Family Life Ministries

What Family Life Ministries does

Family Life is an Australian nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1970 that provides specialist family services across Melbourne's southern suburbs and greater Victoria. The organization delivers a coordinated portfolio spanning family violence response (including the Strength2Strength trauma-informed therapeutic program for women and children), parenting and family support, mental health counseling (including the SHINE children's wellbeing program), separation services, and school and community programs. Services are provided free of charge to eligible clients and are accessed through self-referral, community agency referrals, and online request forms, with interpreter coverage available in over 150 languages via TIS National.

The organization's core technology stack is not publicly disclosed; its infrastructure appears to consist of a standard website, social media presence, and integrations with third-party interpreter services. Family Life operates through a hybrid delivery model combining paid staff (28 employees), a large volunteer network (476 individuals contributing 48,874 hours annually), and 12 community op shops that function as both retail social enterprises and neighborhood engagement points.

Revenue is generated through four streams: government grants and contracts (primary), op shop retail transactions, individual and corporate donations (including bequests and planned giving), and corporate partnership contributions. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors, with Allison Wainwright serving as CEO and Catherine Parisi as Board Chair (as of 2025). Family Life holds ISO 9001 quality management certification (recertified June 2026) and operates a 2025-2028 Strategic Plan governing its current direction.

Name

Family Life Ministries

Legal name

Family Life

Website

https://familylife.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family Life is a Victorian, Australia nonprofit founded in 1970 that delivers specialist family services including family violence response, parenting support, mental health counseling, and school programs, serving approximately 11,000 people annually through paid staff, 476 volunteers, and 12 community op shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Family Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Family support services
• Family violence support
• Mental health counselling
• Parenting support programs
• Community op shops

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandringham

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from government grants and contracts for family services programs including family violence, mental health, and parenting support.
2. Op Shop Retail: Revenue generated from 12 community op shops selling donated goods, supporting both funding and community engagement.
3. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters, including bequests and planned giving.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate partners through financial contributions and in-kind support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Family Life is a specialist family services provider delivering free, trauma-informed support to children, families, and communities across Victoria, Australia. Core offerings include family violence response (Strength2Strength), parenting and family support, mental health counselling (SHINE), separation services, and school and community programs. The organization supplements service delivery with 12 volunteer-run op shops that generate revenue and act as community access points.

Product overview

Family Life is a specialist family services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of support services for children, families, and communities in Australia since 1970. The organization operates as a unified service provider with distinct program areas including Family Violence services (with Strength2Strength trauma-informed therapeutic support), Parenting and Family Support, Mental Health and Counselling (including the SHINE wellbeing program), Separation services, and School and Community Programs. Additional services include twelve Community Op Shops as social enterprises and Interpreter Services available in over 150 languages. The organization serves approximately 11,000 people each year, supported by a volunteer network contributing nearly 49,000 hours annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strength2Strength: Specialist Therapeutic Support for Women and Children providing gentle, trauma-informed support for parents and children who have experienced family violence.
• SHINE

Products and services

• Family Violence Services Specialist support services for individuals and families experiencing family violence, including the Strength2Strength trauma-informed therapeutic program for women and children. Delivered free to clients across Victoria.
• Parenting and Family Support Support services for parents and families to strengthen family relationships and parenting capabilities. Free of charge and accessible via referral or self-referral.
• Mental Health and Counselling Counselling and mental health support services, including the SHINE wellbeing program for children experiencing anxiety, anger, or behavioural changes. Provided free to clients.
• Separation Services Specialist support for individuals and families navigating separation and its associated challenges. Free counselling and family support for separating or separated families.
• School and Community Programs Programs delivered in schools and community settings to support families and children, including Friendship Day initiatives and other community education offerings.
• Community Op Shops Twelve op shop locations operated by volunteers, selling donated goods to generate revenue in support of Family Life services while providing community spaces across Melbourne's southern suburbs.
• Interpreter Services Accredited interpreter and translator services available in over 150 languages through TIS National, enabling access to Family Life services for non-English speakers and culturally diverse communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000 people helped each year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service)coreTechnology or IntegrationTIS National provides interpreter services via phone and onsite interpretation in over 150 languages, enabling Family Life to serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Corporate PartnerssupportingOthersCorporate partners provide financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteering opportunities. The program allows businesses to support families in their community.
• Leave PlussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community backyard transformation projects supporting families in need.
• Habitat for Humanity VictoriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for housing and home improvement projects benefiting vulnerable families.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Smith Family: National Australian nonprofit focused on supporting disadvantaged children and families through education and family support programs. Comparable target population and family-strengthening mission, though with a stronger national education-tilted remit.
• Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand: Community organisation delivering family and women's services including family violence support, financial counselling, and community programs across Australia. Overlaps with Family Life's family violence and family support remit.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Melbourne-based research-informed nonprofit tackling family disadvantage through family services, early intervention, and community programs. Comparable mission and catchment to Family Life, with a stronger research and policy focus.
• Anglicare Victoria: Major Victorian provider of family services including family violence response, out-of-home care, and child and youth mental health. Overlaps directly with Family Life's core programs but operates at significantly larger scale and budget.
• Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania): Large multi-state community services organisation operating family violence, mental health, and family support programs across Victoria and Tasmania. Comparable service categories but at materially larger scale and geographic breadth than Family Life.
• Baptcare: Faith-based community services provider operating family services, family violence response, and community programs across Victoria and Tasmania. Comparable service mix to Family Life, with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Berry Street: Victorian nonprofit providing specialist family services including family violence, parenting support, and child and youth mental health programs. Directly comparable service mix and target population to Family Life's Strength2Strength, SHINE, and parenting offerings.
• Relationships Australia Victoria: Not-for-profit delivering family and relationship services including counselling, family dispute resolution, and parenting programs across Victoria. Closely comparable service portfolio and funding model to Family Life.
• Drummond Street Services: Victorian specialist family services organisation offering therapeutic, family violence, and LGBTIQ+ family support. Comparable specialist family services scope and Melbourne catchment, with overlap on trauma-informed programs similar to Strength2Strength.
• MacKillop Family Services: Catholic agency providing specialist family services, family violence, and child and youth mental health programs across Victoria and other states. Comparable specialist family services portfolio to Family Life, with broader geographic and residential care footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FamilyLifeAU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/auFamilyLife
• Facebookfacebook.com/familylifeau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-life-ministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/familylifeau

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Family Life Ministries