Selmar Institute of Education

What Selmar Institute of Education does

Selmar Institute of Education is a privately held Australian registered training organisation (RTO# 121531) that delivers nationally recognised vocational qualifications in early childhood education and care and in aged care. Founded in 2004, the company operates from St Kilda and Southbank in Melbourne and has educated more than 35,000 students over 18+ years, reporting NCVER-validated outcomes of 93.3% learner satisfaction, 89.4% recommendation rates, and 91.1% post-training employment for aged care learners.

The core product is a stack of Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma qualifications (e.g., CHC30121, CHC50125, CHC33021, CHC43015, CHC43415, CHC62015, plus HLTAID short-course units), delivered through multiple modes: an interactive online learning portal, workplace training with on-site trainer visits, virtual classroom, and school-based traineeships. A state-of-the-art simulation laboratory at the Southbank campus supports practical skill development, and the company runs a supported practical placement program that matches learners with partner facilities. A proprietary Practical Placement Reflective Journal and a human-centred education methodology built on Design Thinking and Universal Design for Learning principles differentiate the curriculum. Future-planned AI-enabled personalized learning support tools are in scope but not yet deployed.

Revenue is generated through course tuition (one-time and government-funded), VET Student Loans, Catalyst Plus private payment plans, Skills First (VIC) and Smart and Skilled (NSW) government subsidies, and fee-for-service corporate training delivered on-site or at campus. Selmar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Catalyst Education, which is backed by For Purpose Investment Partners (FPIP); Catalyst Education expanded nationally in February 2025 by acquiring ARC Training, and Selmar sits within a multi-brand VET platform alongside Practical Outcomes. Customer segments are primarily individual vocational learners and career changers, with secondary B2B channels into employers (Goodstart Early Learning, For Purpose Aged Care, community centres) and school-based traineeship programs.

Name

Selmar Institute of Education

Legal name

Selmar Institute of Education

Website

https://selmar.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Selmar Institute of Education is an Australian registered training organisation delivering nationally recognised vocational qualifications in early childhood education and aged care through online, workplace, virtual classroom, and traineeship delivery modes across Victoria and NSW.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• Early childhood education
• Aged care training
• Nationally recognised training
• Certificate diploma courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Kilda

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

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: Fees charged to students for nationally recognized vocational education and training courses in early childhood education and aged care.
2. Government Funded Training (Skills First VIC): Victorian government funding under Skills First program for eligible applicants in Victoria.
3. Government Funded Training (Smart and Skilled NSW): New South Wales government funding under Smart and Skilled program for eligible applicants in NSW.
4. VET Student Loans: Government student loan program allowing eligible students to defer payment of tuition fees for approved courses.
5. Catalyst Plus Student Loans: Private payment plan option offered through Catalyst Plus for course fee deferral.
6. Fee-for-Service Corporate Training: Customized workplace training programs for employers with integration of their content, policies and procedures, delivered on-site or at campus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Selmar Institute of Education is a registered training organisation (RTO# 121531) delivering nationally recognised vocational education and training courses in early childhood education and care, and aged care. The company offers Certificate III, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma qualifications delivered via multiple modes including online, workplace, distance, and virtual classroom. It supplements course delivery with practical placement support, an online learning portal, and simulation labs.

Product overview

Selmar Institute of Education is a registered training organisation (RTO# 121531) specialising in vocational education and training for the care sector. The company operates a platform of educational products comprising core course offerings in child care (Certificate III, Diploma, Advanced Diploma) and aged care (Certificate III, Certificate IV in Ageing Support, Certificate IV in Leisure and Health, Advanced Diploma), supplemented by short courses in first aid, infection control, and medication assistance. Training is delivered through multiple modes including an interactive online learning portal, workplace training with on-site trainer visits, distance learning with placement support, and virtual classroom sessions. The company also provides practical placement coordination and an alumni program. All courses are delivered using a human-centred education methodology based on Design Thinking principles. Selmar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Catalyst Education and is regulated by ASQA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goodstart partnership program: A collaborative partnership program with Goodstart Early Learning for training and workforce development.

