What Career Links does

Career Links is a not-for-profit community organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Mayfield, NSW, Australia. It delivers a portfolio of youth career development programs across the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Hunter and Central Coast regions, primarily serving high school students undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, disengaged youth aged 15-21, women seeking careers in non-traditional industries, students with disability, and VET teachers. Core products include a Work Placement Service coordinating more than 3,000 placements annually, the Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Career Expo drawing roughly 4,000 senior students, the YAKKA Indigenous career program, Get Back in the Game (disengaged youth), EmpowerHER Pathways (women in non-traditional industries), the Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) entrepreneurship competition, the EV Challenge STEM program, Future Choices Expos for students with disability, and the Youth Links weekly electronic publication. Underlying operations are relationship-driven rather than technology-led: student-employer matching, industry immersion days and event coordination are handled through website registration forms, email, phone, and manual coordination, with no API, software platform, or AI tooling disclosed.

The organization's revenue model is dominated by government grants from multiple federal and state agencies, including the NSW Department of Education (which also provides insurance and policy support for student work placements), the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), the NSW Government, and the Australian Government. Employer sponsorships (e.g., AGL, Orica, TAFE NSW, Port Waratah Coal Services, NCIG, Kmart/Target via Wesfarmers) provide supplementary funding for specific events and programs. All programs are free to student participants; pricing is not applicable to a grant-funded model. The go-to-market is community-led: Career Links reaches students through direct school partnerships, VET coordinator relationships, TAFE NSW delivery channels, and referrals from community services and local councils.

Career Links is governed by a Board of Directors (Chairperson Amanda Sonntag, Vice Chairperson Dylan Dyer, Treasurer Adrian Collins, Board Member Kim Grinham) and operates with approximately 26 employees from a single headquarters in Mayfield. It maintains active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and runs a regional network of employer host businesses, schools, TAFE providers, and councils (City of Newcastle, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Singleton Council) that collectively form its distribution channel.

Name

Career Links

Legal name

Career Links

Website

https://careerlinks.nsw.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Career Links is a not-for-profit, government-funded community organization in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region of NSW that coordinates work placements, career expos, and targeted pathway programs for high school students, Indigenous youth, disengaged youth, and women entering non-traditional industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Career Development Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Networking) (EDAMAKAG), Employer Relations & Recruiting (Career Fairs) (EDALABAH), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Youth career development
• Vocational education support
• Work placement coordination
• School-based apprenticeships
• Career expo events

Headquarters

HQ city

Mayfield

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Career Links operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily by government grants from NSW Department of Education, National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Australian Government, and NSW Government. Revenue is used to deliver youth career development programs, work placements, and community initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Career Links is a not-for-profit community organization that coordinates work placements for high school students undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and delivers a portfolio of career development programs across the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter, Port Stephens, and Central Coast regions of NSW. Its offerings include work placement coordination, career expos, Indigenous student support (YAKKA), disengaged youth mentoring (Get Back in the Game), women's career empowerment (EmpowerHER Pathways), STEM/solar vehicle challenges (EV Challenge), entrepreneurship competitions (YBMA), and the Youth Links weekly publication of training and employment opportunities.

Product overview

Career Links is a not-for-profit community organization operating since 2000 that delivers a portfolio of interconnected youth career development programs in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. The core offerings include the Work Placement Service (coordinating over 3000 placements annually), career expos (Newcastle Lake Macquarie Career Expo and Future Choices Expos), and specialized pathway programs. These are complemented by targeted initiatives: YAKKA for Indigenous students, Get Back in the Game for disengaged youth, EmpowerHER Pathways for women in non-traditional industries, the Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) entrepreneurship competition, and the EV Challenge STEM program. Youth Links provides a weekly electronic publication of opportunities, while SBAT coordination and VET Entertainment placements offer vocational training pathways. Together, these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting young people from career exploration through to employment and further education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Links: A weekly electronic publication containing the latest employment and training opportunities for young people in the region.
• YAKKA
• Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA)
• EV Challenge
• EmpowerHER Pathways
• Get Back in the Game
• Future Choices Expo
• Newcastle Youth Industry Partnership Program (YIP)

