Annual Report 2023
The year at A Start in Life, 2022/23
In our centenary year, A Start in Life launched the Career and Skills Development Scholarship and lifted assistance to students by 10.5%, while operating costs rose 5.5%.
Students came from 57 schools and 12 universities and TAFEs across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and attendance among primary and secondary students rose by 11% on average.
From the report of Allan Elliott, President, and Neil Robinson, Chief Executive Officer
Everything below comes from the 20-page report, written out here so it works with screen readers and search.
A Start in Life's continuous academic assistance has allowed me to delve deeper into my potential career progression.
Student story
Reina is studying medical science while caring for her family
Reina is the main carer for her younger sister and her mother, while studying a Bachelor of Medical Science and Business. Since our support began in 2022, her weighted average mark has risen by more than 15%, and she has landed an internship at a medical biotech company.
The year at a glance
- given directly to students, up 10.5%
- $814,525
- schools, plus 12 universities and TAFEs
- 57
- average weighted mark for tertiary students
- 76.91
- average rise in attendance, primary and secondary students
- 11%
Source: A Start in Life Annual Report 2023, pages 6, 10, 14, 16 and 17.
Tertiary students
- 46% improved their weighted average mark
- 42% were completing a double degree
- 251 subjects studied, with only 6 failed
- 100% of TAFE students achieved Competent
- 82% of 2022 first year students continued with support in 2023
Who we supported
- Kindergarten to Year 6 15%, Years 7 to 10 26%, Years 11 and 12 15%, tertiary 35%, Career and Skills Development Scholarship 9%
- 69% of students from city areas and 31% from the country
- The Career and Skills Development Scholarship launched in April 2023 with a pilot group of Year 9 students
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 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,485,896 | 1,656,466 |
| Student assistance | (814,525) | (737,038) |
| Fundraising | (94,189) | (95,762) |
| Marketing | (51,911) | (57,326) |
| Banking, investment and accounting | (121,262) | (104,461) |
| Depreciation | (6,131) | (6,131) |
| Office and administration | (86,062) | (77,073) |
| Total expenses | (1,174,080) | (1,077,791) |
| Surplus for the year | 311,816 | 578,675 |
| Gain/(loss) on revaluation of financial assets | 414,810 | (856,792) |
| Total comprehensive income/(loss) before allocations | 726,626 | (278,117) |
| Allocations from capital funds | 198 | 300,998 |
| Allocations to capital funds | (714,810) | (26,334) |
| Total comprehensive income/(loss) after allocations | 12,014 | (3,453) |
| Item | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | 12,478,364 | 11,780,023 |
| Total liabilities | 294,118 | 320,403 |
| Net assets | 12,184,246 | 11,459,620 |
- Student assistance69%
- Banking, investment and accounting10%
- Fundraising8%
- Office and administration7%
- Marketing4%
- Depreciation1%
Share of total expenses of $1,174,080, 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 2023
