Connect Community + Kids

What Connect Community + Kids does

Connect Kids is a Sunshine Coast, Queensland charitable organization founded in 2018 by Gordon Barratt OAM to address intergenerational disadvantage among vulnerable children and families. It operates a three-spoke service model — mentoring (pairing children with volunteer adult role models), education (free one-on-one tutoring in mathematics, English, and science), and employment transition (anchored by the Lab of Awesome coding program for young people on the autism spectrum) — supplemented by an Early Intervention & Intensive Family Support program and an NDIS support service whose profits are reinvested into the children's mentoring program. As of October 2024 the organization was actively mentoring or tutoring 80 children, with a cumulative 146 children having gone through the mentoring program and 47 currently on a waiting list for a mentor. The organization is led by CEO Sonja Michels (appointed from a volunteer mentor role in 2023) with Gordon Barratt as Chairman, supported by a small paid staff team of 2 full-time and 2 part-time employees and approximately 150 volunteers including 8 NDIS support workers.

The organization operates with no proprietary technology platform. Service delivery is in-person and community-embedded: mentoring and tutoring take place at libraries, community centres, and partner locations across the Sunshine Coast; in-school support is delivered onsite at schools including Arethusa Flexi School Maroochydore; intensive family support is delivered through home visits and accompaniment to appointments (housing, courts, healthcare); and case management is coordinated from the registered office at Innovation Parkway, Birtinya. Its digital footprint consists of a Squarespace website, a Facebook page, a blog with impact stories, and a Raisely-hosted donation portal, with pro-bono digital marketing support from Thea Media.

Revenue is generated entirely through a nonprofit model. Three streams are active: donations and sponsorships (individual giving, the 100x1,000 Corporate Giving Program at $1,000/year per business, and child sponsorship at $50/month), grants (including major grants from ETC Ltd and EndEd Inc, plus a $60,000 community grant from ETC for in-school work), and NDIS support income from the disability support arm. All services to children and families are provided free of charge. Corporate and community partners include ETC Ltd, EndEd Inc, Maeve Hospitality, The Encouragement Foundation, The Smith Family, Headspace, the Department of Education, Sunshine Coast Council, Caloundra Golf Club, MWD Accounts, and Thea Media; the organization is also a member of the BackTrack Network.

Name

Connect Community + Kids

Legal name

Connect Kids

Website

https://connectkids.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connect Kids is a Sunshine Coast, Australia charitable organization founded in 2018 that delivers free mentoring, tutoring, intensive family support, and NDIS services to disadvantaged children and families, powered by a small paid staff and approximately 150 community volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• Community tutoring services
• NDIS support services
• Family support programs
• Corporate giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunshine Coast

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and the 100x1,000 Corporate Giving Program ($1,000/year from businesses). Also includes child sponsorship at $50/month. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
2. NDIS Support Services: Connect Kids operates an NDIS support business providing support workers to help NDIS participants access their community and achieve their goals. All profits from this business go back into supporting the children's mentoring program.
3. Grants: Revenue from major grants awarded by organizations including ETC Ltd and EndEd Inc. Grant funding supports specific programs including in-school supports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connect Kids is a charitable organization that delivers free mentoring, tutoring, NDIS support, and intensive family support programs to disadvantaged children, youth, and families on the Sunshine Coast. Its services are organized around a three-spoke model covering mentoring, education, and employment transition, with additional programs including a coding program for youth on the autism spectrum and a corporate giving fundraising initiative. All programs are funded through donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and NDIS support revenue.

Product overview

Connect Kids is a charitable organization operating on the Sunshine Coast that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing intergenerational disadvantage among vulnerable children. The core offerings include a Mentoring Program pairing children with volunteer role models, a Tutoring Program providing free academic support, an NDIS Support Program delivering disability support workers, and an Early Intervention & Intensive Family Support Program offering holistic family assistance. Additional offerings include a Coding Program for youth on the spectrum and a Corporate Giving Program for fundraising. All programs work together within a three-spoke model (mentoring, education, employment transition) supplemented by intensive family support when needed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentoring Program A volunteer-led mentoring program that pairs disadvantaged children with caring adult role models to provide guidance, support, and encouragement. Mentors commit to a minimum of 2 hours per fortnight for 12 months and are matched with children based on personality and preferences. Services are provided free to children and families on the Sunshine Coast.
• Tutoring Program Free one-on-one tutoring service pairing disadvantaged students with university student volunteers for weekly sessions focused on mathematics, English, and science. Sessions are held at local libraries and community centres. Designed for students struggling with education and at risk of disengaging from mainstream schooling.
• NDIS Support Program NDIS-registered support service providing support workers to NDIS participants (children and young adults with disabilities including Autism and ADHD) to help them access their community and achieve their goals. All profits from this service are reinvested into the children's mentoring program.
• Early Intervention & Intensive Family Support Program Long-term, tailored assistance providing crisis support, advocacy, and practical help to families facing complex challenges including housing instability, substance abuse, mental health issues, financial stress, and parenting difficulties. Staff accompany families to appointments and provide home visits to create stable, nurturing environments for children.
• 100x1,000 Corporate Giving Program Corporate sponsorship initiative requesting 100 businesses to donate $1,000 annually (fully tax-deductible) to support Connect Kids operations and frontline services for at-risk children. Corporate supporters receive logo display on the website and social media recognition.
• Lab of Awesome Coding Program Coding program designed as a transition-to-work pathway for young people on the autism spectrum, providing IT skills development. The program brings joy to participants and has proven to be a successful pathway to employment for those with an IT bent.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of mentored young people reported improved self-confidence
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 major, core and minor.

