Community Industry Group

What Community Industry Group does

Community Industry Group (CI Group) is a not-for-profit peak body that represents and supports community and human services organisations across Southern New South Wales, primarily the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. Founded in 1993 as the Illawarra Forum and later rebranded to its current name, the organisation is headquartered on Dharawal Country in Port Kembla, NSW, and operates with a team of 11 core staff supported by a 9-member board of directors under the leadership of CEO Nicky Sloan. CI Group's role is to act as a collective voice for the regional not-for-profit sector, providing advocacy representation to government, capacity-building services, and convening infrastructure across sub-sectors including aged care, disability, homelessness, early childhood education and care, youth and family services, and multicultural community support.

The organisation delivers a portfolio of interconnected programs covering training and events, direct service delivery, advocacy, and government-funded project coordination. Core offerings include the Training & Events Program (paid workshops on governance, finance, cultural awareness, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and aged care topics, with member discounts of typically 30-50%), the Community Matters Podcast, the STARS Volunteer Program (supporting older people to transition from hospital to aged care), the Homelessness Health Program (case management in partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District), the Illawarra Disability Alliance (a coalition of disability providers), and the NSW Ministry of Health-funded Taskforce on Bed Block. Supporting services include Planning & Facilitation Consulting, Advocacy & Policy Services (issues papers, government submissions, election priorities), and a Membership Program offering policy templates, meeting room access, and voting rights.

CI Group generates revenue through three streams: recurring membership subscriptions, fee-for-service training and events (workshop fees ranging from free to approximately A$300 per session, with members receiving discounted rates), and government project grants funding programs such as the Taskforce on Bed Block and the ISLHD Homelessness Health Program. The go-to-market motion is community-led, with membership driving engagement, renewals, and referrals. No proprietary technology platform is disclosed; primary distribution channels are direct membership engagement, in-person and online training delivery at venues across the Illawarra region, and government-funded program delivery. Geographic focus is exclusively on Southern NSW, with recent moves toward multi-region coordination through the NSW Social Development Agencies Network and the Aged Care Regional Symposium 2026.

Name

Community Industry Group

Legal name

Community Industry Group

Website

https://communityindustrygroup.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Industry Group is a not-for-profit peak body representing community and human services organisations across Southern NSW, delivering advocacy, training, and government-funded programs to address aged care, disability, homelessness, and youth service challenges in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services Peak Body

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Crisis Intervention & Emergency Planning/Response Coordination (HSABAIAN), Active Adult / Senior Community Association Management (BPAJAHAJ)

Keywords

• Peak body advocacy
• Community sector membership
• Professional development training
• Aged care advocacy
• Disability services support

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Kembla

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Organisations pay membership fees to join the peak body, receiving access to advocacy representation, training discounts, planning and facilitation services, free meeting room usage, policy templates, newsletters, and voting rights at general meetings.
2. Training and Event Fees: CI Group delivers paid training workshops and events to both members and non-members. Fee structures vary per event, ranging from free to approximately $50-$300 per session, with members receiving discounted rates.
3. Government Project Funding: CI Group receives government grants to operate specific programs such as the ISLHD Homelessness Health Program, the Taskforce on Bed Block (funded by NSW Ministry of Health), and sector support initiatives for CAFS providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Industry Group is a membership-based peak body that provides advocacy, policy representation, professional development training, and capacity-building services to not-for-profit community and human services organisations in Southern NSW. It also delivers specific funded programs such as the Homelessness Health Program, STARS Volunteer Program, Illawarra Disability Alliance, and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Health & Aged Care Taskforce, addressing aged care, disability, homelessness, and youth service sector needs.

