Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Ltd

What Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Ltd does

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Ltd is a not-for-profit charity organization established in 1996 in Melbourne and Sydney, providing long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring programs for vulnerable young people aged 7-17 (with specialist programs up to 25 years). The organization operates four core programs: Community-Based Mentoring, In-School Mentoring, Online Mentoring through its proprietary OurSpace platform, and the Young Achievers Program. The OurSpace platform is an interactive, monitored online mentoring system that enables national e-mentoring for young people unable to participate in face-to-face programs due to geographic isolation, illness, or disability. With a staff of 31 employees headquartered in Bentleigh East, Victoria, the organization operates across Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland through regional offices in Ballarat, Wangaratta, and Tumut.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across six streams: individual donations (monthly membership tiers from $12 to $1,200), event-based fundraising (Bail Out, Annual Dinner, Golf Day, AFL/NRL Luncheons, treks), government grants (state and federal, including the Safer Communities Fund), corporate partnerships, philanthropic trusts and foundations, and pro bono professional services. The 900+ children on its waiting list suggests demand materially exceeds current capacity. The organization is part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters International network operating across 14 countries with 110+ years of global experience dating to 1904 in the United States. Notable metrics include $9.78/day cost per mentee versus $3,365/day for juvenile detention, and a Boston Consulting Group-validated Social Return on Investment of $18-23 per $1 invested. The current CEO is Mark Watt AM, and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors including representatives from financial, business, education, legal, and industry sectors.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Ltd

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Limited

Website

https://bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia is a not-for-profit charity providing one-to-one mentoring programs for vulnerable young people aged 7-17 across Australia, delivering community-based, in-school, online (OurSpace), and Young Achievers programs with 31 staff and offices in five states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Volunteer mentoring programs
• Nonprofit youth support
• Child welfare mentoring
• Community-based mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

East Bentleigh

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 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 and Membership: Monthly membership programs including Change Makers Club ($48/month or $12/month), Change a Life Club ($300/month), and Change a Community ($1,200/month). One-off donations also accepted.
2. Government Grants: State and Federal Government grants as a not-for-profit organisation. Westside Rise project funded under Safer Communities Fund Round Six with Australian Government.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with local, national and global businesses including financial sponsorship and in-kind service provision. Corporate partnerships tailored to meet business needs and objectives.
4. Fundraising Activities: Events-based fundraising including Bail Out prison experience events, Annual Dinner, Golf Day, AFL Luncheon, NRL Luncheon, trekking events (Larapinta, Light to Light). Third-party fundraising support.
5. Philanthropic Trusts and Foundations: Funding from philanthropic trusts and foundations supporting mentoring programs.
6. Pro Bono Support: Pro bono support from generous individuals and businesses including governance advisory, legal, and professional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia delivers long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring programs for vulnerable young people aged 7-17 (with specialist programs up to 25 years). The organization operates Community-Based Mentoring (weekly mentor-mentee matches by personality, interests, and location), In-School Mentoring (school-delivered support), Online Mentoring via the proprietary OurSpace platform (interactive, real-time moderated e-mentoring for geographically isolated, ill, or disabled young people), and the Young Achievers Program (field-specific mentorship and leadership workshops for high-performing students in Years 10-12 and first-year university).

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia provides long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring programs for vulnerable young people. The organization operates four core mentoring programs: Community-Based Mentoring (one-to-one matches meeting weekly based on personality and interests), In-School Mentoring (school-based support for students needing additional help), Online Mentoring via the OurSpace platform (e-mentoring for geographically isolated or ill/disabled young people), and the Young Achievers Program (field-specific mentorship for academically gifted students). All programs adhere to internationally recognized quality and safety standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OurSpace: Interactive monitored online mentoring platform that enables the organization to provide mentoring support to young people across Australia who are unable to participate in traditional face-to-face mentoring programs due to geographic location, long-term illness or disability.

Products and services

• Community-Based Mentoring
• In-School Mentoring
• Online Mentoring (OurSpace)
• Young Achievers Program (YAP)

Quantifiable outcome

• $23 social return for every $1 invested when working with least economically advantaged groups
• +7 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership based on shared values and goals, tailored to meet both organisations' needs and objectives for young people and their mentors. Provides full training for mentoring coordinators, volunteer mentors group training, online mentoring platform (OurSpace), professional advice and ongoing support, central CRM system, shared research and evaluation, best practice policies and procedures, marketing support, and highest standard of national child safety and wellbeing.
• Westside Rise (Charis Mentoring Inc. and COACH Community Mentoring)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrengths-based collaborative-community approach to improving holistic outcomes for at-risk young people in western suburbs of Melbourne. Collective approach providing one-to-one support, group mentoring support, family support and community engagement. Funded under Safer Communities Fund Round Six Early Intervention with Australian Government.
• Charis Youth and CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering the Reniu Pasifika Program - a culturally grounded mentoring initiative for Pasifika young people aged 12-18 involved in the Youth Justice system. Guided by Tautai Ecological Model, fostering identity, connection, and resilience through one-to-one mentoring and group-based engagement.
• COACH Community MentoringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Westside Rise collaborative-community approach to improving holistic outcomes for at-risk young people in western suburbs of Melbourne.
• Australian Government (Safer Communities Fund)majorOthersFederal government funding through Safer Communities Fund Round Six Early Intervention program supporting Westside Rise project for at-risk young people.
• Victoria State Government (DHHS)majorOthersState government supporter and funder of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in Victoria.
• Baker McKenziesupportingOthersGlobal law firm providing pro bono legal support to the organisation.
• FreemasonssupportingOthersPhilanthropic supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.
• Simplot AustraliasupportingOthersCorporate partner supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.
• CreswicksupportingOthersCorporate partner supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.
• CAA (Community Broadcasting Association)supportingOthersMedia partner supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters awareness and communications.
• PHN Eastern MelbournesupportingOthersPrimary Health Network supporting mental health and wellbeing initiatives for young people.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• CREATE Foundation: Australian national advocacy organization for children and young people in out-of-home care. Comparable in serving vulnerable Australian youth populations and engaging with child protection systems, though focused on advocacy rather than direct mentoring.

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: Large US nonprofit providing youth services including mentoring, residential care, education, and behavioral health. Comparable in youth development mission and mentoring methodology, though broader in scope with residential facilities.

Direct peers

• The Smith Family: Major Australian children's charity focused on education and family support for disadvantaged young people. Comparable in mission, Australian scope, donor-supported model, and government partnerships, though focused more on education than one-to-one mentoring.
• Friends of the Children: US-based nonprofit providing paid, professional mentoring to youth facing systemic barriers. Direct peer in long-term mentoring model and rigorous mentor screening, though distinguished by using paid mentors rather than volunteers.
• COACH Community Mentoring: Australian volunteer mentoring organization partnering with BBBS Australia in the Westside Rise project. Comparable in providing one-to-one mentoring to vulnerable young people in western Melbourne, competing for similar referral pathways.
• Beacon Foundation: Australian charity focused on young people in disadvantaged communities through mentoring and education-to-employment pathways. Direct peer in target demographic, Australian geographic scope, and youth mentoring programs.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters International: Global parent network of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring organizations operating across 14 countries including the United States. BBBS Australia is an affiliate member, sharing brand, methodology, and research infrastructure. Direct peer in mission and operating model.
• Raise Foundation: Australian youth mentoring charity running volunteer mentoring programs for young people aged 11-24 in schools and communities. Direct competitor for mentor recruitment, donor funding, and government grants in the Australian youth mentoring sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-australia-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Ltd