2025 Snapshot
- 469 Making a Difference participants supported through 10 targeted wellbeing programs
- 100% of placements subsidised, with $182 invested by us into every child to remove financial barriers.
- 64% of participants attended on full scholarship places, removing 100% of financial barriers.
- 161 active volunteers mobilised logging 23,856 hours of dedicated care.
- Thats $1,032,249 in pro bono service value injected directly into program execution.
Bringing That Impact to Life
These numbers represent the community engine driving everything we do. How we translate this support into real-world change brings us directly to our core focus.
Our Purpose
At The Portsea Camp, children and young people embark on unforgettable adventures, form meaningful connections, develop essential life skills, and create lasting memories.
We Deliver Our Impact Through:
- Making a Difference (M.A.D) Programs: A suite of wellbeing programs designed to meet young people where they are, fostering resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
- School Camps: Curriculum-aligned camps for the education sector supporting student growth, outdoor learning, and cohort connection.
- Respite Accommodation & Programs: Dedicated spaces and support for carers and vulnerable families.
- Youth Leadership Program: Dedicated pathways empowering young people to build leadership skills, agency, and confidence.
Why is this important?
The Changing Reality of Childhood
For an increasing number of Australian children, school camp and outdoor play are becoming out of reach. When household budgets tighten, the experiences that build confidence, independence, and wellbeing are often the first to go.
The national pressure is arriving directly at our front door:
50%
Of Australian school-aged children are missing out on camp altogether.
1 in 4
Children arrive to our Making A Difference programs from families living on under $30,000 per year.
1 in 5
Children arrive at our Making A Difference programs with recent or documented trauma.
39%
Of our Making a Difference participants arrive living with neurodiversity or mental health conditions.
We cannot change everything a child goes home to. But we can interrupt chronic stress, build emotional muscle, and offer a space where vulnerable children can experience care without judgment, proving that moments of joy and safety are possible.
What Changed For Children
The Measurable Shift (2025 Impact Data)
Before a child can navigate the world, they need to feel capable within themselves. Across our 2025 programs, parents and carers reported profound shifts in our young participants:
61%
Increase in Resilience
Improved emotional regulation, coping skills, and recovery when things feel difficult.
33%
Increase in Confidence
Increased self-belief, independence, and willingness to try new things.
41%
Increase in Self-Awareness
Stronger understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
77%
Decrease in Anxiety
A dramatic drop in overall home anxiety reported by families.
Hear from our community
Heartfelt stories from our team, campers, and partners who have experienced and supported the magic of The Portsea Camp. Their stories highlight the profound impact our camp has had on their lives.
How can you help?
The Economics of Impact (2025 Financial Year)
Based on our 2025 financial data, it costs $1,431 to deliver safe, high-quality, outcomes-driven M.A.D programs for one child. Because we subsidise every single camper placement, no child pays the true full cost.
Thanks to our social enterprise model and generous community support, we can keep these doors open – and through the proven outcomes of our programs, every $1.00 invested generates between $2.00 and $2.50 in measurable social value.
The need is growing, schools are stretched, and more children are waiting. Your support helps open the door for a child who might otherwise miss out. Dive deeper into the data and stories by exploring our full publication.