SCIPS

What SCIPS does

SCIPS (School Community Industry Partnership Service) is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The organization operates exclusively in South East Queensland, serving secondary school students in Years 10-12, mature-age learners seeking education-sector careers, and community members transitioning into the workforce. Its core offering is the coordination of work experience placements, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATS), and employability training, anchored by a database of over 3,400 employer partners across the region.

The product portfolio includes Project ACE (a 49-step work readiness program priced at A$75 per participant) and its FlexiACE variant for alternative education settings, the Work Experience placement service, SATS coordination, a Cert III School-Based Education Support program delivered with Strategix Training Group, and Careers Advice Services including expos and a School Leaver Service newsletter. Two social enterprises — ChACE Treats (dog treat production for hospitality training) and Cafe Solace (student barista program) — provide additional practical training pathways. Underlying technology is modest: online registration portals and a Pathways account system for school coordinators, with no proprietary platform or AI capabilities.

The business model is sales-led and government-funded. Revenue derives primarily from Queensland Government initiatives, principally Skilling Queenslanders for Work and Construction Skills Queensland, supplemented by per-participant fees from the ACE program. SCIPS goes to market through direct engagement with school coordinators and career advisors, community group partnerships, and self-serve online program registration. The organization has announced that operations will close on 30 September 2026, having supported 11,845 participants and facilitated 20,067 placements across its 28-year history.

Name

SCIPS

Legal name

SCIPS - School Community Industry Partnership Service

Website

https://scips.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCIPS is a non-profit organization in South East Queensland that connects secondary school students, mature-age learners, and community members with work experience placements, apprenticeships, and employability training through a network of 3,400+ employer partners, primarily funded by Queensland Government initiatives. Operations are scheduled to close on 30 September 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Work readiness training
• School-based apprenticeships
• Work experience placement
• Employability programs
• Vocational training services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Brisbane

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Programs: SCIPS is a non-profit organization that receives funding from government initiatives including Skilling Queenslanders for Work (Queensland Government) and Construction Skills Queensland to deliver training and employment support programs.
2. Program Fees: The ACE Employability Program is offered at A$75.00 per participant, providing work readiness training and certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SCIPS (School Community Industry Partnership Service) is a non-profit organisation that coordinates work experience placements, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, employability training programs, and careers advisory services for secondary school students and community members across South East Queensland. It also runs social-enterprise hospitality training initiatives (ChACE Treats and Cafe Solace) and a Cert III School-Based Education Support program for mature-age learners seeking to become teacher aides.

Product overview

SCIPS (School Community Industry Partnership Service) is a non-profit organisation offering a portfolio of work-readiness programs and social enterprises. The core product suite includes Project ACE (ACE Employability Program and FlexiACE variant) for interactive skills training, Work Experience placement coordination, School-Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships, Careers Advice Services, and the Cert III School-Based Education Support program. Additionally, SCIPS operates two social enterprises—ChACE Treats (hospitality training through dog treat production) and Cafe Solace (student barista training via mobile coffee service)—that provide practical work experience opportunities for young people. Programs are primarily delivered in South East Queensland schools with employer partnerships supporting placements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project ACE: Innovative real-time training program delivered by SCIPS, created to make education and training relevant, purposeful, and accessible for young people. Offers interactive, hands-on learning experience with dynamic digital resources, collaborative activities, and authentic workplace scenarios.
• FlexiACE
• ChACE Treats
• Cafe Solace
• Seek'a Trade
• ACE Employability Program

Products and services

• Project ACE (ACE Employability Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 11845 participants supported across all programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• St Laurence's CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Long-standing partnership since 1998 where St Laurence's College provides premises and some equipment to support SCIPS programs. Many students from this college and other schools have benefited through the SCIPS network. The partnership has developed from humble beginnings to SCIPS being recognized as a leader in Industry Placement.
• Strategix Training GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for delivering the Cert III in School-Based Education Support program. SCIPS has partnered with Strategix Training Group to provide a supportive, high-quality program designed specifically for mature-age learners through the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
• Queensland Government - Skilling Queenslanders for WorkcoreOthersPrimary funding partner for the Cert III School-Based Education Support program. The Queensland Government initiative funds training and support offered at no cost to participants. SCIPS is a proud delivery partner for this government workforce development program.
• Kenmore State High SchoolsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the ChACE Treats program. Students from this school work to produce ChACE treats as part of their job-ready training, gaining valuable hospitality experience before entering work experience placements.
• First Service IncsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability service organization partnered with SCIPS for the ChACE Treats program. Members from this organization help produce ChACE treats, gaining valuable hospitality experience as they work to build skills before entering work experience.
• Ballistic BrewerysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDog-friendly brewery venue that hosts ChACE Treats at their Springfield and Salisbury locations. Invited SCIPS to participate in dog-friendly family events, supporting the ChACE Treats community initiative.
• DBM VirconminorOthersEmployer partner providing work experience and placement opportunities for students through the SCIPS network.
• SDF (Skilling Queenslanders for Work provider)minorOthersPartner employer/industry organization in the SCIPS network supporting work experience opportunities.
• Ray WhiteminorOthersMajor employer partner providing work experience placements across their real estate offices in South East Queensland.
• Metro North HealthminorOthersHealthcare employer partner providing work experience opportunities for students interested in health careers.
• Merlo CoffeesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee supplier partner for the Cafe Solace program at Our Lady's College. Provided specialized training and professional quality equipment for student baristas, enhancing the vocational training experience.
• ChACE Treats Retail PartnerssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDog-friendly businesses selling ChACE Treats including Baladi, Black Lab Coffee, Kafe Krave, and BNE Baracca. These partners help keep tails wagging while supporting young people's training.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: Large Australian social services non-profit offering employment services, youth programs (including Foundation for Young Australians), and education-to-work pathways — overlaps SCIPS's workforce development remit at much broader scale.
• The Smith Family: Large Australian charity operating the 'Learning for Life' program supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through education and employment pathways — same youth-transition into workforce segment but at national scale and with broader education support.
• Apprenticeship Support Australia: National Australian service coordinating apprenticeship sign-ups and support — comparable intermediary role in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, though operating as a federally funded service rather than a small regional non-profit.

Regional players

• MAX Solutions (Employment Services): Australian employment services provider delivering Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Services — comparable employment-intermediary function but focused on job-ready adults rather than school students, and pan-Australian rather than SEQ-only.

Direct peers

• CareerTrackers: Non-profit running structured paid internship and career pathway programs linking university students with employers — comparable model of brokering work experience between education providers and corporate hosts.
• BoysTown: Australian non-profit providing youth services including employment, education support, and skills training — relevant comparable in mission and target cohort of disadvantaged young people transitioning to work.
• AFL SportsReady: National Australian non-profit providing work-readiness training, structured placement, and employer matching for young people (including those facing barriers) — directly overlaps SCIPS's mission and target cohort of school-age and early-career youth.
• Beacon Foundation: Australian non-profit delivering school-to-work transition, work-readiness, and employer-engagement programs for secondary students — directly comparable mission, funder mix, and school/employer intermediary role to SCIPS.
• Australian Apprenticeship Pathways: Australian Government program providing information and resources on apprenticeship and traineeship pathways — directly comparable function of connecting school students to school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATS) which is a core SCIPS offering.

Emerging players

• Yalari: Australian non-profit providing scholarship and educational support for Indigenous students from regional and remote areas — comparable model of pairing education with career/employment pathways but serving a different target cohort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/projectACEbrisbane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scips
• Instagraminstagram.com/scipsbrisbane

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 SCIPS