Scripture Union NSW

What Scripture Union NSW does

Scripture Union NSW Limited is an Australian nonprofit Christian organization (ACNC-registered, company limited by guarantee) headquartered in Rydalmere, NSW. It is the NSW affiliate of the global Scripture Union movement founded in 1867, and has operated continuously in NSW public schools since the first ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship) group in 1935. The organization runs three core program lines: SU NSW Camps (school-holiday programs across NSW with activities spanning sports, arts, horse riding, and faith formation), SU NSW Missions (summer beach and holiday-park outreach along the NSW coast from Batemans Bay to Evans Head), and Schools ministry (ISCF groups in high schools and SUPA Clubs in primary schools, operated under NSW Department of Education Voluntary Student Activity policy). Supporting resources include CHAT-A-BOX discussion cards, L.E.A.D. leadership training, NUA video curricula, Bible reading guides, and devotionals, distributed through the website and YouVersion. The Ready Set Go Grow (RSGG) framework is the internal safe-ministry approval and risk-management system covering all activities.

The organization is volunteer-driven, with approximately 10 paid staff at head office and a network of 3,000+ volunteers participating annually. Governance is provided by approximately 90 governing members who elect the Board of Directors, currently chaired by Kevin Chan (appointed 2024) with CEO Jim Wackett. Revenue is generated from individual donations (suggested tiers $90, $220, $430, with capacity for gifts over $10,000), bequests (formalized through a SafeWills partnership), governing membership fees ($50 full-time / $20 concession annually), and event registration fees (e.g., $10 per person for Christians in Public Education). The current EOFY appeal is targeting $500,000 over three years (2026-2029) to fund a strategic plan to double the number of Christian lunchtime groups in NSW schools. Scripture Union NSW is CMA-accredited and maintains Working with Children Check compliance across all volunteer and staff activities.

Name

Scripture Union NSW

Legal name

Scripture Union NSW Limited

Website

https://sunsw.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scripture Union NSW is an Australian nonprofit that runs Christian camps, summer beach missions, and lunchtime school groups across NSW, supported by 3,000+ volunteers and funded through donations, bequests, and membership fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Youth Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Christian youth ministry
• Faith-based youth camps
• School bible groups
• Beach mission outreach
• Church volunteer programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rydalmere

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, with suggested amounts of $90, $220, and $430. Also accepts larger donations over $10,000 through online portal. Donations support camps, missions, schools ministry, leadership development, and general operations.
2. Bequests: Gifts in Wills to SU NSW, marketed as 'living legacy' to ensure ongoing delivery of Christian ministries to future generations. Partnership with SafeWills online platform offering 50% discount for supporters leaving a bequest.
3. Governing Membership Fees: Annual governing membership fees of $50 for full-time workers or $20 for concession. Governing Members have special role in ensuring SU NSW holds true to its purposes through prayer and governance, and elect the Board of Directors.
4. Event Registration: Registration fees for events such as Christians in Public Education ($10 per person). Leadership Conference has associated costs for participants.
5. End of Financial Year Appeals: Annual EOFY fundraising campaign targeting $500,000 to expand school ministry work and double the number of Christian groups in schools across NSW.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Scripture Union NSW is a nonprofit Christian ministry that organizes and runs holiday camps, summer beach/holiday missions, and school-based lunchtime Bible groups (ISCF and SUPA Clubs) for children, young people and families across New South Wales. It also develops and distributes Christian discipleship resources (CHAT-A-BOX, L.E.A.D., NUA, Bible reading guides, devotionals) and hosts events such as the Leadership Conference and Christians in Public Education, all delivered through a trained volunteer network.

Product overview

Scripture Union NSW operates as a Christian charitable organization offering a portfolio of ministry programs and resources. The core offerings include Camps (holiday programs with activities like fishing, sports, and arts), Missions (beach and coastal outreach programs), and Schools Ministry (ISCF groups in high schools and SUPA Clubs in primary schools). Supporting resources include CHAT-A-BOX discussion cards, L.E.A.D. leadership training, NUA video studies, Bible reading guides, and devotionals. The organization also runs annual Leadership Conference events and uses the Ready Set Go Grow operational framework for ministry approval and safety compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship): Lunchtime Christian groups in high schools for students to read the Bible, pray, encourage one another in faith, and share the gospel with peers.
• SUPA Clubs
• SUFM (Surf Mission)
• SUFM (Scripture Union Fellowship Mission)
• L.E.A.D.
• CHAT-A-BOX

