VAEAI

What VAEAI does

VAEAI (Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.) is a non-profit, community-controlled peak body for Koorie education and training in Victoria, Australia, founded in 1976 and headquartered at 496 High Street, Northcote, Melbourne. The organization operates as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) with statutory advisory status to the Victorian Department of Education and Training under the Marrung 10-Year Education Plan (2016-2026). VAEAI delivers a portfolio of programs spanning the entire education lifecycle — early years (BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators, Koorie Kids Shine kindergarten campaign), schools (Koorie Academy of Excellence, Koorie Education Calendar), vocational education (Wurreker Awards, nationally accredited Cert II-IV language courses), and higher education (Toorong Marnong university pathway initiative, Aunty Mary Atkinson Scholarship Program of up to $30,000 per student per year). Delivery occurs through a statewide infrastructure comprising Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups (LAECGs), regional Wurreker Brokers, and contracted Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across nine regional hubs. Strategic partnerships include the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, TAFE Victoria, RMIT University, and Melbourne Football Club.

VAEAI's business model is entirely grant-funded with no commercial revenue stream. Income derives from Victorian Government grants — primarily the Department of Education and Training for Marrung implementation, with additional funding from the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions for the scholarship program. No fees are charged to beneficiaries (Koorie students, families, and educators), and no pricing model applies. The organization's go-to-market motion is community-led: it engages directly with LAECGs, Wurreker Brokers, families, and students through advocacy, policy advice, conferences (Koorie Education Network, Early Years conferences), and direct service delivery. VAEAI holds no patents, develops no software products, offers no APIs, and operates no commercial technology platform. Its digital footprint consists of a content website (vaeai.org.au), social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), email newsletters, and digital PDF resource guides. The organization is governed by an elected Executive Committee led by President Geraldine Atkinson and General Manager Lionel Bamblett.

Name

VAEAI

Legal name

Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.

Website

https://vaeai.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VAEAI (Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.) is the peak non-profit Aboriginal community-controlled education organization in Victoria, Australia, delivering advocacy, language, and scholarship programs across the entire Koorie education lifecycle via government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboriginal Education Advocacy

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Aboriginal education advocacy
• Community education programs
• Koorie education support
• Indigenous language reclamation
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Northcote

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: VAEAI operates as a non-profit peak organization funded primarily through government grants and partnerships with the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, and other government bodies. Funding supports specific programs including Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan implementation, Koorie language programs, early years initiatives, and VET sector support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VAEAI is the peak Koorie community-controlled organization for education and training in Victoria, delivering Aboriginal education advocacy, policy advice to government, curriculum resources, and direct community programs across the education lifecycle — from early years through higher education. Its offerings include community engagement programs (Koorie Academy of Excellence, BALERT GERRBIK parenting support), scholarship administration (Aunty Mary Atkinson Scholarship), language reclamation programs, awards (Wurreker Awards), and accredited VET courses in First Nations language teaching.

