CSTC

What CSTC does

CSTC Pty Ltd (trading as Construction Skills Training Centre, and co-branded as Embark College, Succession Training and Assessment, and Kia Ora Training and Assessment) is a not-for-profit, privately held Registered Training Organisation (RTO Code 0699) headquartered in Coopers Plains, Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1994 by former Builders Labourers Federation officials Gregory Simcoe and John Christian, the organisation delivers nationally recognised vocational education and training across four verticals: construction (trade certificates through Advanced Diploma, high-risk work licences, and mobile plant operations), horticulture (landscaping, parks and gardens, sports turf management, conservation), business (leadership, WHS, project management), and first aid. Training is delivered through classroom sessions at its Brisbane and Gold Coast (Burleigh Heads) academies, onsite workplace training across Southeast Queensland, and an online learning management system at lms.cstc.edu.au built on the axcelerate student management platform; credentials issued since 2021 include scannable QR-code authentication.

The organisation's revenue model is a mix of fee-for-service course delivery (ranging from A$550 for short licence courses to A$18,160 for Certificate III in Carpentry full delivery) and government-subsidised training delivered under Skills Assure approvals (Career Start, VETiS) and as a registered supplier for Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding covering 75-100% of course costs, plus the BERT Training Fund. Customer segments span enterprise construction firms (Lend Lease, Multiplex, BESIX Watpac, BMD Group, Sunland), individual apprentices and trainees, secondary school students under VETiS, and individual fee-paying learners, with go-to-market combining direct sales, government-program referral channels, and onsite workplace training agreements.

CSTC is approved to deliver funded training across 14 Queensland regions, holds multi-time industry awards, and operates with 11-50 employees. All surplus is reinvested into training facilities under its not-for-profit structure, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

CSTC

Legal name

CSTC Pty Ltd

Website

https://cstc.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSTC Pty Ltd is a not-for-profit Queensland Registered Training Organisation founded in 1994, delivering construction, horticulture, business, and first aid vocational training to enterprise contractors, apprentices, school students, and individual learners across Southeast Queensland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Working at Heights, Fall Protection & Scaffolding (EDABAEAH), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• Construction skills training
• Registered training organization
• High risk work licensing
• Horticulture training courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Training: CSTC charges full course fees for students who do not meet funding eligibility criteria. Course fees vary by qualification, ranging from $1,440 for Certificate I in Workplace Skills to $18,160 for Certificate III in Carpentry or full delivery of civil construction qualifications.
2. Government-Funded Training (Career Start): CSTC receives government subsidies through Career Start programs for apprenticeships, traineeships, and general training. Students pay reduced co-contribution fees ($2.50-$20.00 per unit depending on qualification and concessional status).
3. CSQ Funded Training: Construction Skills Queensland contributes 75-100% of course costs for eligible construction industry workers and unemployed eligible workers. CSTC receives direct funding payments from CSQ as a registered training supplier.
4. Onsite Workplace Training: CSTC provides customised workplace training delivered at client construction sites across Southeast Queensland, with travel and flexible delivery options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CSTC is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO Code: 0699) delivering nationally recognised vocational education and training across Construction, Horticulture, Business, and First Aid industries. Offerings span short courses, Certificates I–IV, Diplomas, and Advanced Diplomas, including High Risk Work Licence training (dogging, rigging, scaffolding, forklift, EWP, cranes) and Mobile Plant Operations (excavators, loaders, rollers). Training is delivered via classroom at Brisbane and Gold Coast training centres, onsite at client construction sites across Southeast Queensland, and online through the lms.cstc.edu.au Learning Management System, with subsidised pathways through CSQ, Career Start, VETiS, and BERT Training Fund.

Product overview

CSTC Pty Ltd is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO Code: 0699) established in 1994, operating under four brands: Construction Skills Training Centre, Embark College, Succession Training and Assessment, and Kia Ora Training and Assessment. The organization offers vocational education and training across four core industries: Business, Construction, Horticulture, and First Aid. Training delivery modes include flexible online learning via their LMS platform (lms.cstc.edu.au), workplace onsite training, and traditional classroom delivery. Course offerings span from short courses and awareness training through to Certificates I-IV, Diplomas, and Advanced Diplomas. Specialized programs include High Risk Work Licence training, Mobile Plant Operations, Health and Safety Representative training, and industry-specific awareness courses. The organization also provides access to government and industry funding programs including CSQ, Career Start, VETiS, and BERT Training Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction Training Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• CSTC has maintained relationships with major construction companies for extended periods - East Coast Concrete (15 years), BMD Group (9 years), Sunland (since 1994)

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSQ is an independent, not-for-profit, industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, trainees and career seekers in the building and construction industry. As a CSQ registered training supplier, CSTC provides training supported by CSQ funding, which contributes 75-100% of course costs for eligible participants. CSQ funding is paid directly to CSTC as the contracted RTO.
• BERT Training Fund (Building Employees Redundancy Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBERT Training Fund (BTF) is a joint Union and Employer initiative providing members of the Building Employees Redundancy Trust with funding and assistance to improve their skills. Previously known as Queensland Construction Training Fund (QCTF), established in 1991. BTF assists in training of workers in building and construction who are BERT members, providing assistance in both trade and non-trade occupations.
• Queensland Government - Skills AssurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills Assure is a Queensland Government quality assurance designation for training providers. CSTC is approved to deliver VET in Schools (VETiS), Career Start (Apprenticeship and Traineeship), and Career Start (General Training) programs under the Skills Assure network, enabling subsidised training for eligible Queensland students and job seekers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• St John Ambulance Australia: Australia-wide first aid and CPR training provider (HLTAID009, First Aid Cluster). Directly substitutes for CSTC's first aid course line and competes for the same WHS-aligned enrolments from construction employers.

Direct peers

• Sarina Russo Group: Australian apprenticeship, traineeship and recruitment group operating an RTO end-to-end across multiple states. Competes for employer-funded apprenticeship sign-ups and Career Start-equivalent enrolments in construction-adjacent trades.
• TAFE Queensland: Queensland's largest public VET provider delivering Certificate III in Carpentry, construction skills, high risk work licences and apprenticeship pathways. Most direct substitute for CSTC across core construction-trade courses and a primary source of pricing and program competition within QLD.
• Master Builders Queensland: Peak building industry body in QLD delivering builder licensing short courses, CPD and trade training. Overlaps directly with CSTC's QBCC-facing Skill Sets and builder-relevant short-course portfolio.
• HIA Apprentices: Housing Industry Association's apprenticeship arm delivers trade training and traineeship pathways to building and construction employers nationally with strong QLD presence. Competes head-on with CSTC for construction apprentices and onsite-trade qualifications.

Others

• Australian Apprenticeships: Australian Government program that channels apprentice and trainee demand to providers like CSTC. Acts as a referral ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but its policy settings shape CSTC's funnel volume.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: Largest public VET provider in NSW, offering the same Certificate III trade programs, high risk work licences and apprenticeship pathways. While not directly competing within QLD, it represents the broader public-TAFE benchmark CSTC is benchmarked against in policy and funding discussions.
• Open Colleges: Large private online RTO offering certificate and diploma-level programs including business, WHS and project management. Overlaps with CSTC's online learning (LMS) and business/WHS course categories and could expand into QLD construction-trades territory over time.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 CSTC