-informed support for children in out-of-home care.
• Life Without Barriers: Major national out-of-home care and disability services provider operating foster, kinship and residential care programs across Australia. Closely comparable to Adopt Change in foster/kinship carer recruitment, training and advocacy, with a larger geographic footprint and multi-state government contracts.
• CREATE Foundation: Australian nonprofit representing the voices of children and young people with lived experience of out-of-home care. Directly comparable to Adopt Change in advocacy focus, sector collaboration with government and NGOs, and mission of improving permanency outcomes for children in care.
• OzChild: Australian child welfare charity focused on foster care, kinship care and family services, with significant government-commissioned programs. Directly comparable to Adopt Change's Carers for Kids NSW model and trauma-informed carer support offerings.
• Barnardos Australia: One of Australia's largest children's welfare charities, delivering foster care, kinship care, adoption support and family services across multiple states. Directly comparable to Adopt Change in mission (permanent, safe homes for children in care), service mix and government contracting orientation.
• Key Assets: International fostering and child welfare provider with Australian operations delivering foster care, residential care and disability services. Comparable to Adopt Change in government-commissioned carer support and out-of-home care focus.

Broad incumbents

• Anglicare Australia: Federated network of Anglican social service agencies across Australia delivering foster care, family support, disability and community services. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing out-of-home care, adoption support and family services across multiple jurisdictions.
• Berry Street: Large Victorian-based family services organization operating foster care, residential care, education and family support programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the Australian out-of-home care sector with overlapping carer recruitment and trauma-informed practice capabilities.
• Uniting (Uniting NSW.ACT / Uniting Vic.Tas): Major Australian community services organization delivering foster care, family services, aged care and community programs across multiple states. Comparable as a broad incumbent in child welfare and family support, with government-commissioned foster care programs.

Regional players

• AdoptUSKids: U.S.-based federally funded initiative that recruits foster and adoptive parents and supports children in U.S. foster care awaiting permanency. Functionally analogous to Adopt Change's mission and carer recruitment focus, but operating in a different national jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AdoptChangeAU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHbUn6jHDfCS3sHWhvJfsmw
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdoptChangeAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adopt-change
• Instagraminstagram.com/adoptchangeau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Adopt Change