What Maxima Group does

Maxima is a national, not-for-profit, for-purpose employment services organisation founded in 1985 and headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. It is governed by a Board of Management and led by CEO Kate Thiele, with a stated mission of helping people into meaningful employment so all Australians can participate fully in community and economic life. Operations span approximately 70 offices across all Australian states and territories, delivered through direct service and remote-servicing models, serving both job seekers — including people with disability, injury or health condition, First Nations peoples, school leavers, apprentices, trainees, and career changers — and employers ranging from SMEs through to large corporates and government agencies.

The core product set centres on four pillars: Apprenticeships and Traineeships delivered as a Group Training Organisation across 300+ occupations; Temporary and Permanent Employment recruitment; Inclusive Employment Australia (the rebranded Disability Employment Services program) providing wraparound workplace support; and Indigenous Employment Programs including traineeships, cadetships (notably with Westpac), and dedicated First Nations recruitment solutions. Adjacent services include Work Assist (up to 12 months of no-cost workplace support), Disability Recruitment (with employer access to wage subsidies up to $10,000 and the Employment Assistance Fund), and an Eligible School Leaver Program. No proprietary technology platform is referenced; the only third-party system explicitly identified is Jobadder for the online job board. Operationally, service delivery is human-led through recruitment consultants and community-based engagement (NAIDOC events, yarning circles, school and library outreach), backed by an integrated management system certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, RTO Standards, GTO National Standards, and National Standards for Disability Services.

Revenue is generated through three streams: government funding as a registered provider of inclusive employment and apprenticeship/traineeship programs (the largest and most contract-sensitive stream); professional services fees from employer recruitment (advertising, headhunting, shortlisting, psychometric and aptitude testing, payroll, and outplacement), with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed; and margin on wages paid to apprentices and trainees placed with host employers, supplemented by government apprenticeship incentives. The go-to-market blends sales-led consultative engagement with employers, inside-sales phone/web enquiry handling, community-led outreach to underserved populations, and event-driven participation in career expos (Canberra CareersXpo, Perth Disability Connection Expo) and NAIDOC Week activities. Distribution is single-country/domestic across Australia, delivered through direct service, online self-service (job seekers), community outreach, and government partnership channels.

Name

Maxima Group

Legal name

Maxima

Website

https://maxima.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Maxima Group is a national, not-for-profit employment services organisation in Australia that delivers apprenticeships, traineeships, disability employment (Inclusive Employment Australia), and Indigenous employment programs across ~70 offices to job seekers and employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Employment services
• Disability employment
• Apprenticeship programs
• Indigenous employment
• Recruitment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hindmarsh

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Employment Services: Maxima receives government funding as a provider of Inclusive Employment Australia (formerly Disability Employment Services) and other employment programs. Funding is tied to successful placement and ongoing support of job seekers.
2. Group Training Organization Services: Maxima employs apprentices and trainees and places them with host employers. Revenue comes from government incentives for apprenticeships and traineeships, as well as margin on wages paid to trainees.
3. Recruitment Services for Employers: Fee-based recruitment services for employers seeking temporary and permanent staff. Services include advertising, headhunting, shortlisting, screening, and payroll services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maxima Group is a national, not-for-profit employment services organisation that recruits, trains and places job seekers — including people with disability, First Nations Australians, apprentices and trainees — into roles across Australian employers. It operates as a registered Group Training Organisation managing apprenticeships and traineeships across 300+ occupations, delivers the government-funded Inclusive Employment Australia (formerly Disability Employment Services) program, and provides fee-based recruitment, temporary and permanent staffing solutions to employers.

Product overview

Maxima is a national, not-for-profit employment services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of workforce solutions. The core offerings include Apprenticeships & Traineeships (Group Training managing 300+ occupations nationally), Temporary & Permanent Employment recruitment services, and Inclusive Employment Australia (disability employment). These are supported by Indigenous Employment Programs including First Nations Recruitment Solutions, Student Cadetships, and school-based traineeships. Employer-facing services include Recruitment Services, Disability Recruitment, Work Assist, and the Eligible School Leaver Program. The organization operates as a Group Training Organisation (GTO) placing apprentices and trainees with host employers while providing ongoing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inclusive Employment Australia: A specialist disability employment program (formerly Disability Employment Services) that helps Australians with a disability, injury or health condition prepare for, find, and succeed in work.