Products and services

• SU NSW Camps Overnight and day camps for children, young people, and families held during school holidays across NSW, featuring activities such as fishing, arts and crafts, sports, computing, cooking, and horse riding, with Christian faith learning woven throughout.
• SU NSW Missions (SUFM Beach/Holiday Missions) Beach and holiday destination missions where volunteer teams run family-friendly activities and share the Christian gospel with holidaymakers across NSW coastal areas, including the Summerlife tent-based mission.
• ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship) Lunchtime Bible study and prayer groups operating in NSW public high schools since 1935, providing opportunities for students to explore Christianity, read the Bible, pray, and grow in faith, facilitated by volunteer leaders with principal permission and parental consent.
• SUPA Clubs Lunchtime Christian groups in NSW public primary schools, offering fun, inclusive environments where children can explore faith through age-appropriate activities.
• CHAT-A-BOX A set of 40 double-sided discussion cards covering topics relevant to teenagers, designed for use in ISCF groups, youth groups, or small group settings to facilitate conversations about faith and biblical topics; also available as reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app.
• L.E.A.D. (Leadership Encouragement and Development) A seven-session training program designed to equip young Christian leaders for group leadership contexts, covering foundational, practical, pastoral, and sustainable aspects of Christian leadership.
• NUA Video-based resource series for high school students that encourages questions about faith, acknowledges doubt, and offers engaging perspectives on Christianity.
• Bible Reading Guides (including WordLive and Return to Real) Guides to help individuals and groups read and engage with the Bible daily, including the 'Return to Real' paper Bible reading guide and the WordLive online devotional resource.
• SU NSW Devotionals Published devotional materials including 'Sharing God', 'The Love of God', and 'Connection with God', designed for personal and group spiritual growth.
• Leadership Conference (Tamworth) Annual five-day conference held in Tamworth for high school student leaders in years 9-12, providing training in theology, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership coaching.
• Christians in Public Education (CiPE) Annual gathering for Christian teachers, parents, SRE volunteers, and chaplains to unite, pray, and encourage one another in their witness within NSW public schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 people of all ages involved in SU NSW ministries annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SafeWillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafeWills is an online platform partnered with Scripture Union NSW to help supporters write their Will online with 50% discount. By including Scripture Union NSW in their Will, supporters can help continue sharing the Good News of Jesus to children, young people and families for generations to come.
• SU Global (Scripture Union International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScripture Union NSW is part of Scripture Union International, a worldwide community united by a shared mission to help children, young people and families meet Jesus through the Bible. The global movement was founded in 1867.
• NSW Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScripture Union NSW operates within NSW public schools as Voluntary Student Activities (VSAs) with departmental policy support and principal permission, having maintained a 90+ year relationship with the Department.
• Various Denominational ChurchescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScripture Union NSW works with churches across multiple denominations including Anglican, Baptist, Uniting Church, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, and independent churches to recruit volunteers and support ministry activities.
• Moore Theological CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard Chair Kevin Chan holds B.Div from Moore Theological College. SU NSW maintains connections with theological colleges for staff and volunteer training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scripture Union England & Wales: Original founding entity of the global Scripture Union movement (1867). Operates the same model of school Bible groups, camps, missions and volunteer-driven Christian ministry, providing direct international comparability.
• Scripture Union Australia: The national federal body of the same interdenominational Scripture Union movement in Australia. Directly comparable mission, volunteer model, school and camp ministries, and donor base as the parent affiliate of SU NSW.
• Youth for Christ Australia: Faith-based nonprofit running youth outreach programs, school ministries and volunteer-led mission teams in Australia. Overlapping target audience (young people), volunteer model, and Christian evangelism focus.
• Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) Australia: Global Christian ministry focused on evangelism of children through Good News Clubs, school outreach, and volunteer teacher networks. Closely comparable model of school-based volunteer-led faith formation for children.
• Scripture Union Victoria: State-level sister Scripture Union movement in Victoria, running camps, school groups, and missions under the same brand and methodology. Direct operational peer with shared national funding context.

Regional players

• Baptist Youth NSW: Denominational youth ministry arm operating within NSW Baptist churches, including school holiday missions and youth camps. Comparable church-partnered volunteer-driven youth ministry model in the same geography.
• Catholic Schools NSW Youth Ministry: Catholic systemic school-affiliated youth ministry programs operating across NSW schools. Comparable faith formation work in NSW school settings with overlapping regulatory and safeguarding framework.
• Anglican Youthworks: Anglican diocese-affiliated youth and children's ministry in NSW/ACT running school chaplaincy, holiday programs, and training. Comparable regional youth ministry footprint in NSW with similar school-access channels.

Emerging players

• Compassion Australia: Faith-based child sponsorship nonprofit operating in Australia with similar donation-driven revenue model, child-focused mission, and Christian donor ecosystem. Comparable fundraising mechanics rather than direct program overlap.
• OneHope Australia: Faith-based organization distributing Christian content and curriculum to schools and youth globally. Comparable mission of reaching young people in school settings with Bible-based resources and donor-funded distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/scriptureunionnsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunsw
• Instagraminstagram.com/su_nsw/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunsw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Scripture Union NSW