What Empower Australia does

Empower Australia is an Australian registered charity (ACNC) and endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) that operates a portfolio of food-relief and community-support programs centred on six Food Relief Centres located across Melbourne (Southbank, Lower Plenty, Ringwood, Clyde North), Geelong and Sydney (Macquarie Park). Its core product is a dignity-preserving, grocery-store-style food distribution model through which vulnerable individuals and families — including the elderly, refugees, single parents, homeless people and international students — select food and basic household items on Sundays; in the most recent reporting period this equated to 371,035 kg of food distributed, 646,397 meals provided, and 1,350+ people assisted per week.

The organisation's full program set extends beyond food relief into Pallets of Purpose (POP), a structured bulk-giving initiative allowing $2 incremental or $2,000 full-pallet sponsorship; Street Team, a monthly community BBQ program at social housing estates in South Melbourne, Epping and Flemington; Empower English Classes, a four-level fortnightly language program priced at $10 per student covering enrollment and a placement test; Mentoring for individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, mental health issues or post-incarceration; Refugee Support providing wraparound care for asylum seekers; and an annual Christmas Appeal distributing gifts to children in need. Operational technology is minimal and non-proprietary: donation processing runs on Shout For Good and class registration on Cognito Forms, with no internal platform, mobile app or AI capability described.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through donations, corporate partnerships and government grants rather than commercial pricing. Cash inflow streams include tax-deductible individual donations enabled by DGR status, corporate partner contributions (DHL, KPMG, Computershare, AustralianSuper, Newscorp, McCain and others), grants from local councils (City of Melbourne, Maroondah City Council, City of Casey), recurring monthly givers, and small program fees from the English Classes and POP offerings. Empower Australia was established by Planetshakers Church and operates as part of the Planetshakers Global Group, with the volunteer workforce predominantly drawn from the church's pastoral care community; food supply is anchored by long-standing relationships with Foodbank, OzHarvest, SecondBite and FareShare, the last of which delivers approximately 3,000 cooked meals per week into the centres.

Name

Empower Australia

Legal name

Empower (ABN 42 604 928 663)

Website

https://empoweraustralia.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empower Australia is a Melbourne-headquartered non-profit charity operating six Food Relief Centres across Victoria and Sydney, providing dignity-preserving grocery-style food relief, English classes, mentoring and refugee support to vulnerable individuals and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable food relief and community support services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), Emergency Food Security & Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises (BPADAJAI), Emergency Education / Education in Emergencies (EiE) (BPADADAN)

Keywords

• Food relief services
• Community support programs
• Charitable donations
• Volunteer programs
• Food distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Southbank

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Empower Australia generates revenue primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate partners, and grant-making organizations. Donations of $2 or more are eligible for tax deductions as the organization holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. The organization also receives support through corporate partnerships, in-kind donations from food suppliers, and grant funding from local government councils.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide both financial support and in-kind contributions including food donations, volunteer hours, and pro-bono services. Partners include food suppliers, logistics companies, and retailers who align with the organization's mission.
3. Government Grants: Empower Australia receives grant funding from local government councils including City of Melbourne, Maroondah City Council, and City of Casey to support program delivery.
4. Program Fees (English Classes): The Empower English Classes Program charges $10 per student which includes enrollment and an English placement test to ensure appropriate level placement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Empower Australia is a registered charity that provides free food relief and basic household supplies to vulnerable individuals and families through six Food Relief Centres operating on Sundays across Melbourne, Geelong, Lower Plenty, Ringwood, Clyde North, and Sydney (Macquarie Park). Recipients select items in a dignity-preserving grocery-store-style model. Beyond food relief, the organization runs English language classes, a Street Team community engagement program at social housing estates, a Mentoring program for vulnerable individuals, refugee support services, and annual Christmas Appeal and Give Hunger The Boot campaigns.

Product overview

Empower Australia is a charity organization operating multiple interconnected programs focused on food relief, community support, and empowerment. The core offerings include Food Relief Centres (providing free groceries in a dignity-preserving supermarket model), the POP (Pallets of Purpose) bulk food initiative, Empower English Classes for language learning, and Street Team community gatherings. Supporting programs include a Christmas Appeal for gift distribution, the Give Hunger The Boot! food drive campaign, Mentoring for vulnerable individuals, and Refugee Support services. The organization runs six food relief centre locations across Melbourne, Geelong, and Sydney, with an ongoing expansion of the Southbank flagship facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Give Hunger The Boot!: Annual food donation campaign running April 1-30, encouraging people to fill car boots with essentials and donate to food relief centres.
• POP - Pallets of Purpose
• Christmas Appeal / Empower Giving Tree

Products and services

• Food Relief Centre Free food relief program that distributes food and basic household supplies to vulnerable community members — including the elderly, refugees, single parents, homeless people, and international students — through an upmarket grocery-store-style model that preserves recipient dignity at six locations across Victoria (Southbank, Lower Plenty, Ringwood, Clyde North, Geelong) and Sydney (Macquarie Park).
• Food Donation Program Accepts food donations from individuals and businesses at six Empower locations across Melbourne, Geelong, and Sydney, channelling essential food items to recipients experiencing food insecurity.
• Empower English Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• 371,035 kg of food distributed, equivalent to 646,397 meals, supporting 1,350+ people weekly (FY 2025-2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