Product overview

Community Industry Group operates as a peak body offering a suite of interconnected programs and services for the not-for-profit community services sector in Southern NSW. The core offerings include: Training & Events Program (professional development workshops), Community Matters Podcast (video content platform), STARS Volunteer Program (hospital discharge support), Homelessness Health Program (case management), Illawarra Disability Alliance (provider network), Taskforce on Bed Block (health system advocacy), Planning & Facilitation Consulting, Membership Program, and Advocacy & Policy Services. These programs work together to provide sector-wide support, representation, and capacity building for community organisations serving vulnerable populations in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Homelessness Health Program: A program providing brokerage and/or case management to people who are over 18, homeless or at risk of homelessness, have a current connection with NSW health system, and live in the Illawarra or Shoalhaven.
• STARS Volunteer Program (Supported Transition Assistance Response Scheme)
• Illawarra Disability Alliance
• Taskforce (Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Health & Aged Care)
• Community Matters Podcast

Products and services

• Training & Events Program A comprehensive professional development and training program offering workshops, seminars, forums, and capacity-building sessions for community sector workers, covering governance, finance, disability, aged care, mental health, and workforce development topics.
• Community Matters Podcast A video podcast series featuring conversations with community leaders, advocates, and experts on issues affecting the Illawarra and Shoalhaven communities, including housing, disability, aged care, youth services, and social justice topics.
• STARS Volunteer Program Supported Transition Assistance Response Scheme (STARS) - a volunteer program where trained volunteers assist older people in hospital transition to aged care homes or their own homes, addressing the bed block crisis in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.
• Homelessness Health Program A program providing brokerage and case management services for people over 18 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with a connection to the NSW health system, including advocacy and education programs.
• Illawarra Disability Alliance A collaborative alliance of not-for-profit disability providers working together to advocate for the rights of people with disability, promote inclusion, and contribute to a strong functioning disability support network in the Illawarra region.
• Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Health & Aged Care Taskforce A collaborative initiative coordinated by Community Industry Group, funded by NSW Ministry of Health, bringing together stakeholders to address the critical issue of bed block in hospitals due to lack of suitable residential aged care options.
• Planning & Facilitation Consulting Expert consulting services for strategic planning, operational planning, board and governance support, community consultations, co-designed events, project and program planning, innovation workshops, and merger or partnership discussions.
• Membership Program A membership program offering benefits including training discounts, advocacy representation, policy development participation, free templates, newsletter subscription, meeting room access, and voting rights at general meetings.
• Advocacy & Policy Services Advocacy services including issues papers, government submissions, and policy initiatives at local, state, and national levels covering housing, aged care, disability, workforce, childcare, mental health, and youth justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Illawarra Shoalhaven region is 1,025 residential aged care places short, with bed block costing government approximately $86 million per annum.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NSW Ministry of Health (Taskforce)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CI Group coordinates the 'Task Force' — a collaborative initiative funded by the NSW Ministry of Health to address bed block in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. The taskforce brings together government leaders, health professionals, aged care providers, and local governments to develop systemic solutions for older people unable to leave hospitals due to lack of suitable residential care.
• Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCI Group is an active partner in the ISLHD Homelessness Health Program, providing brokerage and case management support for people over 18 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have a current connection with the NSW health system. The program also includes advocacy to government departments and NGOs and education programs such as hoarding and squalor training.
• Illawarra Disability Alliance (IDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCI Group is a founding member of the Illawarra Disability Alliance, a coalition of not-for-profit disability providers working collaboratively to deliver better outcomes for people with disability in the Illawarra region. The IDA advocates for disability rights, supports market stewardship, and contributes to State and National policy discussions.
• STARS Volunteer Program (multiple partner organisations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Supported Transition Assistance Response Scheme (STARS) is coordinated by CI Group and supported by a network of volunteers experienced in aged care services. The program assists older people in hospital to transition to aged care homes or back to their own homes, operating in partnership with hospitals and aged care providers across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.
