The College for Adult Learning

What The College for Adult Learning does

The College for Adult Learning (CAL) is an Australian private, for-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO; TOID 22228) founded in 2009, headquartered in Mitcham, Victoria. The company delivers fully online, self-paced vocational education qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework, spanning Certificate IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma levels across business, leadership, HR, project management, building and construction, WHS, quality auditing, supply chain, health administration, and marketing disciplines. Its distinctive product is a portfolio of "Double Diploma" integrated programs that combine units from two nationally recognised qualifications into a single accelerated study pathway.

CAL runs its learning experience on the Brightspace D2L learning management system, supplemented by Zoom for coaching sessions, Respondus for assessment integrity, and Vimeo for video content. A core service differentiator is unlimited one-on-one coaching delivered by industry veteran practitioners, paired with simulation-based assessments rather than purely written assignments. The company's go-to-market is dual-track: a direct-to-consumer self-serve website funnel supported by organic SEO and inside-sales phone support (1300 907 870), alongside a corporate/workforce partnerships channel targeting organisations that want to upskill employees. Revenue is generated through fee-for-service course tuition, with weekly, fortnightly and monthly instalment plans and upfront deposit discounts of up to ~14%; CAL explicitly does not participate in FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans, and caps advance payments at AUD $1,500 in line with Australian consumer protection requirements.

Customer outcomes data cited on CAL's own materials include 96% of surveyed students achieving their primary study goal, 93% willing to recommend, and 90% rating coaching as excellent, supported by 409 Google reviews averaging 4.3 stars. Enterprise training relationships span healthcare (Ramsay Health, NSW Health, Darling Downs), government (NT Government), resources (BHP), aerospace (Boeing), telecommunications (Eastlink), insurance (GIO), aviation (Virgin), non-profit (Mission Australia), and sports (NRL Vic). CAL was recognised with the 2021 Trailblazer Award for RTO of the Year at the Australian Training and Education Awards, and maintains industry-body partnerships with the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and the Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP). Leadership comprises co-founders Helen Sabell (CEO & College Principal) and Rob Golding (Director).

Name

The College for Adult Learning

Legal name

The College for Adult Learning

Website

https://collegeforadultlearning.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The College for Adult Learning is a private Australian RTO founded in 2009 that delivers fully online, nationally recognised vocational diplomas and certificate courses to adult learners and corporate workforces, distinguished by industry-veteran coaching and integrated Double Diploma pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Online vocational education
• Adult learning courses
• Diploma programs
• Certificate iv qualifications
• Corporate training

Headquarters

HQ city

Mitcham

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Fee-for-service model where students pay for nationally recognised vocational education courses. The company explicitly states it is not affiliated with FEE-HELP schemes or VET Student Loans. Flexible payment plans are offered including weekly, fortnightly, and monthly options. Upfront deposit discounts are available (up to 14% savings).
2. Corporate Training Partnerships: Workforce learning transformation services for organisations, delivering tailored learning solutions to upskill and empower workforces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The College for Adult Learning is an Australian Registered Training Organisation that delivers nationally recognised Certificate IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma qualifications online. Courses cover business, leadership and management, HR, project management, construction management, WHS, supply chain, marketing, and health administration, and are sold directly to individual adult learners as well as packaged for corporate workforce training.

