BIBA Academy
BIBA Academy is a family-owned vocational training institution in Melbourne delivering Certificate III in Hairdressing and Barbering across two campuses, serving domestic and international students under its RTO and CRICOS registrations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What BIBA Academy does
BIBA Academy is a family-owned vocational education institution based in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in hairdressing and barbering training. It operates two campuses (Fitzroy and Melbourne CBD) and is closely integrated with the broader BIBA salon network of 14 locations across Australia. The Academy delivers Certificate III in Hairdressing and Certificate III in Barbering, with both domestic apprentice pathways and full-time courses available to international students under its CRICOS registration.
The business is registered as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 6035) and holds CRICOS provider number 01709K, which together enable participation in government-funded training programs (Skills First and Victorian/Commonwealth arrangements) and onshore international student recruitment. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: government-subsidised tuition for eligible domestic students, full-fee domestic enrolments, and international student fees. The salon network contributes a separate retail service revenue stream, with the Academy-salon integration providing an internal employment pathway for graduates.
Founded by Vidal Sassoon-trained practitioners from the Divitaris family, with the next generation (Ben and Simon Divitaris) now in operational leadership, BIBA Academy combines multi-generational technical expertise with formal VET credentials. The Academy's brand has been built over approximately 50 years, was recognised with the 2026 AHFA award, and the 2025 anniversary marks a milestone in its operating history. As a small, privately held training provider, BIBA Academy is positioned in the niche intersection of family-run craft education and Australia's regulated vocational training market.
BIBA Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BIBA Academy
- Legal name
- BIBA Academy of Hair and Beauty Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://bibaacademy.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BIBA Academy is a family-owned vocational training institution in Melbourne delivering Certificate III in Hairdressing and Barbering across two campuses, serving domestic and international students under its RTO and CRICOS registrations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BIBA Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Hairdressing and Barbering Education
- NAICS
- Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hair Styling & Cutting (EDAOALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Barbering Schools & Programs (HSALANAD), Barber Training, Apprenticeship & Education (HSALABAI)
Keywords
Where BIBA Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
BIBA Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees - Certificate Programs: Full-time and part-time certificate courses in hairdressing and barbering for domestic students, with government funding options (Skills First) available for eligible applicants. International students pay full fees.
- Apprenticeship Training: Off-the-job training for apprentices employed in salons, supported by Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding with eligibility managed through employers.
- Salon Services Revenue: On-site training salons open to the public offering professional hair services (cuts, colouring, treatments, barbering) delivered by students under supervision. Revenue from client services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon Services Menu - Styling |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon Services - Barbering |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon Services - Colouring |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon Services - Treatments |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
BIBA Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BIBA Academy is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 6035, CRICOS 01709K) that delivers nationally accredited Certificate III qualifications in Hairdressing (SHB30416) and Barbering (SHB30516) through two Melbourne campuses and an apprenticeship pathway. Training is approximately 80% hands-on practice with real clients in simulated salon environments, supported by 20% theory via live demonstrations. The Academy also operates public-facing training salons at both campuses where students deliver supervised hair services.
Product overview
BIBA Academy is a vocational hair and beauty training institution offering a unified portfolio of nationally recognised Certificate III qualifications in Hairdressing (SHB30416) and Barbering (SHB30516). The institution operates two delivery pathways: a certificate pathway providing campus-based training for students without salon employment, and an apprenticeship pathway combining salon floor work with structured Academy training. Both pathways lead to identical certification. In addition to educational programs, BIBA operates public-facing Academy Salons at both campuses where students gain hands-on experience with real clients, and the broader BIBA network encompasses 14 salons across Australia. The institution serves both domestic students (with Skills First, Austudy, and Victorian/Commonwealth Government funding options) and international students (CRICOS 01709K).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Certificate III in Hairdressing (Domestic Students)
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 80% of training is hands-on practical work
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use BIBA Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BIBA Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BIBA Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Wella ProfessionalscoreOngoing international platform artist and educator partnership. Lyndal Salmon serves as platform artist and educator; Marilyn Guarino is a Wella Professionals Guest Artist. Wella TrendVision competition participant with Platinum and Gold wins.