• Dharawal Country / Traditional CustodiansminorOthersCI Group acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which it operates — Dharawal Country — and their Elders. The organisation is committed to social justice and cultural awareness, operating an Acknowledgement of Country and delivering cultural training programs.
• ACON Pride TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACON Pride Training delivers LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practices for Aged Care workshops facilitated by CI Group. This partnership enables CI Group to offer specialist inclusive care training to aged care providers in the region.
• Minus18minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinus18, Australia's leading LGBTQIA+ youth organisation, delivers Foundations of LGBTQI+ Inclusion workshops in partnership with CI Group, providing expertise and lived-experience presenters for community sector workers.
• Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCWT delivers De-escalation Communication Skills workshops through CI Group's training program. Saul Nightingale from CCWT provides shortened versions of their full-day course on managing aggressive and violent behaviour for community sector staff.
• Culture Across Time (Errolyn Strang)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErrolyn Strang, Founder and Director of Culture Across Time, delivers Aboriginal Cultural Awareness workshops for CI Group, drawing on over 35 years of experience in Aboriginal culture training and facilitation.
• Flourish Therapy & Consulting (Monica Lord)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonica Lord from Flourish Therapy & Consulting, founder of the Australia Centre for Hoarding, Squalor and Clutter, delivers workshops on hoarding and squalor and emotional dysregulation in partnership with CI Group.
• Social Equity Works (Robin Miles)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobin Miles from Social Equity Works provides DEX (Data Exchange) support sessions for CAFS (Children and Families) providers in partnership with CI Group, helping organisations with data reporting requirements.
• Inner Sydney Voice, Western Sydney Community Forum, Central Coast Community CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCI Group co-convenes the NSW Social Development Agencies Network alongside these organisations, jointly delivering the Aged Care Regional Symposium 2026 connecting Illawarra with Western Sydney, Inner Sydney, and Central Coast regions.
• CHSP AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCI Group is involved in the newly established CHSP Alliance, co-convened by Professor Kathy Eagar and Paul Sadler, advocating for transparent and equitable funding for community aged care with a special focus on not-for-profit services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Services (NDS): National peak body for disability service providers. Directly comparable to CI Group's Illawarra Disability Alliance function — both convene disability NFPs for advocacy and sector coordination, though NDS operates nationally.
• Community Council for Australia: National peak body representing the interests of Australia's charitable, not-for-profit, and social-purpose organisations. Directly comparable in membership-based advocacy and policy representation function, with overlapping member segments in community services.
• Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS): National peak body for the Australian community services sector. Comparable to CI Group in mission and operating model (membership-based advocacy, policy submissions, sector representation) but operates nationally rather than regionally.
• NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS): Statewide peak body for the NFP community services sector in NSW. Operates one tier above CI Group in geography but provides directly comparable peak-body functions — advocacy, policy submissions, sector convening, and member representation to government. CI Group co-convenes the NSW Social Development Agencies Network alongside other regional peaks.
• Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA): National peak body for the aged care sector. Comparable to CI Group's aged care advocacy work and convening role with the CHSP Alliance, but operates nationally and specifically focused on aged care rather than the broader community services portfolio.

Direct peers

• Western Sydney Community Forum: Regional community sector peak body for Western Sydney and a co-convener of the NSW Social Development Agencies Network with CI Group. Closely comparable operating model and member base in the NFP community services space.
• Central Coast Community Council: Regional community sector peak body on the NSW Central Coast and a co-convener of the NSW Social Development Agencies Network with CI Group. Directly comparable model of regional peak-body advocacy and member services.
• Inner Sydney Voice: Regional community sector peak body for inner Sydney, co-convening the NSW Social Development Agencies Network alongside CI Group. Operates the same peak-body model (membership, advocacy, convening) but in a different Sydney geography.

Regional players

• Northern Rivers Social Development Council: Regional NFP community services peak body in the Northern Rivers area of NSW. Operates a near-identical membership-based peak-body model to CI Group but in a different NSW region; not a direct competitor but a clear functional analogue.
• Homelessness NSW: Statewide peak for homelessness services in NSW. Directly comparable to CI Group's Homelessness Health Program and homelessness advocacy work, operating as a sector peak in the same state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommIndGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityindustrygroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityindustrygroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Community Industry Group