PLACE KOALA

What PLACE KOALA does

Place Koala is a Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) headquartered in Cornwall, Ontario, serving children and youth under 19 who are alleged victims or witnesses of abuse across the City of Cornwall, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, and the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. The centre was founded in 2014 (originally as PrévAction, rebranded to Koala Place in March 2014) and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a free, child-focused facility that brings police, child protection, medical, mental health, and victim services under one roof. Its core services are forensic interviews conducted away from police stations in a warm, non-intimidating environment, supported by state-of-the-art audio/video recording equipment whose outputs are usable as evidence in court proceedings, an emotional support dog (Joy), and a Child and Youth Support Specialist (added in 2021) who provides ongoing case management and system navigation. Multilingual video tours (English, French, Spanish, Mohawk, Arabic) reflect the linguistic diversity of the catchment area.

The organization's technology stack is narrow and domain-specialized: it centers on forensic interview recording equipment that preserves child disclosures for judicial use, reducing the trauma of repeated retelling. There is no digital platform, app, or API, and the centre maintains only a basic web presence (Facebook and YouTube) for educational content on recognizing abuse, human trafficking awareness, and internet safety. All services are delivered free of charge to children, youth, and families; there is no consumer-facing pricing or transactional revenue.

Place Koala's business model is that of a registered Canadian charity (Registration No. 85148 3453 RR0001) funded primarily by the Department of Justice Canada Victims Fund through the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre funding stream, supplemented by monetary and in-kind community donations. It has no direct consumer acquisition motion — families are referred exclusively by partner agencies including Cornwall Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, the Children's Aid Society of S.D. & G., Akwesasne Child and Family Services, and Victim Services of S.D.G. & A. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of community leaders and partner-agency representatives, and operations are anchored by 20+ multi-disciplinary partner organizations that form the operational backbone of its service delivery.

Name

PLACE KOALA

Legal name

Place Koala

Website

https://koalaplace.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Place Koala is a Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Cornwall, Ontario that provides free forensic interviews and trauma-informed support services to children and youth under 19 affected by abuse, serving Cornwall, S.D.&G., and Akwesasne via institutional referrals from police, child protection, and victim services partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Youth Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJAEAJ

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

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Alternative & At-Risk K–12 Education (Continuation, Recovery, Juvenile)

SECONDARYEDAJAEAC

Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Alternative & At-Risk K–12 Education (Continuation, Recovery, Juvenile)

SECONDARYEDAAADAH

Family & School System Navigation (Parent Engagement, Youth Services)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Forensic interview services
• Youth victim support
• Trauma-informed care
• Child abuse response

Headquarters

HQ city

Cornwall

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Justice Canada Victims Fund through the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre funding stream, which is available to all CYACs across Canada.
2. Monetary Donations: Charitable donations from community businesses and private donors. Tax receipts issued for donations over $10. Registration number: 85148 3453 RR0001.
3. In-Kind Donations: Accepts tangible items such as teddy bears, blankets, snacks, fidget toys, and other items needed for the centre's operations and family support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Place Koala is a Child and Youth Advocacy Centre that provides forensic interviews and coordinated multi-disciplinary support services to children and youth under age 19 who are victims or witnesses of abuse. Using state-of-the-art recording equipment, the centre conducts interviews that serve as evidence in judicial proceedings, eliminating the need for repeated retellings. A Child and Youth Support Specialist provides ongoing case management and emotional support to victims and non-offending family members.

Product overview

Koala Place is a single, unified Child and Youth Advocacy Centre that provides a comprehensive range of services for child abuse victims and witnesses. The core offering is the advocacy centre itself, which integrates forensic interview services with state-of-the-art recording equipment. The Child and Youth Support Specialist module (added in 2021) provides ongoing case management and emotional support. Additional supportive services include an emotional support dog (Joy), community resource referrals, and family-friendly waiting areas. Each child receives a teddy bear upon departure. The centre operates as a one-stop, child-focused facility available 24/7 to partner agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Koala Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre A child-friendly, confidential centre that provides a safe and neutral environment for children, youth, and non-offending family members to disclose abuse. Multi-disciplinary professionals conduct forensic interviews away from police stations in a warm, non-intimidating setting. Available 24/7 to partner agencies in Cornwall, S.D.&G., and Akwesasne.
• Forensic Interview Services State-of-the-art recording equipment preserves children's statements for use in the justice process, allowing children to tell their story only once and reducing trauma while expediting healing.
• Child and Youth Support Specialist