• The Smith FamilymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Australian nonprofit supporting disadvantaged children through education. Listed as community partner alongside Connect Kids.
• Department of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department partnership supporting Connect Kids' in-school programs and mentoring initiatives.
• BackTrack NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect Kids joined the BackTrack Network, a partnership with an organization working with young people in Armidale NSW since 2006. Both organizations share the 'do whatever needs to be done' approach and collaborate on youth support.
• MWD AccountscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm providing pro-bono accounting services to Connect Kids from day one. Annette Koch and the team handle accounts monthly without expectation of reward.
• Thea MediacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDigital marketing agency providing pro-bono marketing support and building the Connect Kids website. Previously Dash Agency, now Thea Media.
• Core Fitness and Teens Take ControlminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal fitness organization providing free office space to Connect Kids, helping stretch donated funds further.
• HeadspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization that sponsored Connect Kids' 'Orphans Christmas lunch' to ensure supported young people had a family Christmas experience.
• Arethusa Flexi School MaroochydorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative education provider where Connect Kids runs in-school support program for children who have fallen through cracks of mainstream education.
• YouTurnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working with young people.
• IFYSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting disadvantaged youth.
• Volunteering Sunshine CoastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer coordination organization listed as community partner.
• Caloundra Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Grunters Charity Golf Day benefiting Connect Kids and junior golf programs.
• Sunshine Coast CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government body acknowledging Connect Kids' work in the community.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Smith Family: One of Australia's largest children's charities, supporting disadvantaged children through education and family support programs. Listed as a community partner alongside Connect Kids, and former employer of a Connect Kids board member, indicating close operational and conceptual alignment in serving disadvantaged Australian youth.
• Barnardo's Australia: Australian arm of the international children's charity providing foster care, family support, and youth programs for vulnerable children. Comparable to Connect Kids in supporting disadvantaged children through multiple integrated program streams.
• Berry Street: One of Australia's largest independent family services organizations, providing therapeutic care, education, and family support for vulnerable children and young people. Directly comparable to Connect Kids in delivering integrated family and youth services across multiple program streams.
• BackTrack Network: Australian nonprofit working with at-risk youth in Armidale NSW since 2006, taking a 'do whatever needs to be done' approach. Connect Kids formally joined the BackTrack Network in 2023, making it both a partner and an operational peer using similar holistic youth-support methodologies.
• Hireup: Australian NDIS-registered disability support platform connecting participants with support workers. Directly comparable to Connect Kids' NDIS Support arm, which provides disability support workers to NDIS participants with profits reinvested into mentoring programs.
• Act for Kids: Australian nonprofit providing integrated therapy, support, and prevention services for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. Directly comparable to Connect Kids' intensive family support and child-focused intervention programs.
• Youth Off The Streets: Australian nonprofit supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable young people through education, mentoring, and welfare programs founded by Father Chris Riley. Highly comparable to Connect Kids in delivering community-based support to at-risk Australian youth.

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: Large national Australian nonprofit providing services across housing, homelessness, mental health, and youth support. Overlaps with Connect Kids' intensive family support and youth mentoring work, but operates at significantly larger scale across all Australian states.
• Headspace: Australia's national youth mental health foundation providing support for young people aged 12-25. Listed as a Connect Kids partner (sponsoring the Orphans Christmas lunch), and shares overlap in youth mental health and wellbeing support services.
• The Salvation Army Australia: One of Australia's largest charities providing social services including youth support, family services, and community programs. While much broader than Connect Kids, it operates comparable youth and family support services in many regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/connectkidsaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connect-community-kids

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 Connect Community + Kids