Doncare

What Doncare does

Doncare is a not-for-profit community services organization established on 17 November 1969 and headquartered in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia. It serves the Manningham local government area and broader Melbourne Inner East region, delivering free or low-cost support to individuals and families impacted by financial instability, food insecurity, family violence, and social isolation. The organization operates a portfolio of community welfare services including Counselling and Wellbeing (individual, couples, family, and men's health), Family Violence Recovery Services (including the DAWN Mentoring Program), Integrated and Intensive Family Services, Emergency Relief and Material Aid, and Social Support for Seniors. It also runs four Op Shop retail locations (Templestowe Village, Tunstall Square, Macedon Road, Bulleen Plaza) as a social enterprise funding mechanism, and has developed two digital products (iMatter App launched 2015, LiveFree App launched 2014) focused on family violence prevention education.

The underlying technology stack is service-delivery oriented rather than product-oriented, with no proprietary software platform, API infrastructure, or AI capabilities disclosed. Operational technology is described as a 'community welfare service delivery organization' core, supported by informational mobile applications (iMatter, LiveFree) that provide warning-sign and support-pathway content, and a multilingual public website (supporting over 100 languages including Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Kurdish, and Persian) reflecting the culturally diverse Manningham catchment.

The business model is grant-funded combined with social-enterprise revenue. Doncare is funded through federal and state government contracts (Department of Families, Fairness and Housing; Department of Social Services; HACC), municipal support from Manningham Council, corporate and community donations (Bendigo Bank, Myer, Noel Jones Doncaster, Rotary Manningham), and revenue from Op Shop sales. Services to end clients are delivered free or low-cost. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Andrew Asten (Boston Consulting Group), with operational leadership under CEO Kylie Scoullar (appointed August 2024, succeeded Doreen Stoves after a 23-year tenure) and CFO Nelika Jayasuriya (joined 2020, ex-KPMG). It operates with 41 employees supported by an extensive volunteer base, and reports having supported 10,599 individuals and delivered 14,743 counselling sessions since 2020. Strategic delivery partners include EACH (Gamblers Help, AOD counselling, youth services), Anglicare (CAREing Connections group), SalvoCare Eastern (homelessness support), and Information Warrandyte (emergency relief).

Name

Doncare

Legal name

Doncare

Website

https://doncare.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Doncare is a not-for-profit community services organization based in Doncaster, Victoria, delivering free or low-cost counselling, family violence recovery, family services, emergency relief, and seniors social support to residents of the Manningham local government area and Melbourne Inner East. It is funded primarily by state and federal government contracts, supplemented by donations and social-enterprise Op Shop revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Welfare Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSABANAD

Respite Adult Day Programs (Short-Term/Drop-In)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

Keywords

• Community welfare services
• Family counselling
• Family violence support
• Emergency relief aid
• Seniors social support

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Doncare delivers low-cost or free person-centred community welfare services to residents of the Manningham area and Melbourne Inner East. Its core offerings include counselling and wellbeing, family violence recovery (including the DAWN Mentoring Program), integrated and intensive family services, emergency relief and material aid, and social support for seniors, supplemented by op shop social-enterprise retail and the iMatter and LiveFree apps.

Product overview

Doncare is a not-for-profit community services organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected support services. The core offerings include Counselling & Wellbeing (individual, couples, family, and men's health counselling), Family Violence Recovery Services (including the DAWN Mentoring Program and Specialist Family Violence Counselling), Integrated Family Services and Intensive Family Services, Emergency Relief & Material Aid (food parcels, financial assistance, practical support), and Social Support for Seniors (social groups, transport, community connection). The organisation also operates Op Shops as a social enterprise to fund core services, and has developed digital products including the iMatter App (family violence prevention) and LiveFree App (domestic violence information). Wellbeing Groups provide therapeutic group programs. These services are delivered through a combination of funded programs, volunteer support, and social enterprise revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DAWN Mentoring Program: A mentoring program for women recovering from family violence, providing one-on-one support through trained volunteer mentors.
• iMatter
• DAWN Program

