What Social Futures does

Social Futures is a non-profit community service organisation and registered community housing provider headquartered in Lismore, NSW, with operations across regional NSW and Queensland. Founded in 1974 and now employing 209 staff across 21+ office locations, the organisation delivers a multi-service platform spanning NDIS Local Area Coordination, disability employment support through Inclusive Employment Australia, youth mental health via headspace, homelessness and specialist housing services (Connecting Home, Supported Temporary Accommodation, Social Housing, Affordable Housing), mental health and wellbeing programs (Medicare Mental Health Centres, StandBy, Care Connect, Side by Side), and family and children services. End users are individuals and families experiencing disability, homelessness, mental health challenges, family breakdown, and youth disengagement, with a deliberate focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and LGBTQISB+ inclusion.

The underlying operating model is a person-centred, culturally responsive, trauma-informed service delivery framework delivered through in-person offices, phone hotlines, Assertive Outreach teams, and school-based programs. Proprietary operational frameworks include the LGBTIQSB+ Inclusive Services Framework and the Our Mob Group internal support initiative. Services are largely free to participants and funded through federal and state government contracts and grants (NDIS, Medicare, headspace, NSW Government), with no publicly disclosed pricing. The organisation holds multiple accreditations including Registered Community Housing Provider, Rainbow Tick, National Standards for Mental Health Services, and Australian Service Excellence Standards.

The business model is contract-funded non-profit delivery: revenue is derived primarily from government grants and program contracts rather than commercial pricing, with monetisation governed by service-level agreements and policy rather than market rates. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer through walk-in offices, 1800 hotlines, outreach, school programs, and referral networks with government services, healthcare providers, and schools. Customers are concentrated among government counterparties at the funder level while being highly distributed at the participant level (30,714 people supported across 2023-2024, including 3,597 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants).

Name

Social Futures

Legal name

Social Futures

Website

https://socialfutures.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Housing Services (62422), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Community support services
• Disability and NDIS services
• Homelessness and housing support
• Mental health services
• Youth and family services

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Primary funding from federal and state government programs including NDIS, mental health initiatives, housing and homelessness services, and family support programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Social Futures is a non-profit community service organisation delivering free, person-centred support across disability (NDIS Local Area Coordination and Inclusive Employment Australia), homelessness and community housing, youth and family services, mental health and wellbeing, and domestic violence support. Services are delivered directly through 21+ offices across regional NSW and Queensland, phone hotlines, assertive outreach teams, and school-based programs, funded primarily through federal and state government contracts and grants.