Product overview

The College for Adult Learning is an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offering a comprehensive portfolio of nationally recognized vocational education and training (VET) qualifications delivered entirely online. The core product is an online learning platform providing self-paced study with unlimited one-on-one coaching support. Their course offerings span multiple discipline areas organized into three qualification levels: Certificate IV (foundational), Diplomas (intermediate), and Advanced Diplomas (senior). They offer specialized Double Diploma Programs that integrate two qualifications into streamlined study pathways. The product portfolio includes business and management courses (Business, Leadership & Management, Human Resources, Project Management), industry-specific courses (Building & Construction, Work Health & Safety, Quality & Compliance, Supply Chain Management, Health Administration), and marketing programs (including a unique Diploma of Social Media Marketing with Artificial Intelligence). All courses feature a 24-month enrollment period with flexible payment options and lead to Australian Government-recognized qualifications under the Australian Qualification Framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diploma of Business (Business Development) Online Diploma of Business with a Business Development specialisation for individuals seeking foundational business management skills.
• Diploma of Business (Operations) Online Diploma of Business focused on operations management, designed for working adults and career changers.
• Diploma of Leadership and Management Nationally recognised online Diploma of Leadership and Management for aspiring and current leaders.
• Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management Advanced-level online qualification in leadership and management for senior professionals.
• Diploma of Human Resources Management Online Diploma of Human Resources Management covering HR fundamentals, recruitment, and people management.
• Diploma of Project Management Online Diploma of Project Management for individuals seeking project management skills and credentials.
• Advanced Diploma of Program Management Advanced-level online qualification in program management for senior project and program professionals.
• Diploma of Marketing and Communication Online Diploma of Marketing and Communication covering contemporary marketing practice and communication.
• Diploma of Supply Chain Operations Management Online Diploma of Supply Chain Operations Management for supply chain and logistics professionals.
• Diploma of Work Health and Safety Online Diploma of Work Health and Safety for WHS practitioners across industries.
• Diploma of Construction Management Online Diploma of Construction Management for construction industry professionals and aspiring site managers.
• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety Online Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety providing entry-level WHS qualification.
• Certificate IV in Human Resource Management Online Certificate IV in Human Resource Management for HR coordinators and administrators.
• Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication Online Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication for entry-level marketing professionals.
• Certificate IV in Project Management Practice Online Certificate IV in Project Management Practice for emerging project managers.
• Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) Online Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) for building professionals and site supervisors.
• Certificate IV in Leadership and Management Online Certificate IV in Leadership and Management for new and aspiring team leaders.
• Double Diploma Programs Integrated Double Diploma combinations allowing learners to complete two Diploma qualifications together with shared units and accelerated timelines.
• Corporate Training and Workforce Development Tailored learning solutions delivered to organisations for workforce upskilling across business, leadership, construction, WHS, and project management disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of students surveyed achieved their primary study goal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIOP Student Membership offered to Business Diploma graduates, providing professional development resources, networking opportunities, and career advancement support for office professionals.
• Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAL offers HR students a full rebate for a FREE one-year AHRI Membership (valued at $440). AHRI is the peak industry body representing more than 20,000 human resources professionals in Australia. Provides exclusive resources, professional development events, networking forums, and HRM monthly magazine.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Open Colleges: One of Australia's largest private online RTOs offering Certificate IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma courses in business, IT, and health, delivered via a fee-for-service model. Highly comparable to CAL in target customer, delivery format, and product mix, making it the closest direct competitor.
• Upskilled: Australian online RTO specialising in nationally recognised vocational qualifications across business, IT, and project management, with both B2C and B2B pathways. Comparable to CAL in course structure, target learner, and online-only delivery model.
• Monarch Institute: Australian private RTO offering online vocational courses in counselling, community services, and business. Comparable in size, private fee-for-service model, and online-only delivery, though Monarch focuses on more human-services verticals.
• Kaplan Professional (Australia): Australian subsidiary of Kaplan offering online professional education in finance, real estate, leadership, and management. Comparable fee-for-service online model with strong corporate and professional accreditation focus.
• Australian Institute of Management (AIM): Long-established Australian provider of management and leadership training, including nationally recognised qualifications. Highly comparable in business/management focus, B2B and B2C pathways, and adult learner target market.

Broad incumbents

• RMIT Online: The online division of RMIT University, offering vocational and postgraduate credentials with strong brand recognition. While broader in scope (university-backed), it competes directly with CAL's diploma and business courses for the same upskilling adult learners.
• Swinburne Online: Online arm of Swinburne University of Technology offering diplomas, degrees, and short courses with a focus on working adults. Comparable in delivery model and target customer but carries the credibility of a major university brand.
• TAFE Queensland: Largest public VET provider in Queensland offering subsidised certificates and diplomas across hundreds of fields. A broad incumbent in the Australian VET market that competes with CAL on price via government subsidies, particularly in trade and technical disciplines.
• Torrens University Australia: Private for-profit university offering vocational, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs with strong online delivery. Comparable in for-profit ownership, online delivery, and focus on career-oriented qualifications, but with broader credentialing and academic degree options.

Emerging players

• Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD): Peak body for directors offering short courses, certificates, and the Company Directors Course. Overlaps with CAL's leadership/management audience but serves a higher-seniority segment; represents an adjacent professional development option for CAL's advanced diploma candidates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CALearningAust
• Facebookfacebook.com/CollegeForAdultLearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-college-for-adult-learning

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The College for Adult Learning