Products and services

• Apprenticeships & Traineeships Group Training service managing recruitment, placement and ongoing support of apprentices and trainees on behalf of host employers across 300+ occupations nationally, with vocational qualifications from Certificate II to advanced diploma levels.
• Temporary & Permanent Employment Recruitment services offering temporary and permanent positions across office, professional, industrial, trades, hospitality, and logistics sectors, with consultants matching candidates to roles based on skills and experience.
• Inclusive Employment Australia (formerly Disability Employment Services) Specialist disability employment program providing tailored support for Australians with disability, injury or health condition to prepare for, find, and succeed in work, with no time limits on participation.
• Indigenous Employment Programs (IEP) First Nations-led employment programs offering full-time and part-time traineeships, school-based traineeships, cadetships, and temporary and permanent employment opportunities, working with employers including Bupa, NAB, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and Australia Post.
• Recruitment Services End-to-end recruitment services for employers including advertising, headhunting, shortlisting, psychometric and aptitude testing, payroll service, and outplacement support across government and SME sectors.
• First Nations Recruitment Solutions Specialized recruitment service helping organizations meet First Nations employment goals through advertising, screening, testing, reference checking, police checks, and coordination of contracts for permanent and casual roles.
• Disability Recruitment Employer-facing service to build inclusive workplaces by finding candidates with disability at no cost, with support for wage subsidies up to $10,000 and workplace modifications through the Employment Assistance Fund.
• Work Assist Tailored workplace support program for employees experiencing challenges due to illness, injury or disability, providing up to 12 months of no-cost assistance including face-to-face support, workplace assessments, modifications, and job redesign advice.
• Eligible School Leaver Program Transition support for students with disability leaving school, providing skills identification, resume development, interview preparation, employment goal setting, and post-placement workplace support.
• Hiring Apprentices & Trainees Employer service managing apprentice and trainee hiring including selection, wage payment, superannuation, leave entitlements, training quality management, and on/off-job support provision.
• First Nations Student Cadetships Partnership with Westpac Group offering First Nations students cadetships in Banking, HR, Marketing, IT, Property, Digital Technology and Law with paid work experience.
• First Nations Temporary & Permanent Employment Employment pathway service connecting First Nations job seekers with temporary and permanent roles through partnerships with Qantas, Bupa, and Serco.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1500 roles filled in the last 12 months
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ANZ BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANZ is a key partner in Maxima's First Nations employment programs. Maxima places trainees and provides recruitment solutions for ANZ, supporting the bank's diversity and Indigenous employment goals.
• Australia PostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia Post partners with Maxima for First Nations traineeships, providing employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in postal and logistics services.
• Commonwealth BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth Bank works with Maxima on Indigenous Employment Programs, providing traineeship opportunities for First Nations peoples in banking and financial services.
• NABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAB partners with Maxima for First Nations traineeships as part of the bank's commitment to Indigenous employment and community engagement.
• Westpac GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestpac Group is a flagship partner offering cadetships for First Nations students through Maxima. Opportunities span Banking, HR, Marketing, IT, Property, Procurement, Digital Technology, and Law. This is a significant partnership providing paid work experience and career pathways.
• QantascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQantas partners with Maxima for First Nations employment, offering dedicated temporary and permanent employment opportunities with the airline and related services.
• BupacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBupa works with Maxima on First Nations employment programs, providing job opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in healthcare and corporate roles.
• Scentre GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScentre Group (operator of Westfield shopping centres) partners with Maxima for employment opportunities through retail centre operations.
• Department for Health and Wellbeing (SA Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHW is a key host employer partner for Maxima's First Nations traineeships. The department's Workforce Operations Team received Maxima's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Award. DHW provides HR administration traineeships and ongoing employment opportunities.
• Adelaide Convention CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Adelaide Convention Centre is a host employer for Maxima apprentices, particularly in hospitality and culinary trades. Currently has seven apprentices completing training at the venue.
• Australian College of Commerce and Management (ACCM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerACCM is a training partner providing vocational education for Maxima trainees, delivering Certificate III and IV qualifications in business and related fields.
• Kumarninthi Cultural EducationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKumarninthi Cultural Education facilitated silk painting workshops for Maxima's First Nations trainees as part of yarning circle activities, supporting cultural connection and learning.
• MRS PropertyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMRS Property assisted Maxima in securing the new head office property at Level 7, 60 Light Square, Adelaide.
• Giordano ArchitectureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGiordano Architecture has been engaged to deliver the architectural design and construction for Maxima's new head office fit-out.
• McDonald's AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDonald's has employed over 20 employees through Maxima's disability recruitment services, with ongoing support provided to both employees and restaurant management.
• Local and State Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious local and state government agencies partner with Maxima for First Nations traineeships and employment programs, including Department of Health WA which has employed a team of seven admin support officers with disability.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MatchWorks: MatchWorks is a national Australian disability employment services provider delivering DES / IEA-equivalent services. It is a direct competitor in the same government-funded disability employment segment Maxima serves.
• APM Employment Services: APM is one of Australia's largest employment services providers, delivering DES / IEA-equivalent services, apprenticeships and community employment programs through a national office network. It is the most direct comparable in scale, service mix, and government-funded program delivery.
• WISE Employment: WISE Employment is a major Australian disability employment services provider, supporting people with disability, injury or health condition into work. It directly competes with Maxima's Inclusive Employment Australia offering and shares the same government-funded provider model.
• AtWork Australia: AtWork Australia delivers DES / IEA-equivalent disability employment services nationally. It competes with Maxima for both job-seeker participants and employer relationships in the specialist disability employment segment.
• Sarina Russo Group: Sarina Russo Group is an Australian employment, training and recruitment services provider offering traineeships, apprenticeships and recruitment across multiple industries. It is a close comparable to Maxima's group training and recruitment services lines.
• MEGT (Australia): MEGT is one of Australia's largest Group Training Organisations and a registered apprenticeship and traineeship provider. It directly overlaps with Maxima's GTO operations and trades-based service offering.
• Job Futures: Job Futures is the national peak body for community-based employment services in Australia, with member organizations delivering similar DES-equivalent and inclusive employment services. Its members are direct community-services peers to Maxima's mission-driven model.
• EPIC Employment Service: EPIC (formerly Epic Employment) is an Australian community-based not-for-profit employment service focused on disadvantaged job seekers, including people with disability. It competes with Maxima in specialist employment services with a similar mission-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Hays Australia: Hays is a large generalist recruitment agency in Australia and New Zealand spanning professional, trades and temporary staffing. While it does not specialize in disability or First Nations employment, it overlaps with Maxima's broader recruitment services line for general employer hiring.
• SEEK: SEEK is Australia's dominant online employment marketplace, connecting job seekers and employers at scale. It is not a direct employment services provider but represents a structural competitor / channel alternative for Maxima's recruitment and job-board activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=AxIjpr44Lqs
• Xx.com/MaximaGroupInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaximaAustralia

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maxima Group