Australian Council of Social Service

What Australian Council of Social Service does

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is a national nonprofit peak council founded in 1956 and headquartered in Sydney, NSW. It functions as the principal non-partisan policy and advocacy voice for the Australian community services sector and for people affected by poverty, disadvantage, and inequality. Its work spans policy development, research, public campaigning, and federal-level engagement, including direct participation in Senate inquiries, federal budget processes, and pre-budget caucuses. Documented policy outputs include contributions to the abolition of Robodebt, securing the first real increase in unemployment payments in more than 20 years, and successful advocacy for 2026 capital gains tax discount and negative gearing reforms.

ACOSS is structured as a membership-based umbrella linking 8 state and territory Councils of Social Service, 79 national organisation members, and 6 national constituency members, collectively representing thousands of frontline community agencies. Its core "products" are policy publications, research reports (including the multi-phase Poverty and Inequality Partnership with UNSW Sydney), and issue campaigns such as Raise the Rate for Good and Fair, Fast and Inclusive Climate Action. Distribution is through parliamentary testimony, media engagement, member networks, and public campaigns rather than commercial channels.

ACOSS generates revenue from four primary streams: federal government funding, tiered membership fees (now structured across 11 income brackets, with national organisation membership ranging from AUD $62 to AUD $20,239 annually), grant funding from philanthropic partners (Ecstra, Wyatt Trust, Ramsay Foundation, Sydney Myer Fund, HESTA, Australian Ethical Foundations, and others), and donations. Operational support is supplemented by pro bono legal services (Ashurst) and individual philanthropy. The organisation is governed by a board led by President Hang Vo (elected 2026) and CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, with a senior team including Program Directors for Social Security, Climate and Energy, and Community Services.

Name

Australian Council of Social Service

Legal name

Australian Council of Social Service

Website

https://acoss.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is a 1956-founded national nonprofit peak council that advocates on poverty, inequality, and community services policy in Australia, linking 8 state/territory councils and 85 member organisations to federal government and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGABAL

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

Keywords

• Social policy advocacy
• Poverty reduction services
• Community sector representation
• Welfare policy research
• Nonprofit peak council

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ACOSS receives funding from federal government for policy and advocacy work. This represents a primary revenue stream for the organization.
2. Membership Fees: Revenue from national member organizations, associate members, and councils of social service. Fees are tiered based on annual organizational income.
3. Grant Funding: Funding from government grants and philanthropic organizations for specific projects and research initiatives.
4. Partner Contributions and Donations: Financial support from partners and supporters including Ecstra, Wyatt Trust, Ramsay Foundation, and individual donors.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACOSS is the national peak council for community services in Australia, advocating for people affected by poverty, disadvantage, and inequality through policy research, federal government advocacy, public campaigns, and coordination of a member network spanning eight state and territory Councils of Social Service. Its services include policy development, evidence-based research through the Poverty and Inequality Partnership with UNSW Sydney, media engagement, member coordination, and public campaigns such as Raise the Rate for Good and Fair, Fast and Inclusive Climate Action.

Product overview

ACOSS is a national advocacy organization (peak council for community services) established in 1956, not a technology product company. It does not offer software products or technology services. ACOSS's core offerings consist of policy advocacy, research publications, campaigns (including Raise the Rate for Good and Fair Fast and Inclusive Climate Action), member networks, and community sector coordination. The organization provides policy resources, media releases, research reports, and coordinates with eight state/territory Councils of Social Service and national member organizations to advocate for people affected by poverty and inequality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Poverty and Inequality Partnership: Research and impact collaboration between ACOSS and UNSW Sydney focused on monitoring trends in poverty and inequality in Australia
• Raise the Rate for Good Campaign
• Fair, Fast and Inclusive Climate Action

Products and services

• ACOSS Membership Tiered annual membership program for national peak bodies, frontline community organisations, councils of social service, and constituency groups, providing access to collective national advocacy, federal policy influence, sector coordination events, CEO networking lunches, and member-only bulletins. Membership fees range from $30 (Associate Members under $100k income) to $20,239 (National Organisation Members over $100m income), tiered by annual organisational income.

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic victory for economic fairness through successful advocacy for capital gains discount and negative gearing reforms passed in 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• UNSW SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoverty and Inequality Partnership - ACOSS has partnered with UNSW Sydney to undertake a research and impact collaboration to sharpen the national focus on poverty and inequality in Australia. The partnership monitors trends in poverty and inequality over time, explores drivers, and develops solutions. Currently in second phase of the partnership.
• 54 reasons (Save the Children Australia Group)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• ARACYsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• Foodbank AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• Jesuit Social ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• Life Without BarrierssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• cohealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• Mission AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• The Smith FamilysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• Settlement Services InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership backing the second phase of research collaboration.
• UTSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity sponsor providing institutional support and collaboration.
• AshurstsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono legal services provider supporting ACOSS governance and operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO): UK peak body for the voluntary and community sector with the same membership, research, and advocacy structure as ACOSS; comparable model in a different geography.

Direct peers

• The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID): National peak body for Australian international development NGOs; operates a comparable membership, advocacy, and policy-research model serving a different but adjacent social-services constituency.
• The Smith Family: Australian national children's charity focused on education and disadvantage; both serve as national peak/advocacy bodies tackling poverty and inequality in Australia. ACOSS lists The Smith Family as a core NGO partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership.
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: US research and policy organisation focused on poverty, income support, and tax policy; closest international analogue to ACOSS's evidence-based federal advocacy on JobSeeker and tax reform.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Australian research and advocacy organisation focused on poverty, disadvantage, and social policy, with an in-house research division similar to ACOSS's UNSW partnership model.
• Mission Australia: Major Australian community services NGO working on homelessness, social housing, and disadvantage; ACOSS lists Mission Australia as a core Poverty and Inequality Partnership partner and both operate at national scale with overlapping advocacy agendas.
• Community Council for Australia (CCA): Australian peak body advocating for a strong, sustainable community sector; operates a closely parallel advocacy, policy, and capacity-building model to ACOSS, often co-advocating on sector funding.
• Jobs Australia: Australian peak body for employment services, sitting inside ACOSS's network on social security and employment policy advocacy; comparable peak-council structure for a defined sub-sector of community services.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Red Cross: Large established humanitarian organisation that participates in ACOSS's policy network; overlaps on community welfare, disaster relief, and social advocacy at a broader operational scale.

Emerging players

• Foodbank Australia: Australia's largest food relief charity, listed as a core ACOSS partner in the Poverty and Inequality Partnership; operates frontline hunger-relief services that inform ACOSS's income-support advocacy agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acoss
• Facebookfacebook.com/AustralianCouncilofSocialService

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Australian Council of Social Service