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

• FoodbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since gaining first partner over 7 years ago. Foodbank provides more than 70% of food rescued for food relief organisations nationwide and is a key supplier to Empower's Food Relief Centres.
• McCainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing food donations and support. Featured in McCain 'We're in this Together' campaign in May 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic.
• SecondBitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organization that rescues surplus food and provides it to community organizations like Empower Australia.
• OzHarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's leading food rescue organization providing surplus food to charities supporting those in need.
• FareSharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRescues surplus food and cooks free, nutritious meals. Empower distributes approximately 3,000 FareShare meals per week at its food relief centres.
• HOA AustraliasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Empower's mission and programs.
• The Salvation ArmysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristmas Appeal charity partner receiving and distributing Christmas gifts to children in need.
• Prison NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristmas Appeal partner that journeys with women in and beyond prison, providing support and courage for positive pathways.
• WathaurongsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristmas Appeal partner organization receiving and distributing gifts to children in need.
• Odyssey House VictoriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristmas Appeal partner supporting families affected by addiction.
• Planetshakers ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization that established Empower Australia. Provides predominantly volunteer support as an extension of the church's pastoral care services. Headquarters based at Planetshakers Church in Melbourne.
• Tshirt OzsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing promotional merchandise support.
• PinchapoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organization partnering with Empower Australia.
• First Services GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerService partner supporting Empower's operations.
• Beulah FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic arm of Melbourne property developer Beulah. Collaborated with Empower Australia to create the 'Seeds of Change' pop-up exhibition in Southbank (August-December 2023) highlighting food insecurity and exploring future of retail. Part of Lab for Positive Change series.
• The Building & Construction CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company that has generously donated skills, services, and pro bono contributions for the expansion of the Southbank Food Relief Centre facility.
• Dulux AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaints and coatings company providing pro bono contributions for Southbank Food Relief Centre expansion renovation.
• Mobile Mission Maintenance AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing pro bono services and contributions for Southbank Food Relief Centre expansion.
• Abelwood (Neville Smith Forest Products)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTimber products company providing pro bono contributions for Southbank Food Relief Centre expansion.
• South East WatermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater utility providing pro bono contributions and infrastructure support for Southbank Food Relief Centre expansion.
• The GEMsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of first monthly givers to Empower Australia and volunteers through Corporate Volunteer Program.
• Helping HoopssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization partnered with Empower to supply fresh fruit and snacks to youth attending their programs. Partnership has improved engagement and youth participation in team building activities.
• The Salvation ArmysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Empower Australia during 2020 Bushfire Appeal to help those affected by disaster.
• Red Cross AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Empower Australia during 2020 Bushfire Appeal to help those affected by disaster.
• ACCI Missions & ReliefsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Empower Australia during 2020 Bushfire Appeal to help those affected by disaster.
• CFA VictoriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Empower Australia during 2020 Bushfire Appeal to help those affected by disaster.
• World VisionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on ensuring communities receive long-term support such as income-generating projects as they recover from devastating disasters. Empower supports their international emergency relief efforts.
• Odyssey VictoriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization Empower supports as part of its mission to empower other communities beyond its direct service provision.
• MelisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization Empower supports through its community empowerment mission.
• Good Friday AppealsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual charitable appeal that Empower participates in to support children and families in need.
• OneDesignOffice (ODO)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCreative design firm that provided creative direction for 'Seeds of Change' pop-up exhibition at the former BMW site in Southbank.
• Shout For Good (Shout)supportingTechnology or IntegrationPlatform powering Empower's online donation functionality for campaigns including Two Million Meals Campaign.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foodbank Australia: Australia's largest food relief agency and a stated long-term supplier to Empower Australia (provides >70% of food rescued nationally). Directly comparable as a charity that distributes rescued/donated food to vulnerable populations through a national centre network, using a volunteer-driven operating model.
• SecondBite: Charitable food rescue organisation redistributing surplus food to community organisations. Directly comparable food-relief peer and one of Empower Australia's stated core food supply partners.
• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue organisation and a stated Empower partner. Runs a national model of collecting surplus food from commercial donors and redistributing it to charities, making it a direct peer in the food-relief supply chain that Empower also relies on.
• FareShare: Cooks free, nutritious meals from rescued food for distribution through charities; Empower distributes ~3,000 FareShare meals per week at its centres. Closely aligned mission and direct operational partner/peer.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Red Cross: Humanitarian organisation active in disaster response and emergency relief; partnered with Empower on the 2020 Bushfire Appeal. Comparable in disaster relief and emergency assistance delivery, though operating at a much larger scale and scope.
• The Salvation Army Australia: Large established charitable organisation running emergency relief, food programmes, Christmas appeals, and disaster response across Australia. Overlaps with Empower on food relief, Christmas Appeal partnership, and bushfire appeal work, but operates a much broader portfolio of social services.
• Anglicare Australia: Network of Anglican social service agencies delivering emergency relief, food programmes, and community support. Comparable in providing community-based food and welfare services, with significantly larger national footprint and service breadth.
• St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) Australia: Large Catholic welfare agency providing food assistance, emergency relief, and material aid across Australia via parish-based conferences. Closely comparable on emergency food relief delivery model and volunteer mobilisation, though with broader welfare scope.
• Mission Australia: Major national charity delivering homelessness, community housing, and emergency relief services. Comparable in providing wraparound community support to vulnerable populations including those facing food insecurity, but with a much wider service remit.
• Wesley Mission Australia: Faith-based community services organisation providing emergency relief, food programmes, and social support. Comparable in church-affiliated, community wraparound service delivery model, but with broader aged care and family services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-australia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Empower Australia