Quantifiable outcome

• Healing begins more quickly when children, youth and families impacted by abuse receive support from one place and tell their story once.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Children's Aid Society of S.D. & G.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary partner providing child protection services. Refer families to Koala Place for forensic interviews and coordinated response to abuse cases.
• Cornwall Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary law enforcement partner. Refer victims/witnesses to Koala Place for forensic interviews conducted in a child-friendly environment.
• Ontario Provincial Police of S.D. & G.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial police service partner serving the United Counties. Refer cases to Koala Place for coordinated response.
• Akwesasne Mohawk Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice service for the Mohawk territory of Akwesasne. Refer cases to Koala Place for forensic interviews.
• Akwesasne Child and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild protection agency for Akwesasne region. Refer families to Koala Place for services.
• Victim Services of S.D.G. & AcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to individuals victimized by crime. Partners with Koala Place for coordinated victim support.
• Laurencrest Youth Services Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization. Partner in providing comprehensive services to children and youth affected by abuse.
• Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support to victims and witnesses of crime throughout the judicial process. Coordinates with Koala Place on cases.
• Children's Treatment CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based agency committed to prevention and treatment of child abuse in Cornwall, S.D.&G. and Akwesasne. Provides assessment and treatment services.
• Inspire Community Support ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-service non-profit agency providing support services to children, youth, adults and families in Cornwall and S.D.&G.
• Sexual Assault Support Services for Women of S.D.G. & A. (SASS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization working to end sexual violence and support survivors. Coordinates referrals and support services.
• Cornwall Community Hospital – Child & Youth Counselling ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides assessment, therapy, support, counselling, and consultation services for children and youth with mental health needs.
• Cornwall Community Hospital – Assault and Sexual Abuse Program (ASAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital-based sexual assault/partner violence victim-care centre providing emergency care, counselling, referrals, and outreach.
• Probation and Parole ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal/provincial corrections service involved in cases where offenders are under supervision.
• Eastern Ontario Health UnitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health unit providing health services and information to residents of Eastern Ontario.
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social ServicescoreOthersProvincial ministry that provides funding and policy oversight for child welfare services in Ontario.
• Cornwall Crown Attorney's OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProsecution service for criminal cases. Uses forensic interview recordings from Koala Place in judicial proceedings.
• Legal Aid OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides legal aid to financially eligible individuals. Involved in cases where families may require legal representation.
• Canadian Mental Health Association – Champlain EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health association providing support and resources. Refer families needing mental health services.
• Akwesasne Community Justice ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based justice program for Akwesasne. Coordinates with Koala Place on cases involving Akwesasne residents.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide 24/7 e-mental-health service for young people — overlapping youth demographic and crisis-response positioning, but operating a national remote-first model rather than the in-person forensic interviewing niche served by Koala Place.
• Canadian Centre for Child Protection: National Canadian charity focused on child safety (including Cybertip.ca and Survivor Diaries) — thematically adjacent in child-welfare mission and federal advocacy, though focused on prevention and online safety rather than direct forensic interviewing.

Direct peers

• Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre: Edmonton-based CYAC offering forensic interviews, case management, and therapy services to child abuse victims — same multi-disciplinary, child-centred, Victims Fund-supported operating model as Koala Place.
• Western Manitoba Children's Advocacy Centre: Brandon, Manitoba CYAC operating the same child-first forensic interview and multi-disciplinary response model, also funded through the federal Victims Fund CYAC stream.
• Durham Children's Advocacy Centre: Oshawa, Ontario CYAC providing forensic interviews and coordinated investigation for child abuse victims in the Durham Region — same multi-agency partnership structure and federal funding model.
• BOOST Child & Youth Advocacy Centre: Toronto-based CYAC serving abused children through forensic interviewing, family advocacy, and trauma therapy — a directly comparable Ontario peer operating under the same federal CYAC funding stream.
• Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre: Calgary-based Child & Youth Advocacy Centre delivering forensic interviews and multi-disciplinary response to child abuse in Alberta — directly comparable CYAC model funded by Justice Canada / Victims Fund with similar referral-driven intake architecture.

Broad incumbents

• National Children's Alliance: U.S. umbrella accrediting body for 900+ Child Advocacy Centres, including the Huntsville, Alabama model that originated the global CYAC movement in 1985 — the standards and network authority that shapes the operating model Koala Place implements in Canada.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@koalaplace3336
• Facebookfacebook.com/koalaplace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 PLACE KOALA