Product overview

Social Futures operates as a multi-service community support organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services across regional NSW and Queensland. The organization functions as a platform of integrated services rather than a single product, with core offerings including NDIS Local Area Coordination, disability employment support through Inclusive Employment Australia, youth mental health services via headspace, homelessness and housing services (Connecting Home programs, Supported Temporary Accommodation, Social Housing, Affordable Housing), family and children services (Family Connect and Support, Reconnect, Elements counselling), mental health and wellbeing programs (StandBy, Care Connect, Medicare Mental Health Centre, The Bridge), and community housing. Additional specialized programs include inclusion awareness initiatives (Inclusion in Schools, Pathways to Play, Sports Ability, Blind Cricket), youth development (The Indie Project, Clubhouse, Ground Up Youth Collective), disaster recovery (Resilient Kids, Recovery Connect), and sector support initiatives. The organization also operates community spaces like Byron CoLab and publishes The Lantern newsletter for people with disability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NDIS Local Area Coordination National Disability Insurance Scheme partner providing Local Area Coordination services throughout regional NSW, helping individuals with disability navigate and access NDIS funding and services.
• Inclusive Employment Australia Disability employment support program helping people with disability, injury or health condition prepare for, find and keep employment through free tailored support services.
• headspace Youth Mental Health Youth mental health service offering mental health support, sexual health services, youth worker support, alcohol and other drug services, and connections to education and employment.
• Family Connect and Support Support service helping children, young people and families with parenting challenges, financial stress, substance use, family breakdown, housing issues, and mental health concerns.
• Reconnect Targeted early intervention program for 12 to 18-year-olds helping reconnect youth with home, work and community to make positive life changes.
• Elements - Youth and Family Counselling Free family counselling service for Northern Rivers families to help build wellbeing and improve family relationships.
• Connecting Home - Homelessness Services Specialist homelessness services supporting adults, youth and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with needs assessment and housing action planning, including Aboriginal-specific and domestic violence cohorts.
• Assertive Outreach Team bringing support directly to people sleeping rough in the Tweed Heads and Byron Bay areas.
• Supported Temporary Accommodation Safe, supported temporary accommodation with onsite management, 24/7 security and wrap-around services in the Northern Rivers region.
• Social Housing Housing service committed to increasing access to safe, affordable housing for individuals and families on low incomes or income support payments experiencing housing stress.
• Affordable Housing Affordable housing designed for low to moderate-income households priced to ensure tenants can meet basic living costs.
• StandBy - Support After Suicide Dedicated suicide postvention program supporting people bereaved or impacted by suicide, available 24/7 at no cost.
• Medicare Mental Health Centre Free mental health service offering support, care and options without requiring a referral.
• Care Connect Support service for people after a suicide attempt or crisis, providing support and connecting individuals to services and community activities.
• Side by Side Compassionate and practical support service for adults (18+) experiencing situational, emotional or psychological distress in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.
• The Bridge Free alcohol and other drugs support service for the Upper Hunter region delivered without requiring referral.
• Care Finder Services Support services helping seniors remain independent, safe and connected in their communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,714 people supported across 2023-2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Reconciliation AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Reconciliation Australia endorsed Social Futures' Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2026-2028. This partnership supports reconciliation efforts and ensures accountability in reconciliation initiatives.
• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Futures is an NDIS partner providing Local Area Coordination (LAC) services throughout regional NSW. They help people with disability access and navigate the NDIS.
• Byron Shire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Byron Shire Council to transform the old Byron Hospital site into Byron CoLab on Arakwal Country - a dedicated community space.
• Link2HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership for homelessness services - Link2Home provides 24/7 statewide contact for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• NSW GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple government partnerships for service delivery including mental health, housing, family services, and NDIS coordination.
• Australian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partnerships for programs including headspace, Medicare Mental Health Centres, and national suicide prevention initiatives.
• MedicarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Medicare Mental Health Centres in Muswellbrook and Singleton, providing free mental health services without referral.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Uniting NSW.ACT: One of the largest NSW community service organisations delivering disability, homelessness, mental health, aged care and family services across regional and metro NSW. Directly comparable multi-service community platform with similar NDIS, housing and family-support offerings.
• Mission Australia: National community services non-profit delivering housing and homelessness support, youth services, mental health and employment programs. Comparable footprint and service mix with significant presence in NSW and Queensland.
• Wesley Mission: NSW-based community services organisation operating homelessness, mental health, disability, youth and family programs. Comparable multi-service wrap-around model and government-funded revenue base.
• Anglicare Sydney: Faith-based community services provider delivering out-of-home care, disability, mental health, aged care and family services across NSW. Comparable service breadth, NDIS involvement and regional delivery model.
• The Salvation Army Australia: Major national community services organisation delivering homelessness, family violence, addiction recovery, youth and disaster relief services. Overlaps directly with Social Futures' homelessness, family and youth programs.
• Life Without Barriers: National NDIS, out-of-home care, mental health and community services provider with strong regional NSW presence. Directly comparable disability and child/youth service delivery.
• St Vincent de Paul Society NSW: Large NSW community services organisation delivering homelessness, housing, family and material aid programs. Comparable housing assistance and homelessness service line, including outreach.
• Relationships Australia NSW: Federation member delivering family and community support, counselling, mental health and NDIS-related services across NSW. Comparable family services and disability support delivery.
• Yfoundations: NSW peak body and service provider focused on young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Directly comparable on Reconnect, Connecting Home youth homelessness and family breakdown services.

Emerging players

• headspace National: National youth mental health foundation whose local centres are delivered by lead agencies like Social Futures. Comparable on youth mental health (headspace) program delivery in regional NSW.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Social Futures