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Personal Welfare Services in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC Q8790

Revenue

$39.4bn

2024-25

$39.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

366k

Businesses

24,405

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Personal Welfare Services in Australia industry analysis

The Personal Welfare Services industry provides community and welfare services to disadvantaged individuals, including children, the elderly and Australians with long-term disabilities. The industry’s services include those designed to assist the frail and disabled in community settings, thereby circumventing the need for institutional care. As such it plays a key role in the wider care and support economy, one of Australia's fastest growing sectors and a key focus area of the current Labor Government. 

Trends and Insights

  • The industry provides social assistance services to disadvantaged individuals, including children, those with a disability and the elderly. However, ongoing funding shortfalls have constrained its efforts in recent years.
  • The industry provides various social support services directly to vulnerable Australians, including children, teenagers, families, the elderly and individuals in need. Many social support services are provided to people with little or no financial resources.
  • Welfare services expenditure largely reflects the population distribution. Demographic factors, housing costs and general economic conditions in specific areas may also influence demand and expenditure on relevant community services.
  • The industry relies on a combination of government funding and fundraising, including funds raised from donations and selling goods. These funding sources influence the basis of competition within the industry.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $39.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Socio-economic variables influence demand patterns

  • The Personal Welfare Services industry has expanded significantly over the past few years, bolstered by strong demand and supply variables.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Personal Welfare Services in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Growth drivers are set to sustain demand for social assistance services

  • Government policies prioritising community-based care services will continue to work in the industry’s favour. The Federal Government is currently developing a National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy, which will include a road map for developing a sustainable and productive care and support economy. This includes aged care, veteran's care, and disability care and support. Reforms are now underway to support this.

Biggest companies in the Personal Welfare Services in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Salvation Army Australia
595.0
Smith Family
173.5
Australian Red Cross
155.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Personal Welfare Services in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Advocacy and counselling services, Aged care assistance and Disability support services. Advocacy and counselling services is the largest segment of the Personal Welfare Services in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Disability assistance services are increasingly provided under the NDIS

  • Various industry organisations provide specialist disability services, which include community support services, community access services, respite care services, employment services and programs providing advocacy, information and alternative forms of communication.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Personal Welfare Services industry provides social support services directly to clients. These services include adoption services, aged-care assistance, disabilities assistance, youth welfare and welfare counselling services. Industry services do not include accommodation services, except on a short-stay basis.

What's included in this industry?

Advocacy and counselling servicesDisabilities assistance servicesAged care assistance servicesOther social assistance services

Companies

Salvation Army AustraliaSmith FamilyAustralian Red Cross

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMMONWEALTH HOME SUPPORT PROGRAMME (CHSP)UNDEREMPLOYMENTNATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME (NDIS)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 8790 - Personal Welfare Services in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry provides social assistance services to disadvantaged individuals, including children, those with a disability and the elderly. However, ongoing funding shortfall...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The industry provides various social support services directly to vulnerable Australians, including children, teenagers, families, the elderly and individuals in need. Many s...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Welfare services expenditure largely reflects the population distribution. Demographic factors, housing costs and general economic conditions in specific areas may also influ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry relies on a combination of government funding and fundraising, including funds raised from donations and selling goods. These funding sources influence the basis...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Just under 95% of industry enterprises employ fewer than 20 people or are non-employing. Even larger personal welfare providers only command a small proportion of the market....

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Salvation Army Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Smith Family's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Australian Red Cross's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Salvation Army Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Smith Family, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Australian Red Cross, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

With the industry heavily reliant on government funding, any changes in social assistance programs can affect the industry’s performance. However, funding shortfalls also mea...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchases and wages are the primary costs for personal welfare providers. Organisations that rely on donations and fundraising for additional funding on top of government gra...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia is $39.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Personal Welfare Services in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 24,405 businesses in the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 31.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 6.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Personal Welfare Services market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Personal Welfare Services market in Australia are Salvation Army Australia, Smith Family and Australian Red Cross

What does the Personal Welfare Services in Australia include?

Advocacy and counselling services and Disabilities assistance services are part of the Personal Welfare Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Personal Welfare Services in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Salvation Army Australia.

How competitive is the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Personal Welfare Services industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Crisis and Care Accommodation in Australia
  • Religious Services in Australia
  • Community Associations and Other Interest Groups in Australia
  • Community Services in Australia

International industries

  • Adoption & Child Welfare Services in the US
  • Elderly & Disabled Services in the US
  • Family Counseling & Crisis Intervention Services in the US
  • Community Food Services in the US
  • Adult Day Care in the US

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.