Australian Children's Activities Association

What Australian Children's Activities Association does

The Australian Children's Activities Association (ACAA) is a national, membership-based industry association established in 2020 and incorporated as Australian Children's Activities Association Pty Ltd in Australia. ACAA supports children's activity providers — including dance teachers, football coaches, drama teachers, music teachers, swim coaches, party entertainers, and franchised children's activity networks — through three pillars: education, advocacy, and community. The association was co-founded by Elise Easdown (founder of What's On 4 Kids, an occupational therapist by training) and Ross Gage (founder of RG Social Enterprises Club, ~30 years in the children's activities sector), and positions itself as the first national association of its kind for the Australian industry.

ACAA's core product is an annual membership priced at A$495 per single business provider (or A$49.50 monthly), with custom discounted rates for franchise organizations and multi-location operators. The technology platform is low-proprietary: a WordPress-based website with membership-management functionality, Zoom-delivered virtual events, and a member-only Facebook group. There is no proprietary software, mobile app, or public API; the bulk of the value delivery sits in the association's content, events, advocacy, and community moderation rather than software IP. Complementary revenue streams include ticket sales for symposium recordings (~A$99) and conference tickets (A$150-A$250), plus conference sponsorships and exhibition fees.

The go-to-market motion is hybrid community-led and direct-to-consumer: ACAA acquires members via content marketing on its website, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), monthly email newsletters, free resource opt-ins, and industry events. Strategic partnerships expand reach, including with the International Association of Child Development Programs (USA, 2020), What's On 4 Kids (co-marketing and co-hosting the annual conference), the Institute of Children's Activity Providers (UK), the Children's Activities Association (UK), Marketing to Mums, and software vendor Enrolmy (NZ). ACAA produces a portfolio of recurring programs — monthly masterclasses, member resource library, members' directory, Australian Children's Activities Week, the annual Symposium, and the annual Conference — that collectively serve as both retention mechanics and standalone revenue events.

Name

Australian Children's Activities Association

Legal name

Australian Children's Activities Association Pty Ltd

Website

https://childrensactivities.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Australian Children's Activities Association is a 2020-founded national trade association supporting children's activity providers across Australia through paid memberships, advocacy, education programs, and industry events. It serves SMBs and franchise networks in dance, sport, music, and educational children's activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Primary revenue stream from annual membership fees. Single business providers pay $495 annually or $49.50 monthly. Multi-provider and franchisor arrangements receive discounted rates.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue from ticketed events including the annual symposium and conference. Non-members pay for symposium recordings ($99) and conference tickets ($150-$250).
3. Conference Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay for exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the annual Australian Children's Activities Conference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Australian Children's Activities Association (ACAA) is a membership-based trade association that supports children's activity providers in Australia through education, advocacy, and community. Members (priced at $495 annually or $49.50 monthly) receive access to monthly masterclasses, Q&A interviews, exclusive industry discounts, compliance assistance, grant guidance, child protection resources, government advocacy, and a private member community. The association also operates the annual Australian Children's Activities Conference, the multi-day virtual ACAA Symposium, and Australian Children's Activities Week (ACAW).

Product overview

The Australian Children's Activities Association (ACAA) is a membership-based industry association providing a unified platform for children's activity providers in Australia. The core offering is the ACAA Membership ($495/year), which grants access to education (masterclasses, webinars, resource library), advocacy services, and a member community. The portfolio includes complementary programs: the annual Australian Children's Activities Conference, the ACAA Symposium virtual event, and Australian Children's Activities Week (ACAW) for industry celebration. Additional member benefits include the Members' Directory for business visibility and exclusive discounts on events and supplier partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACAA Membership Annual subscription membership for children's activity providers in Australia, providing education (masterclasses, webinars, resource library), advocacy with government and media, community access via members-only Facebook group, exclusive supplier and software discounts, compliance and child protection resources, grant access guidance, and the ACAA member logo. Single business providers pay $495 annually or $49.50 monthly; multi-provider and franchisor arrangements receive discounted rates.
• Australian Children's Activities Conference Annual in-person business and networking conference for children's activities providers across Australia, featuring industry speakers, masterclasses, panel discussions, and round table sessions on marketing, PR, team building, and business strategy. Conference tickets priced at $150 for entry (including presentations, meals, and parking), with higher tiers up to $250; What's On 4 Kids nominees receive 10% discount. Corporate sponsors pay for exhibition and sponsorship opportunities.
• ACAA Symposium Multi-day virtual symposium featuring industry leaders and international speakers delivering presentations and panel discussions on business development topics for children's activities providers (marketing, school readiness, admin reduction, business growth). Non-members can purchase access to symposium recordings for $99 (tax-deductible, proceeds support the Australian Children's Activities Foundation).

