✔ ACNC Registered Charity  |  DGR Endorsed  |  Public Benevolent Institution
Empowering Communities Since 2008
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About AusCongo Network

Who We Are

AusCongo Network is a grassroots, not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo and among Congolese people in Australia — through sustainable, community-led development.

📋 ACN at a Glance

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2008, Brisbane QLD
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Pastor Constantin Mukendi
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Registered Charity & Incorporated NFP
🇦🇺
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Mbuji-Mayi, DRC
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10 community development programs
13 supports across Brisbane & Ipswich
Our Story

From a Dream to a Movement

AusCongo Network began in 2008 when Pastor Constantin Mukendi arrived in Brisbane and noticed something troubling — Congolese Australians were sending money home to family in the DRC, but that money wasn't creating lasting change. It was consumed by immediate needs and left families just as vulnerable as before.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." — the proverb that changed everything.

Inspired by this idea, Pastor Constantin founded ACN not as an aid organisation, but as a development organisation. Instead of sending money, ACN would send skills, training, knowledge, and opportunity.

Today, ACN operates a community centre in Mbuji-Mayi staffed by six local employees, running 10 development programs that have transformed over 1,500 lives. In Australia, ACN supports the Congolese-Australian community through NDIS disability support services delivered across Brisbane and Ipswich.

Read Our Full Story →
ACN community members in Mbuji-Mayi — the story behind the organisation
What We Do

Two Countries. One Mission.

ACN works simultaneously in Australia and the DRC — with programs tailored to the needs of each community we serve.

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DRC Community Development

We run 10 community development programs at our centre in Mbuji-Mayi — covering agriculture, livestock, health, small business, sewing, youth, cultural programs, and more. Our approach uses the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) method, identifying and building on community strengths rather than focusing on deficits.

Explore Programs →

NDIS Support Services

In Australia, ACN provides 13 registered NDIS support services across Brisbane and Ipswich QLD — including daily personal activities, community nursing, employment support, group activities, and supported independent living. We serve all Australians with disability, with particular cultural competence for Congolese and African-Australian participants.

View NDIS Services →
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Community Connection

ACN connects the Congolese-Australian diaspora with their homeland through cultural events like the annual Congoflavour Festival, membership programs, volunteering opportunities, and fundraising campaigns — building a proud, connected community on both sides of the world.

Get Involved →
Our Impact

17 Years of Measurable Change

Since 2008, ACN has grown from a small community initiative into a two-nation development organisation. Every number below represents real people whose lives have been transformed through skill, connection, and community-led change.

We are proudly volunteer-run in Australia, with all Australian operational funds going towards our programs in the DRC and supporting Congolese Australians here at home.

See Our Projects →
1,500+
Lives Transformed
10
DRC Programs
13
NDIS Services
17+
Years of Service
ACN impact — community transformation through development programs
Our Structure

How ACN Is Organised

ACN is a lean, volunteer-powered organisation with a clear structure that keeps costs low and impact high.

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Incorporated Association

ACN is incorporated in Queensland and registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

🇦🇺 ACNC Registered
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Volunteer Board

Our board of directors provides strategic oversight and governance. All board members are unpaid volunteers committed to ACN's mission.

🙋 100% Volunteer-Led
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DRC Community Centre

In Mbuji-Mayi, ACN operates a community centre with six local staff who deliver our 10 development programs daily on the ground.

🇨🇩 Mbuji-Mayi, DRC

NDIS Registered Provider

ACN is a registered NDIS provider delivering 13 disability support services across Brisbane and Ipswich to all Australians with disability.

✅ NDIS Registered
Our History

The ACN Journey

From a single idea in Brisbane to programs changing lives across two nations.

2008

ACN Founded in Brisbane

Pastor Constantin Mukendi establishes AusCongo Network with a vision to move beyond remittances toward sustainable community development in the DRC.

2010

Community Centre Opens in Mbuji-Mayi

ACN establishes its first community centre in Mbuji-Mayi, DRC — the operational hub for all development programs in the Congo.

2013

First Congoflavour Festival

ACN launches the Congoflavour Festival in Brisbane — an annual celebration of Congolese culture that raises vital funds for DRC programs.

2016

Partnership with World Relief Australia

ACN formalises its strategic partnership with World Relief Australia, expanding program reach and strengthening international governance.

2021

NDIS Registration & Relief Wakes Launch

ACN registers as an NDIS provider, launching disability support services across Brisbane and Ipswich to support Australians with disability.

2025

10 Programs, 1,500+ Lives Transformed

ACN now operates 10 development programs in Mbuji-Mayi and 13 NDIS services in Australia — 17 years of continuous community-led transformation.

Now You Know Who We Are — Join Us

Whether you donate, volunteer, become a member, or simply spread the word — you become part of the ACN story. Every contribution matters.