BestLife Foundation

What BestLife Foundation does

BestLife Foundation is a Brisbane-based, registered charity (CH2219) founded in 2012 by Kath Coory that provides away-from-home disability support services for children and young adults (approximately ages 6–25) with disabilities in the Brisbane region. Its core service model — called the 'BestLife Way' — is a tiered progression of programs: Weekend Sleepovers (small-group Friday/Saturday nights), HouseMates (three-night mid-week stays), the Got-It Daily Life Skills Program, and Day Programs for participants not yet ready for overnights. All staff are trained in evidence-based practices including Person Centred Active Support, Positive Behaviour Support, and Augmented Assistive Communication. The organization also operates the flagship Helena's House project — a purpose-built five-bedroom, two-bathroom accessible home in Carina, Brisbane — to provide a dedicated space for independent living skill development.

The business model is multi-stream and characteristic of a small Australian NDIS-sector non-profit. Operating revenue is generated from NDIS-funded service delivery, individual donations, corporate partnerships (Brisbane Broncos, Woollam Construction, McCullough Robertson, loans.com.au, Icon Cancer Centre, Carina Leagues Club, Westpac), workplace giving, bequests, and a small e-commerce merchandise line. A $2 million AUD Queensland Government grant is earmarked specifically for Helena's House construction capital expenditure. Distribution is direct: program delivery in Brisbane plus an online donation portal and Shopify-style storefront on bestlifefoundation.com.au.

The organization is founder-led (Kath Coory, CEO & Co-Founder) with a 9-person team and a board that includes sector expertise in disability human rights, NFP taxation, and allied health commercial operations. It claims Brisbane's only planned and supported pathway to independent living for young people with disability, with a 100% family recommendation rate and 10/10 employee satisfaction in its most recent internal surveys. The company has no external private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor backing and is geographically confined to Brisbane, Queensland.

Name

BestLife Foundation

Legal name

BestLife Foundation

Website

https://bestlifefoundation.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BestLife Foundation is a Brisbane-based registered charity (founded 2012) that runs tiered sleepover, life-skills, and supported independent living programs for children and young adults with disabilities, funded via NDIS service fees, donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Coorparoo

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: BestLife Foundation generates revenue through individual donations, fundraising events, and community fundraising campaigns. The organization runs annual EOFY appeals, swim challenges, and other fundraising initiatives.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for CSR alignment, marketing visibility, and community impact. Partnerships are mutually beneficial relationships supporting marketing objectives.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an e-commerce shop selling clothing (t-shirts, singlets, socks, ties), face masks, cards, and fabric. Products feature Helena's Stars fabric designed by Brisbane artist Kasey Rainbow.
4. Government Grants: Significant funding received from government sources, including $2 million from Queensland Government for Helena's House project.
5. Workplace Giving: Employees can nominate a set amount to donate each pay cycle through workplace giving programs. Employers facilitate payroll deductions.
6. Bequests and Wills: The organization accepts gifts and bequests through wills, described as leaving a lasting legacy for young people with disabilities.
7. NDIS Service Delivery: The organization delivers services funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), providing sleepovers, HouseMates stays, and day programs for participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

BestLife Foundation delivers out-of-home disability support programs in Brisbane for children and young adults (approximately ages 6-25), including Friday/Saturday small-group Weekend Sleepovers, three-night HouseMates stays, Got-It mid-week life skills programs, and Day Programs. Services are delivered by trained staff using the proprietary BestLife Way model in home-style settings, building friendships, independence, and practical life skills, and transition participants toward supported independent living, with Helena's House as the flagship project.

Product overview

BestLife Foundation provides Brisbane's only planned, supported pathway to independence for young people with disabilities. The organization operates a tiered service model consisting of Weekend Sleepovers (small group Friday/Saturday nights), HouseMates (three-night mid-week stays for young adults), Got-It Daily Life Skills Program (mid-week daytime sessions), and Day Programs (for children not ready for overnight stays). Their flagship project is Helena's House, a purpose-built five-bedroom home in Carina, Brisbane for young people to practice independent living skills. The organization also operates a fundraising merchandise shop selling branded products including face masks, T-shirts, socks, ties, greeting cards, and exclusive Helena's Stars fabric, with proceeds supporting Helena's House and BestLife programs. Staff are trained in Person Centred Active Support, Positive Behaviour Support, and Augmented Assistive Communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Helena's House: A project to build a five-bedroom accessible home in Carina, Brisbane where teenagers and young adults with disability can take next steps toward independent living. Named in memory of Helena McIlwain who passed away aged 19.

