What InsideOUT Kōaro does

InsideOUT Kōaro is a Wellington-based national charity (CC48531) operating across Aotearoa New Zealand to support rainbow, takatāpui, and intersex young people, with secondary engagement of whānau, schools, workplaces, and mental health providers. The organization delivers resources, professional development workshops, consulting, and advocacy through a distributed network of regional Schools Coordinators covering both the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu), and runs annual campaigns such as Schools' Pride Week Aotearoa (250+ participating schools in 2026) and Out on the Shelves. It also operates sub-brands including ARC: Advancing Rainbow Competency, the national government-funded rainbow competency training program for the mental health and addiction workforce delivered across Tauiwi, kaupapa Māori (Whakaahu Whakamua), and Pasifika (Tagata Moana) streams.

The business model is that of a registered non-profit. Revenue is generated from government contracts (notably Te Whatu Ora for mental health rainbow competency training), philanthropic grants from named foundations (Foundation North, Rātā Foundation, Wellington City Council / Absolutely Wellington, and The Tindall Foundation), individual donations through one-off and regular giving programs, and modest income from an online store selling rainbow posters and educational resources. Pricing is structured as free services to schools and to mental health providers (government-funded), while workplace training is offered on a subscription-style annual engagement with pricing not publicly disclosed. Services are delivered by facilitators from within the rainbow community with lived experience, providing a culturally distinctive workforce moat.

Founded in 2011 as QSA Network Aotearoa and rebranded to InsideOUT Kōaro in 2015, the organization is led by Chief Executive Judy O'Brien (effective December 2025), succeeding founder Tabby Besley after her 13-year tenure. Headcount is approximately 24 staff, and the organization published a 5-year strategy covering 2026–2031. InsideOUT Kōaro actively engages in policy advocacy, including formal submissions on the draft HPE Curriculum and RSE Framework and joint opposition with RainbowYOUTH to the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill.

Name

InsideOUT Kōaro

Legal name

InsideOUT Kōaro

Website

https://insideout.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

InsideOUT Kōaro is a New Zealand national charity providing rainbow-inclusion resources, training, and advocacy to schools, workplaces, mental health providers, and rainbow and takatāpui young people across both islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community / Youth Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Rainbow youth support
• School inclusion training
• Workplace diversity training
• Mental health workforce training
• Community advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from government sources including Te Whatu Ora for rainbow competency training to mental health and addiction services. Contract delivery with government agencies for national service provision.
2. Philanthropic Funding: Funding from charitable foundations including Foundation North, Rātā Foundation, Wellington City Council (Absolutely Wellington), and The Tindall Foundation to support organizational operations and programs.
3. Donations: Individual donations from community members supporting rainbow rangatahi. Regular giving program and one-off donation options available via website and bank transfer.
4. Resource Sales: Sale of rainbow educational resources, posters, and materials through the online store (insideoutkoaro.company.site).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

InsideOUT Kōaro is a national Aotearoa New Zealand charity that supports rainbow (LGBTQIA+) and takatāpui young people through resources, training, and advocacy delivered to schools, workplaces, and the mental health workforce. Core offerings include Regional Schools Coordinator support across eight regions, Schools' Pride Week, downloadable/printable classroom resources, workplace rainbow competency training, and mental health and addiction workforce training.

Product overview

InsideOUT Kōaro is a national charity offering a portfolio of services focused on rainbow and takatāpui youth wellbeing in Aotearoa. The core offerings include Schools Support Services with regional Schools Coordinators providing professional development and workshops, Workplace Services delivering rainbow competency training to organisations, and Youth & Whānau Resources providing educational materials and support connections. For the mental health sector, the organisation provides government-funded rainbow competency training through three streams: ARC (Advancing Rainbow Competency) for general services, Whakaahu Whakamua for kaupapa Māori services, and Tagata Moana Stream for Pasifika communities. Supplementary offerings include a downloadable Rainbow Posters Collection, annual campaigns such as Schools' Pride Week Aotearoa and Out on the Shelves, and the Respectful Relationships Programme (Aro ki te Hā).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schools' Pride Week Aotearoa: Annual campaign supporting school communities to celebrate rainbow students, staff and whānau, with over 250 schools participating in 2026.
• Out on the Shelves
• ARC: Advancing Rainbow Competency