Products and services

• Child Care Courses Nationally recognised vocational qualifications in early childhood education and care, including Certificate III, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma levels, preparing learners for roles as educators and managers in centre-based and family day care settings.
• Aged Care Courses Nationally recognised vocational qualifications in aged care, individual support, ageing support, and leisure and health, preparing learners for roles in residential aged care, home and community care, and disability support.
• Short Courses Focused skills-based courses including first aid (HLTAID001, HLTAID003, HLTAID004), infection control, food safety, and medication assistance for care sector workers seeking targeted upskilling.
• Workplace Training On-the-job training service where dedicated Selmar trainers visit learners at their employer's workplace to provide coaching, assessment, and support, allowing currently employed workers to study while continuing to work.
• Practical Placement Program Supported practical placement coordination service that matches learners with appropriate aged care or childcare facilities, with dedicated trainer visits during placement to provide guidance and mentoring, and enables employers to assess potential future employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93.3% of Selmar learners satisfied with overall quality of training (NCVER survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARC TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Catalyst Education's acquisition of ARC Training in February 2025 expands geographic reach and adds depth in employer partnerships and training delivery. ARC is an NSW-based RTO with strong track record in aged care, disability, and business training.
• Goodstart Early LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodstart partnership program offering specialized pathway for Goodstart employees to gain qualifications through Selmar's training programs with tailored support.
• Melton South Community CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership delivering accredited first aid, CPR, and food handling courses to the local community. Selmar provides trainers and course materials while Melton South provides venue and local community access.
• GroworxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Philippines-based Groworx organization to expand international training model, connecting skilled care workers with career opportunities globally.
• Swinburne OnlinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing pathway for Diploma graduates to gain credit towards Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching or Early Childhood & Primary Teaching).
• For Purpose Aged CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with For Purpose Aged Care shows how training can be embedded directly into communities. Traineeship programs in Romsey and Wagga Wagga help local residents, including career changers and new arrivals, enter the aged care workforce.
• Australian Centre for Child ProtectionminorOthersThe mandatory child safety training for early childhood educators is being developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection as part of the National Law for ECEC reform.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chisholm Institute: Large Melbourne-based public TAFE delivering Certificate III, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma qualifications in early childhood education and aged care. Directly competes with Selmar for the same Victorian learner segment, with significant public-subsidy cost advantages.
• Box Hill Institute: Victorian public TAFE offering ECEC and individual support / aged care qualifications across Certificate III, Diploma, and short-course formats. Overlaps directly with Selmar's core course catalogue and target learner demographic in eastern Melbourne.
• Holmesglen Institute: Major Melbourne metropolitan TAFE with a significant health and community services faculty, including ECEC and aged care programs. Competes for the same working-adult learners and employer-sponsored traineeship pipeline as Selmar.
• Melbourne Polytechnic: Victorian public TAFE delivering ECEC and aged care / individual support qualifications with multiple campuses across northern Melbourne. Direct competitor in the same state funding regime (Skills First).
• Swinburne TAFE: Swinburne's vocational division delivers ECEC and aged care qualifications and is also Selmar's university pathway partner (Swinburne Online). The dual role of partner and competitor is characteristic of the VET/higher-education overlap in the ECEC vertical.
• RMIT TAFE: RMIT's vocational education arm offers extensive ECEC, aged care, and community services training with strong brand recognition. Competes for the same premium-end employer partnerships and learner cohort in Melbourne.
• TAFE NSW: New South Wales' public VET provider delivering ECEC and aged care qualifications at scale, accessing the same Smart and Skilled funding pool as Selmar. The dominant non-private competitor in Selmar's second-largest market.
• Kangan Institute: Victorian public TAFE (now part of Bendigo TAFE) delivering ECEC, aged care, and community services courses with strong northern-Melbourne footprint. Competes head-to-head with Selmar in the same Skills First funding environment.
• Open Colleges: Large Australian private RTO focused on online vocational education across aged care, community services, and ECEC. The closest private-sector peer to Selmar in delivery model, scale, and target learner — making it the most direct commercial comparator.
• Upskilled: National private RTO delivering VET qualifications including aged care and community services, with a strong online and employer-sponsored training model. Direct competitor in the same funding programs and learner segments as Selmar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuCRa1RWuqwRcUWoXccwgDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SelmarGE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/selmar-institute-of-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/selmar_edu
• Xx.com/Selmar_edu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Selmar Institute of Education