Who we help
The people behind the numbers.
Through The Ropes is open to anyone life has pushed onto the ropes. These pages look at the groups we can reach, how many people that is in Australia, and where a boxing and mentoring programme can genuinely make a difference.
Group by group.
Every figure links to its source: the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Productivity Commission and other public research.
People in and leaving prison
46,998Adults in prison in Australia. Six in ten have been in prison before. The weeks after release matter most.
See the numbersYoung people at risk
4,147Young people under youth justice supervision on an average day. Four in five are supervised in the community, where a mentor can be part of everyday life.
See the numbersFamily and domestic violence
1 in 4Women who have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Recovery needs safety, strength and people.
See the numbersAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
983,700Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a young, growing population and the oldest continuing cultures on Earth.
See the numbersPeople with disability
5.5 millionAustralians with disability, one in five of us. Many face barriers to sport, work and community.
See the numbersPeople looking for work
732,000Australians unemployed in September 2026. Young people are hit hardest.
See the numbersPeople living in poverty
3.7 millionPeople below the poverty line: 1 in 7 Australians, including 757,000 children.
See the numbersAlcohol and other drugs
127,800People in alcohol and other drug treatment in a year, and many more who need it. Recovery needs a new routine and new people.
See the numbersPeople experiencing homelessness
122,494People experiencing homelessness on Census night 2021. Most were not sleeping rough.
See the numbersMental health
4.3 millionAustralians with a mental disorder in the past year. Movement and connection help.
See the numbersVeterans
581,139Australians who have served in the ADF. The move to civilian life can be the toughest posting.
See the numbers
People, not labels
Nobody is just a statistic.
Many people sit in more than one of these groups at once. Leaving prison, looking for work, finding a home and staying well are often the same journey. That is why the programme works on the whole person: habits, health, belonging and a next step.
We use person-first, strengths-based language, and we work alongside specialist services rather than replacing them. If you're a participant, start with Who it's for.
Partner with us.
Services, funders and community groups: let's build a cohort for the people you work with.
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status pending.