Quantifiable outcome

• Members receive ongoing access to expert business advice, compliance support, and networking opportunities designed to improve business outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Association of Child Development Programs (IACDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2020ACAA's first Partner Association is the USA-based International Association of Child Development Programs (IACDP). The partnership aims to better the ACAA member experience and grow the Australian children's activities sector globally. ACAA Director Ross Gage and IACDP CEO Frank Sahlein have enjoyed a successful working relationship for over 15 years.
• Institute of Children's Activity ProvidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based professional association providing professional advice and support for children's activity providers. Collaborating with kindred organisations on advocacy and best practices.
• What's On 4 KidscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian marketing platform for children's activities businesses. Co-hosts the annual Australian Children's Activities Conference in collaboration with What's On 4 Kids Awards, providing significant marketing reach within the industry.
• Marketing to MumsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing consultancy specializing in helping brands sell to mothers. Advisory board member Katrina McCarter provides expertise on marketing to the primary customer demographic of children's activity providers.
• Children's Activities Association (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based children's activities association for collaboration on industry standards and advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Activities Association (UK): UK-based trade association for children's activity providers, explicitly named as an ACAA partnership peer. Same model — education, advocacy, and community for activity providers — in a parallel geography.
• Institute of Children's Activity Providers (UK): UK-based professional association providing professional advice and support for children's activity providers, listed by ACAA as a collaboration partner. Operates a near-identical value proposition of advocacy, training, and best-practice sharing.
• International Association of Child Development Programs (IACDP): USA-based association and ACAA's first Partner Association. Closest international counterpart in terms of industry focus, advocacy remit, and member-services model.
• Gymnastics Clubs Australia: Australian national association established by ACAA co-founder Ross Gage. Directly comparable as a vertical-specific children's activity trade body in Australia, narrower scope (gymnastics only).
• National AfterSchool Association (NAA): US-based membership association for after-school and out-of-school-time activity providers. Comparable member profile (SMB activity providers), advocacy mission, and conference/membership model.
• Playgroup Australia: National membership organisation supporting playgroup providers and family engagement. Same member-funded, advocacy-driven structure as ACAA but focused on playgroups rather than paid activity providers.

Broad incumbents

• Early Childhood Australia: Australia's peak early childhood advocacy body. Broader in scope than ACAA but analogous in operating a membership/advocacy/community model targeting providers serving young children.
• Australian Sports Commission: Australian federal government body overseeing sport, including grants and policy for children's sport. Overlaps with ACAA's advocacy remit at a national level but covers all sport rather than children's activity providers specifically.
• Sport Australia: Government agency focused on sport participation and industry development. Adjacent in advocacy and industry support remit; ACAA engages with government at similar levels on children's activity issues.

Others

• What's On 4 Kids (Australia): Australian marketing platform and awards program for children's activities businesses, co-founded by ACAA's co-founder Elise Easdown. Not a peer association but an adjacent ecosystem player — co-hosts ACAA's conference and serves overlapping SMB audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/ChildrensActivitiesAU
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrensActivitiesAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-children-s-activities-association-acaa
• Instagraminstagram.com/childrensactivitiesau

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 Australian Children's Activities Association