WAAC

What WAAC does

WAAC is a Perth-based non-profit organisation founded in 1985 that delivers HIV support, sexual health services, harm reduction, and LGBTQIA+ community programs across Western Australia. The organisation operates four physical service locations — its West Perth headquarters (housing Allied Health Services and HIV support), M Clinic (a nurse-led sexual health clinic in West Perth), Freedom Centre (an LGBTQIA+ youth drop-in in Leederville), and Freo XChange (a fixed-site Needle and Syringe Exchange Program in Fremantle) — supplemented by a mobile NSEP van servicing seven Perth metro locations and a postal service for regional and remote clients.

WAAC's service portfolio covers HIV case management and peer support, STI/BBV testing and treatment via M Clinic, LGBTQIA+ youth counselling and community development through Freedom Centre and Freedom X Comm, sterile injecting equipment distribution and naloxone provision, free condom and safe sex pack distribution, education and consultancy for schools, corporates, and healthcare providers, and social support groups for people living with HIV. The technology stack is operational rather than differentiated: standard websites (waac.com.au, thewaacstore.com.au), Mailchimp email, Zoom/Teams for virtual service delivery, CyberReach outreach protocols, and active social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). There is no proprietary technology or AI capability disclosed.

Revenue is derived from a five-year WA Department of Health core services contract, Mental Health Commission funding for the Freedom State regional LGBTIQA+ program, Lotterywest grants, donations and bequests, merchandise sales via the WAAC Store, fee-for-service education and consultancy, and nominal income from NSEP equipment sales. Most direct services (condoms, NSEP equipment, counselling) are delivered free or at sliding-scale cost. As a registered non-profit, WAAC has no external equity investors and is governed by a community-representative board.

Name

WAAC

Legal name

Western Australian AIDS Council

Website

https://waac.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WAAC is a 40-year-old Western Australian non-profit delivering HIV support, sexual health services (M Clinic), LGBTQIA+ youth programs (Freedom Centre), and a nine-site Needle and Syringe Exchange Program across Perth metro and regional WA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Sexual health services
• HIV support programs
• Needle syringe exchange
• LGBTIQA+ youth support
• Community health education

Headquarters

HQ city

West Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: WAAC receives core government funding, including a five-year contract from the WA Department of Health for core HIV/AIDS services. Additional funding from Mental Health Commission for Freedom State program targeting regional LGBTIQA+ communities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: WAAC raises funds through donations, merchandise sales via the WAAC Store, and events such as The Gag Ball fundraiser. The organisation has a history of community fundraising dating to its founding, including STYLEAID (20 years), Black Dance Parties, and bequests.
3. Merchandise Sales: The WAAC Store sells branded merchandise including shirts, mugs, and other items. Proceeds support WAAC services. Bulk condom and safe sex equipment sales to businesses and organisations are also a revenue stream.
4. Education and Training Fees: WAAC provides paid education sessions, workshops, consultancy, and guest speaker services to organisations, schools, healthcare professionals, and corporations. Some free and low-cost options are available as a nonprofit.
5. Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Sales: NSEP provides sterile injecting equipment free on exchange or at low cost. Sale of harm reduction equipment including bacteriostatic water, wheel filters, tourniquets, spoons, and Hirudoid cream generates nominal revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WAAC (Western Australian AIDS Council) is a non-profit community health organisation delivering HIV and sexual health services, LGBTIQA+ youth support, harm reduction, education and peer-based programs across Western Australia. Its core offerings include nurse-led STI and HIV testing and treatment (M Clinic), drop-in and counselling support for LGBTIQA+ young people aged 12-25 (Freedom Centre), case management and peer support for people living with HIV, a fixed-site and mobile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) for people who inject drugs, and fee-for-service education, training and consultancy for schools, healthcare providers, corporations and community organisations.

