Asylum Seekers Centre

What Asylum Seekers Centre does

The Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) is a registered Australian charity (ABN 47 164 509 475; Registered Charity cfn17163) founded in 1993 in Newtown, New South Wales, and was the first organization in Australia specifically established to support people seeking asylum in the Sydney community. ASC delivers free, wraparound direct services to approximately 4,600 people seeking asylum annually — including around 1,000 children from more than 90 countries — across two physical sites: the Newtown headquarters at 43 Bedford Street (open weekdays) and a satellite location at 44A Macquarie Road, Auburn (Wednesdays). Its service portfolio spans an on-site health clinic with GP consultations, employment and training support, crisis and complex casework, food relief (9,870 hot meals in FY2024-2025), family support including advocacy to waive school fees, transport assistance via Opal card top-ups, device donations, and specialized programs such as LGBTQIA+ peer support, the Lunch and Learn skills program, the Hidden Stories film initiative, and the Sangee's Kitchen micro-enterprise. The organization is not a technology company; it operates standard case management systems and a community health clinic rather than proprietary platforms. The business model is donation- and grant-funded: ASC raises revenue from individual donors (one-time and monthly recurring gifts), philanthropic foundation grants, and limited state government program support (e.g., City of Sydney funding for Lunch and Learn), with services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization is governed by a voluntary board chaired by Peter Waters and supported by high-profile patrons, and is delivered by approximately 90 paid staff supplemented by a network of more than 400 volunteers. ASC is a member of a partner ecosystem that includes Jesuit Refugee Service Australia, Multicultural NSW, the Art Gallery of NSW, and interfaith collaborators such as the Galaxy Foundation and Advocates for Dignity.

Name

Asylum Seekers Centre

Legal name

Asylum Seekers Centre

Website

https://asylumseekerscentre.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Asylum Seekers Centre is a registered Australian charity founded in 1993 that delivers free, wraparound direct services — health, employment, food, casework, and family support — to approximately 4,600 people seeking asylum annually in Greater Sydney, operated by 90 staff and 400+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Asylum seeker support
• Refugee resettlement services
• Community health clinic
• Employment training support

Headquarters

HQ city

Newtown, NSW

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies on philanthropy from individual donors. Donations are tax-deductible for contributions over $2. The organization runs regular fundraising campaigns including direct donations, monthly giving programs, and bequests.
2. Philanthropic Grants: The organization receives grants from philanthropic foundations and trusts to support operational programs and services.
3. State Government Support: Some state government funding supports specific programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Asylum Seekers Centre is a registered charity providing free, direct practical and personal support services to people seeking asylum in Greater Sydney. Its core offerings include an on-site health clinic with GP consultations, crisis and complex casework, employment and training support, food relief and hot meals, family support including advocacy to waive school fees, everyday help such as Opal card top-ups and device donations, an LGBTQIA+ peer support program, and community engagement activities delivered from centres in Newtown and Auburn.

Product overview

The Asylum Seekers Centre is a charitable organization (not a technology company) that provides practical and personal support services for people seeking asylum in Greater Sydney. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of support programs including on-site health clinic services, employment and training support, casework and crisis support, food assistance, family support, everyday practical help (such as Opal card top-ups), community activities, and specialized programs for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Key programs include the Lunch and Learn skills development initiative, Hidden Stories animated film project, and Sangee's Kitchen catering enterprise. The organization does not offer a technology product but rather provides direct support services to asylum seekers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Services On-site health clinic providing GP consultations and healthcare support for people seeking asylum who face barriers accessing Medicare and mainstream healthcare.
• Employment & Training Support Services helping people seeking asylum find jobs, develop work-related skills, and transition into employment.
• Casework Support (Client Support Services) Crisis and complex casework support for people seeking asylum including advocacy, referrals, and individualized case management.
• Food Support Food relief services including hot meals and food assistance for people seeking asylum facing food insecurity.
• Family Support Support services for families including advocacy to waive international school fees and family-focused programs supporting children of asylum seekers.
• Everyday Help Practical everyday assistance including Opal card top-ups for transport and phone plan support.
• Community Activities Recreational and community-building activities for people seeking asylum to foster connection and belonging.
• LGBTQIA+ Support Program Specialized peer support program for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking asylum, providing tailored group support.
• Friends of ASC (Alumni Program) Alumni program for past clients who have received protection to stay connected with the ASC community.
• Lunch and Learn Weekly community-led program combining food relief with structured work experience and skills development in commercial kitchen settings, supported by City of Sydney. 62% of participants move into employment.
• Hidden Stories Animated short film project featuring stories of people seeking asylum, created with volunteer animators and premiered at Art Gallery of NSW during Refugee Week 2026.
• Sangee's Kitchen Catering business operated by ASC community member Sangee, providing culinary services and food-related community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,600 people supported annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Art Gallery of NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Longstanding partner that hosted the Hidden Stories film premiere during Refugee Week 2026. Provided venue for community storytelling through animated short films created by asylum seekers.
• Galaxy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ASC to host the annual Iftar dinner event, bringing together community members, staff, volunteers across cultures and faiths during Ramadan.
• Advocates for DignitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Iftar dinner, working with ASC to create interfaith connection and community belonging.
• Multicultural NSWsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting Iftar dinner event and multicultural community initiatives.
• City of SydneycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunder of the Lunch and Learn program, which combines food relief with work experience and skills development for people seeking asylum.
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJosephine Rechichi, newly appointed COO, previously worked at JRS Australia including as Acting Country Director and Assistant Country Director. Connection through staff recruitment.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: Major community services organisation with dedicated refugee and asylum seeker support programs across employment, housing, and youth services. Comparable through wraparound service model and shared donor pool for asylum-related giving.
• Australian Red Cross: Australia's largest humanitarian organisation, delivering the federally funded Humanitarian Settlement Program and operating community-based asylum and refugee support services across all major capitals. Directly comparable as a multi-program refugee service provider, though much larger in scale and geographic reach than ASC.
• Settlement Services International (SSI): Large Settlement Services International delivers refugee and migrant settlement services, employment support, and community programs across NSW and other states. Comparable through employment and casework offerings; broader geographic and contract footprint than ASC.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Large Melbourne-based community organisation with refugee and asylum seeker employment and family services. Comparable through combined employment, family, and community programs targeting newly arrived populations in Australia.

Emerging players

• Multicultural NSW: Government agency supporting multicultural communities in NSW, including CALD and asylum-related community initiatives. ASC explicitly partners with Multicultural NSW on community events; both serve asylum-affected communities in Greater Sydney.

Direct peers

• Refugee Health Network of Australia: National body coordinating refugee health care and supporting clinicians serving asylum seekers. Directly comparable given ASC's on-site health clinic (448 GP consultations) addressing asylum seekers' Medicare exclusion.
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia: Faith-based NGO providing direct services to asylum seekers and refugees in Australia, including casework and accompaniment. Closely comparable given that ASC's newly appointed COO joined directly from JRS Australia and JRS is named as a staff-recruitment partner.
• Refugee Council of Australia: National peak body and advocacy organisation for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, coordinating policy submissions and member organisations. Comparable as an asylum-focused non-profit; differs in being advocacy-led rather than direct-service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asylum-seekers-centre

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Asylum Seekers Centre