What Catalyst Education does

Catalyst Education is an Australian vocational education and training (VET) provider focused on workforce solutions for the care sector, specializing in early childhood education and care, aged care, and disability care. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Southbank, Melbourne, the company operates as a holding platform for three wholly-owned Registered Training Organisations—Selmar Institute of Education, Practical Outcomes, and ARC Training (acquired February 2025)—delivering nationally recognized qualifications through flexible online and workplace-based learning models. The business serves both individual learners and employer partners, with an established network spanning 1,400+ early childhood centres and 400+ aged care facilities across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and the ACT.

The company's technology foundation centers on a dedicated online learning portal and flexible learning management system that supports both self-paced online study and workplace-based practical training, enabling 35% of learners to train while working—well above the 10% industry average. Catalyst employs 140+ trainers and support staff with deep sector expertise, and employs Design Thinking methodology to enhance the learner experience. Reported learner outcomes materially exceed sector benchmarks, including 79% employment improvement (vs. 65% industry average), 90% gaining meaningful employment, and 93-94% learner satisfaction across its RTOs.

Catalyst generates revenue through three streams: government-funded training (primarily Victorian Skills First, which was reduced 60% in 2024), fee-for-service training, and earn-while-you-learn traineeship programs. The company is wholly owned by For Purpose Investment Partners (FPIP), an Australian impact investment firm, which provides both capital and strategic alignment with social purpose objectives. The 2024 government funding cut catalyzed a deliberate shift toward revenue diversification, including expanded fee-for-service offerings and community-embedded traineeship delivery in partnership with For Purpose Aged Care. Leadership comprises Chair David Barnett (former Pearson senior executive) and Group CEO Kean Selway, with 25 years of cross-sector education experience. The roadmap includes planned AI-enabled learning support tools to enhance personalization and accessibility.

Name

Catalyst Education

Legal name

Catalyst Education Pty Ltd

Website

https://catalysteducation.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catalyst Education is an Australian vocational training platform operating three RTOs (Selmar, Practical Outcomes, ARC Training) that deliver qualifications for the early childhood, aged care, and disability care sectors across Victoria, NSW, SA, and ACT. The company is owned by impact investor FPIP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Training: Catalyst receives government funding through programs like Skills First for vocational education and training. In 2024, the Victorian government reduced Skills First funding for independent RTOs by 60%, prompting the company to diversify revenue streams.
2. Fee-for-Service Training: Revenue from learners and employers paying directly for training services, expanded in response to reduced government funding.
3. Traineeship Programs: Earn-while-you-learn model where trainees receive wages while completing training, with access to wage subsidies and government funding for employers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Catalyst Education is a private Australian vocational education and training provider specialising in the care sector. Through three wholly-owned Registered Training Organisations (Selmar Institute of Education, Practical Outcomes, and ARC Training), it delivers nationally recognised qualifications in early childhood education and care, aged care, and disability care via blended online and workplace-based learning. The company partners with 1,400+ early childhood centres and 400+ aged care facilities to build sustainable workforces, combining government-funded programs with fee-for-service offerings.

Product overview

Catalyst Education operates as a holding company for a portfolio of three wholly-owned subsidiary Registered Training Organisations (RTOs): Selmar Institute of Education, Practical Outcomes, and ARC Training. These RTOs collectively deliver vocational education and training (VET) across early childhood education and care, aged care, and disability care sectors. The company functions as a unified platform delivering flexible, hands-on education via online and workplace-based learning modes, with dedicated trainer support and practical placement facilitation. Selmar provides multi-sector training (early childhood, aged care, disability), Practical Outcomes focuses exclusively on early childhood education, and ARC Training (acquired February 2025) adds capacity in aged care, disability care, and business training while expanding geographic presence to NSW, SA, and ACT alongside existing Victorian operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Selmar Institute of Education A nationally-recognised Registered Training Organisation (RTO# 121531) specialising in early childhood education, aged care, and disability care training. Delivers flexible, hands-on education with practical placement support and university pathway options for learners entering or progressing in the care sector.
• Practical Outcomes A specialised Registered Training Organisation (RTO# 21857) delivering tailored hands-on training exclusively for the early childhood education sector, focused on nurturing empathetic, skilled educators.
• ARC Training A NSW-based Registered Training Organisation (RTO# 91007) acquired in February 2025, providing high-quality, accessible training in aged care, disability care, and business sectors.
• Careforce Catalyst Education's umbrella training brand providing quality training and education for early childhood education and care, aged care, and disability care sectors through its network of RTOs.
• Head Start Traineeship Program A school-based traineeship program delivered with the Victorian Government that enables secondary school students to begin vocational training in early childhood education while completing VCAL or VCE qualifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% of Catalyst learners improved their employment position, compared with industry average of 65%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ARC TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Acquired in February 2025, ARC Training is a NSW-based RTO with strong track record in aged care, disability care, and business training. Strengthens Catalyst's geographic reach into NSW, SA, and ACT while adding employer partnerships and training delivery capabilities.
• For Purpose Aged CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with For Purpose Aged Care embeds training directly into communities. In Romsey and Wagga Wagga, new traineeship programs help local residents including career changers and new arrivals enter the aged care workforce.
• Victorian Government's Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Selmar is the partnering early childhood education course provider for the Head Start program, enabling secondary school students to complete vocational training while finishing secondary education. The program supports the early childhood education sector workforce development.
• Selmar Institute of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly owned subsidiary RTO (RTO# 121531) specializing in early childhood education and care, aged care, and disability care training. Located in Victoria with national reach.
• Practical OutcomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly owned subsidiary RTO (RTO# 21857) delivering hands-on, tailored training for the early childhood education sector. Focuses on nurturing empathetic, skilled educators.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Think Education: Private national RTO operating multiple colleges with health and community services streams including early childhood and aged care; similar multi-brand private VET platform model.
• Open Colleges: Australia's leading online VET provider offering CHC Community Services and age-care diplomas — directly comparable online delivery model for the same care-sector qualifications Catalyst offers.
• Box Hill Institute: Victorian TAFE provider with strong health and community services VET portfolio, including early childhood and aged care — direct substitute for Catalyst's offerings in the same state and funding environment.
• Foundation Education: Private national RTO focused on health, community services and education support qualifications, with online and traineeship delivery — overlapping with Catalyst's online and workplace-based product mix.
• Chisholm Institute: Major Victorian TAFE/RTO delivering vocational qualifications including aged care, disability and early childhood education, overlapping directly with Selmar and Practical Outcomes across the same VET framework and employer base in Victoria.
• Holmesglen Institute: Large Victorian TAFE offering community and health streams including early childhood, aged and disability care qualifications — competes for both learners and employer partnerships in Victoria.
• Kangan Institute: Victorian TAFE/RTO with a significant health, community and early childhood portfolio, including automotive and trades — comparable multi-sector VET footprint to Catalyst's three Victorian RTOs.
• Upskilled: Private online RTO providing vocational qualifications in community services, aged care and disability — direct channel competitor for fee-for-service learners in Catalyst's core verticals.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: State-owned NSW vocational training giant, now the dominant provider in the geographies opened up by the ARC Training acquisition; offers the same care-sector qualifications but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• TAFE Queensland: State-owned Queensland VET provider offering care-sector certificates and diplomas across a broad portfolio; benchmark for government-subsidised competition and pathway product.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catalystedu_au

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Catalyst Education