Product overview

VAEAI (Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.) is the peak Koorie community organization for education and training in Victoria, operating as a non-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs and services rather than a unified software product. Key offerings include the Koorie Academy of Excellence for secondary students, the Koorie Languages in Schools Program, the Languages Education & Curriculum Unit producing the Koorie Education Calendar and Koorie Perspectives in Curriculum Bulletins, Early Years and Schools units, VET/Higher Education & Training through the Wurreker unit, Toorong Marnong for university connections, BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators for parenting support, the Koorie Kids Shine kindergarten campaign, and the Koorie Outreach Support Program for remote learning support. VAEAI also administers the Wurreker Awards (annual education awards) and the Aunty Mary Atkinson Scholarship Program. Nationally accredited Cert II-IV courses in Learning and Teaching Australian First Nation Languages are offered through VET partnerships. The organization does not offer a technology platform, API, or software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Koorie Academy of Excellence A program established in 2012 that engages and inspires Koorie secondary students to take control of their education and future, providing leadership, cultural re-affirmation, and academic development support. Expanded to include Wimmera South West, Ovens Murray and Outer Gippsland areas.
• Koorie Languages in Schools Program A program supporting Aboriginal languages to be introduced and taught in educational pathways across Victoria, making connections between history, culture, and language learning for students.
• BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators Evidence-based parenting support initiative (pre-birth to school age) delivered by 9 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across Victoria, meaning 'my strong family/kin' from Taungurong language.
• Koorie Outreach Support Program Statewide program supporting Koorie learners and families during remote learning and transitioning back to education, connecting them with learning supports, webinars, and peer support.
• Aunty Mary Atkinson Scholarship Program Scholarship program partnering with Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, awarding up to 8 scholarships of $30,000 annually for up to 4 years for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Wurreker Awards Annual awards celebrating achievements of individuals and organisations in Koorie post-compulsory education and training, now in its 16th year.
• Nationally Accredited Courses in Learning and Teaching Australian First Nation Languages Cert II-IV accredited courses designed for Victorian Koorie community members to learn and teach Aboriginal languages.
• Koorie Early Years: Best Practice and Protocols Practitioners Guide Digital PDF guide providing guidance on incorporating Aboriginal perspectives in early childhood services and increasing inclusion of Koorie families through respectful protocols.
• Koorie Kids Shine Campaign Campaign partnered with Department of Education promoting participation by Aboriginal children in kindergarten, highlighting 15 hours of free kinder.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% kindergarten enrollment rate achieved for Koorie learners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan (2016-2026) implementation. VAEAI advises DET on Koorie education issues, monitors education trends, and advocates for community needs. Partnership supports Koorie language programs, early years initiatives, VET sector improvements, and Koorie Education Workforce redesign.
• Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on teaching Aboriginal histories, cultures, and languages in education settings. VAEAI provides advice on curriculum inclusion and cross-curriculum priorities.
• Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in implementing Action 2c of Marrung for increasing Koorie language programs. Collaboration on Aboriginal language preservation and teaching initiatives across Victoria.
• Melbourne Football ClubnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on the '#ihaveyourback' campaign to address racism and bullying in schools. Campaign video aired at MCG during 2019 home games, reaching almost 10,000 views. Ongoing relationship with Aboriginal players including Neville Jetta.
• Sharing Stories FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Storytelling Program supporting Mildura Primary School's Barkindji-Marawara Language Program. Students document stories using iPads and create animated storyboards preserving Thalta creation story.
• Storylines (Burraga Foundation)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to find, share and tell stories from the past and present to inspire the future. Provides culturally safe process for Aboriginal communities to share stories and document education sector successes in Victoria.
• RMIT University (Ngarara Willim)notableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRMIT's Ngarara Willim program offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community fee waiver scholarships for vocational education programs. VAEAI promotes study opportunities including certificates and diplomas in architecture, art, business, IT, and community services.
• TAFE VictoriacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on VET sector improvements for Koorie learners. TAFE Victoria Executive Director Andrew Williamson participates in Koorie Education Network conferences to discuss initiatives supporting Koorie learner pathways.
• Koorie Community Cooperatives (Bushfire Relief)notableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland, GEGAC, Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, LEAHA, and Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation for distributing bushfire relief donations ($30,000 in gift cards plus physical goods) to affected Koorie communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Reconciliation Australia: National peak body promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. Adjacent to VAEAI in advocacy and policy engagement but broader than education.
• AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies): Australian Government's national research, culture, and languages institution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Overlaps with VAEAI's Languages Education & Curriculum Unit through national policy and resources on First Nations language preservation.
• First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria: The representative body for Traditional Owners of Country in Victoria currently negotiating Treaty with the Victorian Government. VAEAI's President sits on this body, and its emergence is structurally driving more resources toward community-controlled education models.

Emerging players

• AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience): Australian non-profit running school-to-university Indigenous mentoring and educational equity programs nationally. Overlaps with VAEAI's secondary-school and VET mission through mentoring pathways rather than community-controlled advocacy.
• Stars Foundation: National Indigenous-led foundation delivering school-based, female-led mentoring and intensive tutoring in remote and regional communities across Australia. Overlaps with VAEAI's Koorie Academy of Excellence model for secondary students.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF): National-scale non-profit providing Indigenous tertiary education scholarships, leadership programs, and pathway support. Smaller program surface than VAEAI but national reach and overlapping mission of improving Aboriginal educational outcomes.

Regional players

• Aboriginal Education Western Australia (AEWA): WA government's dedicated Aboriginal education directorate and statewide advisory function. Comparable to VAEAI in mission (improving Aboriginal learner outcomes) but government-internal rather than community-controlled, and operating across a different state.
• Queensland Indigenous Education: Queensland Department of Education's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education branch, addressing functionally similar outcomes (attendance, attainment, cultural inclusion) across a different state jurisdiction.
• Tasmanian Aboriginal Education (DoE Tasmania): Tasmania's Aboriginal education function supporting palawa/pakana learners through the state education system; analogous scope to VAEAI's Schools Unit but state-run rather than community-controlled.

Direct peers

• NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. (NSW AECG): The direct state-level counterpart to VAEAI: NSW's peak Aboriginal community-controlled education body, established in the same 1970s wave, performing the same advocacy, policy advice, and LAECG-style community liaison functions in NSW. Closest functional match to VAEAI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/koorieeducation
• Facebookfacebook.com/vaeai
• Instagraminstagram.com/koorieeducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vaeai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 VAEAI