Products and services

• Work Placement Service Coordinates over 3,000 work placements annually for high school students undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses as part of their HSC across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region.
• Newcastle Lake Macquarie Career Expo The largest career expo for school leavers in the region, attracting thousands of attendees annually and local and interstate exhibitors including major universities, leading training colleges, and employers.
• Future Choices Expos Career and support services expo for senior students with diverse needs who are transitioning from school, held annually in Newcastle and the Central Coast.
• YAKKA - Introduction to Work Program Supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students in Years 7 to 12 through career transition, industry connection, immersion days, and mentorship across the greater region, delivered over six sessions in school.
• Get Back in the Game Program
• Building Women's Careers: EmpowerHER Pathways A program empowering women to consider rewarding career pathways in industries not traditionally female, providing mentoring, coordinated training, employment, and workplace support in Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, and Digital & Technology sectors.
• Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) A BIG IDEA video pitch competition for school students of all ages to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, problem solving, business and social enterprise, and sustainability awareness and skill development.
• EV Challenge
• Youth Links Publication
• School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs)
• VET Entertainment Work Placement
• Newcastle Youth Industry Partnership Program (YIP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3000 work placements coordinated annually for high school students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• NSW Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Links is funded by NSW Department of Education to coordinate over 3000 work placements for high school students across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. The Department provides insurance coverage and policy support for student work placements.
• National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIAA provides funding for the YAKKA Introduction to Work program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 7-12 with career guidance, mentorship, and employment pathway planning.
• NSW GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSW Government funds the Get Back in the Game program delivered by Career Links, aiming to inspire and support youth aged 15-21 in their transition into education, training, or employment across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Hunter regions.
• Australian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government provides grant funding for EmpowerHER Pathways Building Women's Careers Project, creating sustainable career pathways for females in Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Digital & Technology industries.
• Career Advisor AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Links presents the Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Career Expo on behalf of the Career Advisor Association, serving as a key event for career advisers and students in the region.
• NSW Department of Education Support TeachersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Links hosts Future Choices Expos in partnership with NSW Department of Education Support Teachers, supporting students with disability transitioning from school to adult life.
• City of Newcastle CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Newcastle Council partners with Career Links on the Newcastle Youth Industry Partnership Program (YIP), designed to assist young people in transitioning into further education or employment.
• Muswellbrook Shire CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EmpowerHER Pathways program, supporting female career pathways in the Hunter region.
• Singleton CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EmpowerHER Pathways program, supporting female career pathways in the Hunter region.
• Regional Development AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EmpowerHER Pathways program supporting female career development in regional Australia.
• Hunter Multicultural CommunitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EmpowerHER Pathways program supporting multicultural women in the Hunter region.
• AMP ControlsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in EmpowerHER Pathways program providing career pathways in Clean Energy sector for women.
• John HollandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in EmpowerHER Pathways program providing career pathways in Construction sector for women.
• AGLsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner and sponsor (Gold Sponsor for YBMA) providing career pathways in Clean Energy sector for youth and women.
• OricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Sponsor of EV Challenge, supporting STEM education and renewable energy awareness among students.
• TAFE NSWmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Sponsor of EV Challenge and key partner for VET course delivery and work placement coordination. TAFE Hunter and Central Coast provides training facilities and industry connections.
• Kmart and TargetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKmart and Target (Wesfarmers) partner with YAKKA program for Indigenous student immersion days, providing industry tours and pathway information through their National Indigenous Employment team.
• Healthshare / Belmont HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthshare and Belmont Hospital partner with YAKKA program providing behind-the-scenes tours and pathway opportunities in hospital services for Indigenous students.
• I2N (Hunter's Intellectual Property Network)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner sponsor for Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA), supporting entrepreneurship and innovation among youth in the Hunter region.
• Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Sponsor of EV Challenge, supporting STEM education and clean energy awareness among students.
• NCIG (Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Sponsor of EV Challenge, supporting STEM education and renewable energy awareness among students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: Public provider of vocational education and training across NSW, including VET courses, SBATs, and industry pathways that Career Links complements. Overlapping VET course delivery, work placement, and regional school partnerships make it a key adjacent incumbent.
• The Smith Family: Large national NFP supporting disadvantaged children's education through learning programs, scholarships, and career support. Comparable as a broader incumbent in youth education-to-employment pathways, though at much larger national scale.

Others

• Regional Development Australia: National network of regional development committees partnering with Career Links on EmpowerHER. Comparable as a regional development ecosystem participant and potential collaborator/funder for youth employment initiatives.
• Jobs Australia: National peak body for the Australian employment services sector. Comparable as an ecosystem-level organization representing providers of employment services similar to Career Links' funded programs.
• Australian Apprenticeship Support Network: Network of contracted providers delivering apprenticeship and traineeship support services nationally, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) that Career Links coordinates. Comparable as a government-funded intermediary in the same apprenticeship/placement ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Australian NFP delivering employment, education, and youth programs targeting disadvantage. Comparable as a research-informed NFP running school-based interventions, youth transition support, and government-funded employment services.
• Mission Australia: Major Australian NFP delivering youth employment, education, and homelessness services, including school-based programs and employer engagement. Comparable in mission, government funding model, and youth cohort focus.
• Clontarf Foundation: National not-for-profit running school-based engagement programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, with a strong focus on employment pathway outcomes. Directly comparable to Career Links' YAKKA Indigenous program and youth-to-employment mission.
• Maxima: Australian NFP employment services provider helping disadvantaged job seekers (including people with disability, youth, and those facing barriers) into work. Comparable in target cohort (disengaged youth, disability), government-funded delivery model, and regional program structure.
• Beacon Foundation: Australian not-for-profit focused on youth education, employment, and enterprise programs in schools. Directly comparable as a community-led youth career development NFP delivering career expos, employer engagement, and school-based programs across regional Australia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CareerLinksNSW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/career-links
• Instagraminstagram.com/careerlinks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Career Links