Product overview

WAAC (Western Australian AIDS Council) is a non-profit health organization offering a diverse portfolio of services focused on HIV, sexual health, and LGBTQIA+ community support. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including M Clinic (a nurse-led sexual health clinic), Freedom Centre (youth support services), HIV Support Services (case management, peer support, and counselling), the Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP), and Education and Training Services. Additional offerings include free condom distribution, support groups (Women's Social Group, Mindful Art Group, Monthly Meet-ups, Mothers Like Me), and the Positive Speakers Bureau. These services work together to provide comprehensive health promotion, prevention, testing, treatment support, and community development for affected communities in Western Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M Clinic Nurse-led, peer-co-led sexual health clinic for men who have sex with men, trans people and non-binary people, providing confidential, non-judgmental STI, HIV and BBV testing and treatment on an appointment-only basis.
• Freedom Centre Drop-in and peer-led support service for LGBTIQA+ young people aged 12-25, including community development, counselling and social events such as Queer Prom and Freedom Homecoming.
• HIV Support Services Comprehensive support for people living with HIV including case management (including rural and remote service access), peer support, counselling, and health enhancement programs delivered by the Allied Health Services team.
• Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) Free and low-cost sterile injecting equipment and safe disposal of used equipment for people who inject drugs, operated across nine sites in the Perth metro area (fixed sites in West Perth and Fremantle plus a mobile van visiting seven locations) with a postal service for regional and remote Western Australia. Includes naloxone distribution and harm reduction education.
• Education and Training Services Tailored training programs covering HIV, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, sexual health, consent, stigma and discrimination, and sex positivity, delivered via workshops, guest speakers, webinars, events and consultancy to schools, healthcare providers, corporations and community organisations.
• Counselling Services Confidential counselling and emotional support for people living with HIV and LGBTIQA+ young people, focusing on relationships, gender, sexuality and related issues, with up to 10 sessions of 60 minutes offered on a free or capacity-based (sliding scale) basis.
• Free Condoms and Safe Sex Resources Distribution of free safe sex packs (condoms and lubricant) and dental dams to organisations and individuals throughout Western Australia, including at all WAAC venues, M Clinic, NSEP van, Freo XChange and Freedom Centre, with an online free condom map locator. Postal delivery available at a $25 delivery fee.
• Positive Speakers Bureau Educational program featuring speeches from people with lived experience of HIV, used to educate workforces around HIV stigma and discrimination.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000 unique clients served by M Clinic in first 4 years (by 2014)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Health WA and Kirby InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017WAAC partnered with the WA Department of Health and the Kirby Institute for the WA PrEP demonstration project, providing funding for 2,000 Western Australians to access PrEP. WAAC had advocated extensively for this outcome. The project helped eliminate new HIV transmission as part of zero-target goals.
• Dynamix and TIMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAAC collaborated with Dynamix and TIM to host a U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) Forum. Bruce Richman from the USA spoke about U=U, attended by 48 people from the HIV positive community and health/community services.
• Curtin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurtin University launched SOFA (Safer Options for Aggression) Projects in partnership with WAAC to identify support available for people who have suffered intimate partner violence. WAAC helps recruit volunteers and participants for online surveys, paid consultations, interviews, and focus groups.
• Positive Women VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAAC partnered with Positive Women Victoria to host 'The Body of Knowledge' photographic exhibition during Sexual Health Week 2009. The exhibition was aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination for people, particularly women, living with HIV.
• Positive Organisation Western Australia (POWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAAC and POWA jointly organise the WAAC & POWA Social Brunch, a dedicated social gathering for people living with HIV held on the second Saturday of every month at Hyde Park Hotel. POWA is led by openly HIV+ Western Australians.
• Fast-Track Cities Global InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Australia became the first state and Perth became only the second city in Australia to sign up to the Fast-Track Cities global initiative in 2021, aimed at getting to zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2030.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtH7WR16iDzyTfBsBLVMG-w
• Facebookfacebook.com/weareWAAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wearewaac
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearewaac

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 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 WAAC