What EWPA does

EWPA (Elevating Work Platform Association of Australia) is the peak industry body for the Australian elevating work platform (EWP) and mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) sector, operating continuously since 1987. It administers the Yellow Card operator training and licensing program, which has trained more than 500,000 operators across Australia and is aligned with national Work Health and Safety (WHS/OHS) legislation. The organisation is supported by 400+ corporate members and 240+ Accredited Trainers delivering training and assessment nationwide, with a 14-person National Office headquartered in Mona Vale, NSW.

The association's core product is the Yellow Card credential, delivered through a network of accredited trainers and, since August 2024, distributed digitally via the aXcelerate training management system. The "Yellow Card" name was formally registered as a trademark in 2025, converting long-standing brand equity into a legally protected asset. EWPA has integrated with ICT RTO:40825 for assessment pathways and partnered with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) for global standards alignment, extending the credential's interoperability beyond Australia.

EWPA operates as a not-for-profit industry association, generating revenue through corporate membership fees, training and assessment fees, Yellow Card issuance fees, accredited trainer licensing, and stationery/merchandise sales. The organisation co-locates with the Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) and partners with the Tree Surgery and High Access (TSHA) sector, creating a cross-vertical footprint across the elevated-access value chain. Under CEO Tali Te Hira (appointed December 2024), the association is executing a digital transformation agenda centred on the Digital Yellow Card rollout.

Name

EWPA

Legal name

Elevating Work Platforms Association of Australia Incorporated

Website

https://ewpa.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EWPA is the Australian peak industry body for elevating work platforms, administering the Yellow Card operator licensing program to 400+ corporate members and 240+ accredited trainers nationwide since 1987.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Corporate membership fees from manufacturers, hire companies, suppliers, end-users, trainers and service companies. Membership provides access to services, resources, and industry representation.
2. Training Course Fees: Yellow Card training fees averaging $300-$400 depending on modules and class size. Additional Statement of Attainment available for $50.
3. Card Fees: Digital Yellow Card $5.50, replacement printed card $35, renewal $57. Cards valid for 5 years.
4. Accredited Trainer Licensing: Train the Trainer accreditation course $700 (one-time), annual AT licence $125, annual TSHA membership $115 for Gold Card delivery.
5. Stationery Sales: Sale of EWPA branded stationery through the EWPA Store (shop.ewpa.com.au).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EWPA delivers the Yellow Card Training Program, a Nationally Recognised Training program for operators of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), issued through a nationwide network of approximately 240 Accredited Trainers. The association also runs a Corporate Membership Program serving 400+ industry members and operates an Accredited Trainer (Train-the-Trainer) Program. Supporting services include Verification of Competency assessments, digital and physical operator licences, and a suite of safety resources such as the Good Practice Guide, Information Sheets, Safety Alerts and Toolbox Talks.

Product overview

EWPA (Elevating Work Platform Association of Australia) is a not-for-profit industry association that serves as the peak representative body for the specialized Elevating Work Platform Industry in Australia. The organization's product portfolio centers on the EWPA Yellow Card Training Program - a Nationally Recognised Training program for operators of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). The core offering includes the Yellow Card operator licence with six training modules (Vertical Lift, Scissor Lift, Self-Propelled Boom Lift, Trailer Lift, Truck Mounted Lift, and Advanced Boom), supplemented by the recently launched Digital Yellow Card as a smartphone wallet credential. Supporting products include Verification of Competency assessments, the Good Practice Guide, Information Sheets covering safety guidelines and maintenance, MEWP Operator Controls technical resources, Safety Alerts and Notices, and Toolbox Talks developed with IPAF. The organization also operates an Accredited Trainer Program for train-the-trainer certification, offers corporate membership with over 400 members, and maintains an online stationery shop. All training is delivered through approximately 240 Accredited Trainers nationwide and is aligned to the RIIHAN301E unit of competence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yellow Card: EWPA's flagship operator training and licensing program for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms, providing certification for operators of various EWP types including vertical lifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, trailer lifts, truck mounted lifts and advanced booms
• Digital Yellow Card Operator Licence
• Verification of Competency (VOC)

Products and services

• EWPA Yellow Card Training Program Nationally Recognised Training program for Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) operators, delivered through approximately 240 EWPA Accredited Trainers across Australia. Covers six equipment modules, includes classroom theory, practical demonstration and online assessment, and awards the Yellow Card operator licence valid for five years.
• Digital Yellow Card Operator Licence Trademarked digital version of the EWPA Yellow Card stored in smartphone digital wallets, allowing operators to present their operator licence on a mobile device. Issued to existing Yellow Card holders with photo for a $5.50 fee.
• Verification of Competency (VoC) Assessment

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ operators trained since 1987
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWPA works closely with HRIA on combined events including state meetings, golf days, Christmas functions, and annual conventions. Both associations share the Mona Vale office location and collaborate on industry representation and events.
• Telescopic Handler Association of Australia (TSHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWPA and TSHA collaborate on operator licensing, with EWPA issuing Yellow Cards for EWPs and TSHA issuing Gold Cards for telehandlers. Joint training programs and shared accredited trainer network.
• Industry Compliant Training Ltd (RTO: 40825)coreTechnology or IntegrationEWPA uses ICT RTO:40825 to conduct assessment-only Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) against successful completion of the Yellow Card assessment. Statement of Attainment issued upon request.
• International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWPA collaborates with IPAF on toolbox talks and safety resources, including joint publications on avoiding electrocution and MEWPs with extension decks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB): CITB is the UK statutory training body for the construction industry, funding and setting standards for vocational training including plant operation. It is a broader incumbent providing training infrastructure across construction trades, with overlap on equipment operator competency.
• Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA): HRIA is the broader Australian hire and rental industry association that covers EWPA's member companies. The two share the Mona Vale office and co-host state meetings, golf events and annual conventions, making HRIA a direct partner-incumbent in the same membership ecosystem.
• Master Builders Australia: Master Builders Australia is the peak national building and construction industry association, with state-level member services including training programs. It addresses a broader trade base but overlaps with EWPA on construction-sector training and member representation.

Direct peers

• International Powered Access Federation (IPAF): IPAF is the global industry federation for the powered access industry, operating the PAL (Powered Access Licence) training program for MEWP operators worldwide. It is the most direct international counterpart to EWPA's Yellow Card program and they already collaborate on safety resources.
• Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA): SAIA is the US trade association for the scaffold and access industry, providing training, safety resources and member services. It addresses a related access-equipment workforce with a comparable industry-association-plus-training model to EWPA.
• National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA): NSCA is an Australian not-for-profit providing workplace safety training, consultancy and resources across industries. It overlaps with EWPA on the safety training and competency development side of EWPA's business and serves similar WHS/OHS-driven employer customers.
• Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA UK): The UK Construction Plant-hire Association is the closest international analogue to EWPA, representing plant-hire operators and supporting equipment operator training and competency standards. It serves the same industry vertical in a different geography and offers comparable member services.
• Telescopic Handler Association of Australia (TSHA): TSHA is the Australian peak body for the telehandler industry and EWPA's direct partner, issuing Gold Cards analogous to Yellow Cards for telehandlers. The two share trainers, joint training programs, and the same employer/customer base in the access equipment sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0icblOanEukYUlsRNkKftQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ewpainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/the-ewpa-76164886

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 EWPA