- Victorian GovernmentcoreGovernment funding support through Skills First program for eligible domestic students. Apprenticeship training also supported by Victorian Government funding.
- Commonwealth GovernmentcoreApprenticeship training supported by Commonwealth Government funding through state training authorities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BIBA Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heyday Academy: Melbourne-based private hairdressing and barbering academy offering hands-on Certificate III training. Comparable as a direct geographic and product competitor in the same Melbourne catchment and trades.
- Toni&Guy Academy: International hairdressing education brand delivering accredited vocational qualifications and short courses across multiple countries. Comparable as a brand-led hairdressing educator competing for the same domestic and international student pool.
- Sassoon Academy: Global hairdressing education brand founded by Vidal Sassoon, providing technical training programmes with strong brand pedigree. Directly comparable to BIBA given BIBA's founder lineage to Vidal Sassoon London and its focus on precision cutting technique.
- Verso Education: Australian private vocational educator (formerly Richmond School of Fashion & Hairdressing) delivering nationally accredited beauty and hairdressing programmes. Comparable as a private RTO competing for the same domestic and international student pool.
- Reactor School of Creative Hairdressing: Australian private hairdressing college offering creative-focused Certificate III training. Comparable as a private RTO directly competing with BIBA in the same trades and the same private-fee segment.
- Australian National College of Beauty: Australian private college delivering Certificate III/IV in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy with multiple campuses. Comparable as a multi-campus private beauty educator competing for both domestic and international enrolments.
- Masters Institute of Creative Education: Western Australia-based private RTO delivering hairdressing, barbering and beauty training with pathway partnerships. Comparable as a private trades-focused RTO competing for international students and domestic apprentices.
Broad incumbents
- L'Oréal Professional Education: Global beauty conglomerate's education division offering training, certifications and academies for stylists. Comparable as a large incumbent delivering brand-sponsored hairdressing education and competing for the same student and salon customer base.
- TAFE (state institutes, e.g., TAFE NSW, TAFE VIC): Australia's publicly funded technical and further education institutes delivering subsidized Certificate III in Hairdressing and Barbering. Comparable as the largest competitive incumbent setting the subsidised price floor BIBA competes against.
- Wella Studios: Wella Professionals' education platform offering in-person and online training for stylists, of which BIBA's Creative Director Lyndal Salmon is an active platform artist. Comparable as a global incumbent brand-aligned hairdressing educator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BIBA Academy social profiles
Digital presenceBIBA Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
BIBA Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BIBA Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
BIBA Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
BIBA Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BIBA Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BIBA Academy
What does BIBA Academy do?
BIBA Academy is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 6035, CRICOS 01709K) that delivers nationally accredited Certificate III qualifications in Hairdressing (SHB30416) and Barbering (SHB30516) through two Melbourne campuses and an apprenticeship pathway. Training is approximately 80% hands-on practice with real clients in simulated salon environments, supported by 20% theory via live demonstrations. The Academy also operates public-facing training salons at both campuses where students deliver supervised hair services.
Is BIBA Academy a public or private company?
BIBA Academy is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was BIBA Academy founded?
BIBA Academy was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BIBA Academy based?
BIBA Academy is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does BIBA Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees - Certificate Programs are the primary driver. The others are apprenticeship Training and salon Services Revenue.
Who are BIBA Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heyday Academy, Toni&Guy Academy, Sassoon Academy, Verso Education, Reactor School of Creative Hairdressing, Australian National College of Beauty and Masters Institute of Creative Education. Broad incumbents are L'Oréal Professional Education, TAFE (state institutes, e.g., TAFE NSW, TAFE VIC) and Wella Studios.
Does BIBA Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for BIBA Academy.
What industry is BIBA Academy in?
BIBA Academy's product category is Vocational Hairdressing and Barbering Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOALAB, Hair Styling & Cutting, with a secondary code of HSALANAD, Barbering Schools & Programs. Its NAICS code is 611511 and its SIC code is 8200.