Products and services

• Counselling and Wellbeing Low-cost counselling for individuals, couples and families supporting wellbeing, resilience and life challenges, including men's health and wellbeing counselling.
• DAWN Mentoring Program A mentoring program connecting women recovering from family violence with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-on-one support over 12 to 24 months, including practical support, emotional support and community reconnection.
• Family Violence Recovery Services Specialist support to help individuals and families recover from family violence and rebuild their lives, encompassing the DAWN Mentoring Program and Specialist Family Violence Counselling.
• Integrated Family Services Early intervention and family services to help children thrive and families navigate challenges together, within the Families and Children service area.
• Emergency Relief and Material Aid Emergency relief including food, financial assistance and practical support during times of hardship, including food parcels, practical assistance and the Christmas Giving program.
• Social Support for Seniors Programs and social groups that help older people build friendships, maintain independence and enjoy community life, including transport assistance, social groups and the Chinese Walking Group.
• Op Shops Retail stores selling donated goods to raise funds for Doncare's core services, providing affordable goods, reducing waste and funding community services.
• Wellbeing Groups Therapeutic group programs designed to strengthen wellbeing, connection and personal growth, including art therapy, basket weaving, vision board workshops and flower arranging for carers.
• iMatter App A school and community-based intervention app focused on preventing family violence and educating young people about healthy relationships, helping women recognise signs of abuse and access support.
• LiveFree App A mobile app providing information about domestic violence, warning signs and support pathways, funded by the Rotary Club of Doncaster.
• Golden Moments Program A partnership program creating joyful experiences for socially isolated and financially disadvantaged older residents of Manningham, addressing loneliness through innovative local engagement.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manningham CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManningham Council is a key supporter of Doncare, providing municipal support for community welfare programs serving the Manningham local government area.
• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government department providing funding and regulatory oversight for community welfare services delivered by Doncare.
• Department of Social Services (DSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government department providing funding for community service programs including gambling help and family support services.
• Bendigo BankminorOthersCommunity banking partner providing financial support for Doncare's community programs.
• MyerminorOthersRetail partner providing support for community welfare initiatives.
• Rotary ManninghamminorOthersLocal Rotary club providing volunteer support and community outreach assistance.
• Noel Jones DoncasterminorOthersLocal real estate partner providing support for community programs.
• HACC (Home and Community Care)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal and state funded home care program providing support services for eligible community members through Doncare.
• AnglicarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Anglicare to co-facilitate the CAREing Connections group, providing family and community support services.
• EACHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor service delivery partner for Gamblers Help and AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) counselling services. Also partners with EACH Manningham Youth Services for the Digging Deep youth program and EACH Regional Counselling for broader counselling services.
• RMIT UniversityminorOthersProvides student placement opportunities for social work and community services students at Doncare.

Recent moves22 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Smith Family: The Smith Family is a national-scale children's charity delivering education support, family assistance, and community programs. Comparable in mission (welfare for vulnerable families) but operates at significantly larger scale across all Australian states.

Direct peers

• Berry Street: Berry Street is a major Victorian family services provider delivering family violence, child and family, and community programs. Operates in overlapping service categories with Doncare (Family Violence Recovery, Integrated Family Services) and competes for the same government contracts.
• Anglicare Victoria: Anglicare Victoria is a direct peer and active partner co-facilitating the CAREing Connections group with Doncare. Both deliver family support, family violence recovery, and community services across Melbourne, with similar government-funded operating models.
• EACH: Eastern Access Community Health is a direct peer and active service delivery partner to Doncare, co-delivering Gamblers Help, AOD counselling, Manningham Youth Services, and the Digging Deep program. Both organizations serve the eastern Melbourne catchment with overlapping social services portfolios.
• Uniting Vic.Tas: Uniting (formerly UnitingCare) is one of the largest community services organizations in Victoria and Tasmania, providing family services, aged care, and community support across multiple regions. Direct competitor for government contracts and donor dollars in Doncare's catchment.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: BSL is a Melbourne-headquartered community welfare organization delivering family services, aged care, social research, and advocacy. Directly comparable in mission and service mix to Doncare, with a broader geographic remit and significantly larger scale.
• Wesley Mission Victoria: Wesley Mission Victoria delivers community services, family support, emergency relief, and social programs in Melbourne, with overlapping service offerings to Doncare. Comparable mission and similar reliance on government funding and community donations.
• Salvation Army Eastern (SalvoCare): SalvoCare Eastern is a direct peer and partner, co-locating a homelessness support worker at Doncare since 2016. Both organizations deliver emergency relief, family services, and community welfare to overlapping Melbourne eastern suburbs populations.
• Centacare Catholic Family Services: Centacare provides counselling, family services, and community support programs across Victoria with comparable service mix to Doncare. Both compete for state and federal welfare contracts in overlapping geographies.

Emerging players

• Mind Australia: Mind Australia delivers psychosocial and mental health support services across Victoria, overlapping with Doncare's Counselling & Wellbeing and Family Violence Recovery services. More specialized in mental health but operates in adjacent service categories with shared funder relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/imatter_doncare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/doncare

Compliance7 records

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 Doncare