Annual Report 2025
The year at A Start in Life, 2024/25
This was a year of building strong foundations. We refined how we work, improved how we capture and use data, and set A Start in Life up for steady growth, so more students can keep learning when money is tight at home.
133 students took part in our three programs, at 78 schools, universities and TAFEs, and student assistance rose to $988,726.
Kathleen Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, with the President and Board
Everything below comes from the 20-page report, written out here so it works with screen readers and search.
Student story
Hanna is building her future one step at a time
Hanna moved out of home at 16 and supported herself through her final years of school. She joined A Start in Life in Year 12, finished with an ATAR of 89.25, and is now studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science, with help for rent, transport and textbooks along the way.
The financial support has alleviated so much of the pressure of having to work.
The year at a glance
- students supported across three programs
- 133
- given directly to students as assistance
- $988,726
- schools, universities and TAFEs attended
- 78
- average school attendance, Primary and Secondary Program
- 93%
Source: A Start in Life Annual Report 2025, pages 2 to 5 and 14.
Our three programs
- Primary and Secondary Program: 63 students, 93% average attendance, 29 received tutoring
- Tertiary Program: 42 students, 7 graduated, 35% improved their grades, 76.31 average weighted mark
- Career and Skills Development Scholarship: 29 students, 100% satisfied, 71% said their career goals changed
Our community
- 55 new donors, including 25 from the Eastern Tunnelling Package
- More than 100 hours of in-kind support
- 2 supporters told us they plan to leave a gift in their Will
- Investment income made up 45.43% of operating income
Financials
A Start in Life receives no government funding. Support for students is sustained by donors, partners and income from investments built up over a century.
| Item | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,458,819 | 1,595,864 |
| Student assistance | (988,726) | (852,378) |
| Fundraising | (157,904) | (133,957) |
| Marketing | (105,047) | (74,176) |
| Banking, investment and accounting | (144,265) | (122,998) |
| Depreciation | – | (18,392) |
| Office and administration | (194,008) | (109,172) |
| Total expenses | (1,589,950) | (1,311,073) |
| Surplus/(deficit) for the year | (131,131) | 284,791 |
| Gain/(loss) on revaluation of financial assets | 782,589 | 531,608 |
| Loss of fair value of properties in use | – | (130,000) |
| Total comprehensive income before allocations | 651,458 | 686,399 |
| Allocations from capital funds | – | 632 |
| Allocations to capital funds | (604,547) | (653,889) |
| Total comprehensive income after allocations | 46,911 | 33,142 |
| Item | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | 13,850,677 | 13,184,193 |
| Total liabilities | 327,004 | 312,978 |
| Net assets | 13,523,673 | 12,871,215 |
- Student assistance62%
- Office and administration12%
- Fundraising10%
- Banking, investment and accounting9%
- Marketing7%
Share of total expenses of $1,589,950, from the statement of profit or loss.
Help the next student start strong
Every figure on this page began with a donor. A gift today helps a student from a family doing it tough stay at school and reach their goals.
31 December 2025
