Karakan

What Karakan does

Karakan Ltd is a community-based not-for-profit mental health provider headquartered in Daisy Hill, Queensland, Australia, operating since 1972. The organization delivers person-centred, recovery-oriented support services to individuals living with mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities, primarily as a registered NDIS provider. Its service portfolio spans three core home and living programs — Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short-Term Accommodation (STA), and Individualised Living Options (ILO) — alongside Assistance with Daily Life, Social and Community Participation, Support Coordination, and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching. Specialized offerings include the YouthKan sub-brand for youth in out-of-home care, a Multicultural Youth and Families Navigator Service for culturally and linguistically diverse communities and First Nations youth, and a Transitional Living and Support Service operated in partnership with Metro South Health for people at risk of homelessness.

Karakan's revenue model is anchored in NDIS package funding for eligible participants, with limited fee-for-service revenue from private-paying customers for services such as Assistance with Daily Life. The organization does not publicly disclose pricing, revenue figures, or headcount. Its go-to-market is community-driven: direct referrals (via a website referral form), word-of-mouth, and grassroots engagement supplemented by an organic social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. All services are delivered in-person through qualified support workers and recovery coaches across Queensland, with operating hours of 8am–5pm weekdays. There is no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, and no public API; the competitive positioning rests on 50+ years of community trust, lived-experience integration, and regulatory standing as an NDIS-registered provider rather than on technology or scale.

Name

Karakan

Legal name

Karakan Ltd

Website

https://karakan.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Karakan Ltd is a Queensland-based not-for-profit, NDIS-registered provider of community mental health and psychosocial disability support services, delivering home and living support, daily living assistance, and youth programs to NDIS participants and private-paying customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Daisy Hill

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. NDIS Funded Services: Karakan operates as an NDIS registered provider, with most services fully funded through NDIS packages for eligible participants with mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities.
2. Private Pay Services: Some services such as Assistance with Daily Life are available to both NDIS customers and private paying customers on a fee-for-service basis.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Karakan is a community-based not-for-profit mental health provider delivering NDIS-funded psychosocial support services to individuals with mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities across Queensland, Australia. The core portfolio encompasses Supported Independent Living, Short-Term Accommodation, and Individualised Living Options as its three home and living services, supplemented by Assistance with Daily Life, Social and Community Participation, YouthKan youth support, Multicultural Youth and Families navigation, and a Transitional Living and Support Service in partnership with Metro South Health. Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching are provided as wraparound add-on services.

Product overview

Karakan is a community-based not-for-profit mental health provider offering a comprehensive suite of NDIS-funded support services. The portfolio consists of three core home and living services (Supported Independent Living, Short-Term Accommodation, and Individualised Living Options), alongside specialised youth support through the YouthKan program, daily living assistance, social and community participation support, multicultural youth navigation services, and transitional living support in partnership with Metro South Health. Additional services include Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching. All services are designed for individuals living with mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities, focusing on person-centred, recovery-oriented practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthKan: Specialist Out of Home Youth Support Service designed to improve quality of life for young people in out of home care who have severe mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities

Products and services

• Supported Independent Living NDIS-funded home and living support that helps participants live independently by assisting with day-to-day tasks and activities in their chosen home, promoting control, confidence, and reduced stress. Available to NDIS participants in Queensland.
• Short-Term Accommodation Respite accommodation service providing safe and comfortable stays during short periods, offering opportunities to meet new people, engage in activities, and make memories. Available to NDIS participants.
• Individualised Living Options Flexible, personalised approach to living, empowering NDIS participants to choose where they live, who they live with, and how they are supported, promoting independence and quality of life.
• Assistance with Daily Life Personalised assistance with everyday life tasks supporting individuals to become more independent, available to NDIS customers and private paying customers on a fee-for-service basis.
• Assistance with Social and Community Participation Support service facilitating social and community participation through community events, social groups, and shared interests to improve mental health and overall quality of life for NDIS participants.
• YouthKan Youth Support Service Specialist Out of Home Youth Support Service designed to improve quality of life for young people in out of home care with severe mental health needs and psychosocial disabilities, supporting navigation of NDIS funding and transition into adulthood.
• Multicultural Youth and Families Navigator Service Service enhancing accessibility, inclusion, and participation of multicultural young people with psychosocial disabilities, their families and carers, through warm connections with local services and community organisations.
• Transitional Living and Support Service Partnership with Metro South Health supporting people with mental health needs at risk of homelessness to improve mental wellbeing, quality of life, and long-term housing stability through non-clinical and clinical supports.
• Support Coordination Tailored support coordination service helping NDIS participants navigate and access their NDIS funding and supports effectively.
• Psychosocial Recovery Coaching Recovery-oriented coaching providing extra support and guidance around goals and interests while assisting to maintain mental health and wellbeing for NDIS participants.
• Group Activity Opportunities to explore group activities promoting community engagement and social connection for participants.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Metro South HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Metro South Health, Karakan operates the Transitional Living and Support Service which supports people with mental health needs who are at risk of homelessness. This service combines non-clinical and clinical supports to offer a holistic and recovery-oriented service model.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wellways Australia: National NDIS and mental health provider offering supported independent living, recovery coaching, and community participation; directly competes for the same NDIS participant cohort Karakan serves.
• Richmond Fellowship Australia: Not-for-profit delivering psychosocial rehabilitation, supported accommodation, and recovery-focused community services; comparable participant cohort and service model to Karakan.
• Neami National: National mental health not-for-profit delivering psychosocial support, suicide prevention, and NDIS-aligned services; comparable recovery-oriented model and target population to Karakan.
• Mind Australia: One of Australia's largest community-managed mental health organisations providing psychosocial recovery, supported accommodation, and NDIS services; direct competitor for NDIS plan funding and participant referrals.
• Flourish Australia: National community mental health not-for-profit delivering psychosocial supports, supported living, and recovery-oriented services across multiple Australian states; comparable nonprofit operating model and participant cohort to Karakan.
• MacKillop Family Services: National not-for-profit providing out-of-home care, youth mental health, and NDIS supports; direct comparable for Karakan's YouthKan youth service and the broader youth-mental-health segment.
• Open Minds Australia: Queensland-headquartered NDIS-registered mental health and psychosocial disability provider offering SIL, community participation, recovery coaching, and support coordination — closely overlapping Karakan's service mix and geography.
• Aftercare: Australian community mental health provider delivering psychosocial rehabilitation, supported accommodation, and NDIS-funded services; comparable not-for-profit operating model and target population to Karakan.

Broad incumbents

• Stride Mental Health: ASX-listed mental health and NDIS provider operating nationally across clinical, community, and supported-living services; broader capital base but overlapping participant cohort and service lines.
• Life Without Barriers: One of Australia's largest not-for-profit disability, aged care, and mental health providers with national NDIS coverage; broader portfolio than Karakan but directly competes for SIL, STA, and youth out-of-home-care participants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChZW8-TuYXRt_2Ah66cj7Ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/KarakanLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karakan-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Karakan