Products and services

• Weekend Sleepovers Small-group Friday and Saturday night sleepovers delivered in a naturalistic, home-style atmosphere for children and young people with disabilities, integrating social interaction and life-skills learning in a fun and engaging way. All staff are trained in the BestLife Way model (Person Centred Active Support, Positive Behaviour Support, Augmented Assistive Communication).
• HouseMates Program Three-night mid-week stays for young adults who have progressed beyond Weekend Sleepovers, providing regular life experiences such as travel, meal preparation, household chores, and social activities delivered from a home-away-from-home setting to build independent living skills.
• Got-It Daily Life Skills Program Mid-week daytime program that reinforces and improves the practical life skills developed during sleepovers and HouseMates stays, offering guidance, friendship and learning opportunities for participants.
• Day Programs Occasional day programs designed for children not yet ready for sleepovers, offering a first taste of BestLife experiences and independence, and providing opportunities for families on the waiting list.
• Helena's House A flagship five-bedroom, two-bathroom accessible home being built in Carina, Brisbane, designed as a dedicated space for teenagers and young adults with disabilities to take next steps toward greater independence, featuring accessible bathrooms, an open kitchen, physical therapy space, and a safe garden.
• BestLife Shop (Merchandise Line) Online retail storefront selling exclusive BestLife branded merchandise featuring the Helena's Stars design by Brisbane artist Kasey Rainbow, with proceeds supporting Helena's House and BestLife programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% family recommendation rate - all respondents in latest family survey said they would recommend BestLife to other families
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McCullough RobertsoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partners who hosted International Day of People with Disability event where CEO Kath Coory spoke alongside Patron Dr Dinesh Palipana. Currently finalizing contracts ahead of Helena's House construction commencing.
• Brisbane BroncoscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Partner providing fundraising events, volunteer support, and player visits. Raised more than $30,000 at a single evening event. Players visited BestLife house for games and activities with young people.
• Woollam ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial build partner for Helena's House. Australia's oldest privately owned builders and team behind Hummingbird House. Working closely through pre-construction phase to bring Helena's House to life.
• DegenhartSHEDDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitects for Helena's House project, bringing thoughtful and experienced design to the construction phase.
• loans.com.auminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner contributing volunteers and support for BestLife events and activities.
• Icon Cancer CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer organization providing volunteers for BestLife community events.
• Susie O'NeillcoreOthersAmbassador of Helena's House who believes everyone should have the opportunity to learn to live with friends in an environment that's safe, supportive, and fun.
• Dr Dinesh PalipanacoreOthersPatron of BestLife Foundation who spoke alongside CEO at International Day of People with Disability event hosted by McCullough Robertson.
• Kasey RainbowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrisbane artist who designed Helena's Stars fabric exclusively for BestLife. Fabric used across merchandise including face masks, t-shirts, and sold by the half meter.
• Material DifferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner for Helena's Stars fabric, producing the fabric exclusively for BestLife alongside Kasey Rainbow.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Northcott: Major NSW disability services provider offering accommodation, day programs, and recreation services. Directly comparable in service mix (respite, day programs, life skills) and NDIS funding model, with overlapping participant demographics.
• Achieve Australia: NSW-based disability services non-profit providing accommodation, day programs, and supported independent living. Comparable service model and target population (people with intellectual and developmental disabilities), but regionally focused on Sydney/NSW.
• Life Without Barriers: One of Australia's largest non-profit disability and community services providers, offering disability accommodation, respite, and SIL. Comparable as a national NDIS-funded disability provider with a similar service mix but at much greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• Sunnyfield: National disability services non-profit providing accommodation, day programs, and supported independent living. Match in service offering and target population (people with intellectual disabilities), with NDIS funding.
• Yooralla: Victoria's largest disability services non-profit, offering accommodation, respite, and supported independent living. Comparable as a peer disability support provider with similar evidence-based practices and NDIS funding.
• Wesley Mission Queensland: Queensland non-profit offering community services including disability support, accommodation, and family services. Comparable as a fellow QLD non-profit with overlapping community-based disability services and similar corporate/government funding relationships.
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: NSW-based disability services non-profit specializing in cerebral palsy support, offering therapy, accommodation, and life skills programs. Comparable in evidence-based disability support and emphasis on independence-building services, with a focus on a specific disability cohort.

Regional players

• Multicap: Queensland-headquartered disability services non-profit providing accommodation, day programs, and supported independent living. Highly comparable in operational model (community-based disability services, SIL, day programs) and geography (Queensland), but at a much larger scale.
• Endeavour Foundation: Large Queensland-based disability services non-profit offering accommodation, supported independent living, day services, and life skills programs. Comparable as a QLD non-profit competitor in the disability services space where BestLife operates.
• Hummingbird House: Brisbane-based children's hospice and respite care organization. Directly comparable as a non-profit Brisbane disability/paediatric care provider built in partnership with Woollam Construction (the same builder now partnered with BestLife for Helena's House). Both serve specialist care needs for young Queenslanders with complex conditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BestLife_AU
• Facebookfacebook.com/BestLifeInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bestlife-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/bestlife_au

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 BestLife Foundation