Products and services

• Regional Schools Coordinator Support Embedded regional staff who work directly with schools (primary, intermediate, secondary) to deliver training, advise on inclusive policy, support rainbow students, and coordinate Schools' Pride Week participation within their region. Available to schools across eight Aotearoa New Zealand regions.
• Schools' Pride Week Annual national campaign in which New Zealand schools participate to celebrate and support rainbow and takatāpui young people. Includes resources, ambassador engagement, and a sponsored merchandise and awareness programme.
• Rainbow Inclusion Training for Schools Workshops and professional development programmes that build rainbow competency among teachers, school leaders, and support staff, delivered in-person and virtually across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Workplace Rainbow Competency Training Tailored training delivered to New Zealand employers and HR/People & Culture teams to build rainbow-inclusive workplaces, with content for staff and leadership audiences.
• Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Training Training programme for mental health and addiction service practitioners on rainbow-affirming care for young people, delivered in partnership with provider organisations across Aotearoa.
• School Resources (Printable and Downloadable) Curriculum-aligned rainbow inclusion resources for schools, including posters, lesson materials, and printable guides, distributed as free downloads or paid printed items via the InsideOUT Kōaro store.
• InsideOUT Kōaro Online Merchandise Store Online store selling branded merchandise, apparel, and printed rainbow inclusion resources, with shipping across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
• Youth and Whānau Resources and Stories Free online resources, stories, and connection pathways aimed at rainbow and takatāpui young people and their whānau, distributed through the InsideOUT Kōaro website and social channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% of rainbow students reported experiencing bullying at school within the last 12 months, demonstrating need for intervention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Women in Sport AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on a toolkit to address the gap in policy and guidance for sport in Aotearoa New Zealand. This joint initiative supports inclusive, evidence-informed approaches to rainbow inclusion in sport, working alongside schools and sporting organizations.
• RainbowYOUTHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partnership with RainbowYOUTH to oppose discriminatory legislation. Combined statements urging Parliament to vote down the 'Definition of Woman and Man' bill at first reading. Shared commitment to delivering better outcomes for takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and transgender rangatahi.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gender Minorities Aotearoa: New Zealand transgender and gender-diverse advocacy and support organization. Directly comparable to InsideOUT Kōaro on the gender-diversity dimension of rainbow youth support, with overlapping service users and policy positions.
• Outline Aotearoa: New Zealand LGBTQ+ counselling and support organization providing free helpline and face-to-face services. Comparable as a peer rainbow-support charity operating in the same domestic market with overlapping beneficiary groups.
• RainbowYOUTH: Aotearoa New Zealand-based organization supporting rainbow and takatāpui young people, overlapping directly with InsideOUT Kōaro's youth-focused mission. The two organizations have a documented joint advocacy partnership and share a comparable target population in NZ.

Others

• PFLAG: International organization supporting parents, families, and allies of LGBTQ+ people. Adjacent to InsideOUT Kōaro's 'whānau and allies' segment and its family-facing educational resources, though PFLAG's primary offering is family peer support rather than school-based delivery.
• Youth Wellbeing Study / NZ Youth Health providers: Adjacent ecosystem of NZ youth health and mental health providers that InsideOUT Kōaro's ARC training is delivered into (e.g., access-and-choice primary mental health providers). Comparable as downstream delivery partners for rainbow competency training.
• Women in Sport Aotearoa: Documented strategic partner of InsideOUT Kōaro on the joint rainbow inclusion in sport toolkit. Comparable as a sector-inclusion advocacy peer working with schools and sporting organizations, though its primary lens is gender equity in sport rather than rainbow youth support.

Broad incumbents

• The Trevor Project: US-based, large-scale LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization. Comparable as a broader-incumbent operator in LGBTQ+ youth mental health, offering crisis services, research, and advocacy at a scale InsideOUT could grow toward.
• Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly NZ AIDS Foundation): Larger, established Aotearoa-based organization working across rainbow health and HIV. Overlaps with InsideOUT Kōaro on rainbow wellbeing and sexual health education, though its portfolio is broader and more health-focused.

Regional players

• Minus18: Australia-based LGBTQIA+ youth charity running school inclusion programs, Pride resources, and queer events. Highly comparable to InsideOUT Kōaro's Schools' Pride Week and youth engagement model, but operating trans-Tasman in Australia rather than NZ.
• Twenty10 (including QLife): Australian organization supporting LGBTQIA+ young people, including the national QLife counselling service. Directly comparable on LGBTQ+ youth wellbeing services, though anchored in Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPPtBaAC9xM8jJd4V6IfmNg
• Facebookfacebook.com/insideoutkoaro
• Instagraminstagram.com/insideoutkoaro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/insideoutkoaro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 InsideOUT Kōaro