TSHA

What TSHA does

TSHA (Telescopic Handler Association of Australia) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 1987 and headquartered in Mona Vale, New South Wales, with a national office of approximately eight staff. The association administers the Gold Card, the Australian industry's principal operator certification scheme for telehandlers, aligned to the national unit of competency RIIHAN309F. Its core product is a credentialing system: candidates are trained by a network of 200+ TSHA-Accredited Trainers, assessed against the Gold Card standard, and issued a wallet card (or, since August 2024, a Digital Gold Card delivered to a mobile wallet). Since inception TSHA states it has trained more than 500,000 operators.

The business model is membership- and accreditation-funded rather than transaction-funded. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues (A$490/yr), trainer accreditation fees (A$700 one-time plus A$125/yr), physical card replacement (A$35), and digital card issuance (A$5.50). Go-to-market is conducted through a decentralized trainer network rather than direct sales, supported by member organisations including the major Australian rental companies and OEMs/distributors such as Manitou, JCB, JLG and Sinoboom. Underlying infrastructure consists of the National Training Database, which records operator credentials, and digital credentialing delivered via mobile wallet.

TSHA's positioning is that of a standards body rather than a commercial operator. It maintains the Good Practice Guide for telehandler operation (v3 published August 2025), holds the Yellow Card trademark, and operates cross-recognition and joint training arrangements with peer associations EWPA (Elevating Work Platform Association) and HRIA (Hire and Rental Industry Association), plus liaison with State WorkSafe authorities and international bodies including IPAF. Distribution extensions in 2024–2026 have included partnerships with Kennards Hire, engagement with Sinoboom and HRIA on electrification training, and side-by-side telehandler/EWP training with EWPA.

Name

TSHA

Legal name

Telescopic Handler Association of Australia Inc.

Website

https://tsha.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TSHA is a not-for-profit Australian industry association founded in 1987 that administers the Gold Card telehandler operator certification, aligned to the national RIIHAN309F competency standard, through 200+ accredited trainers serving Australia's rental, construction, and equipment manufacturing sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Safety Training and Certification

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA) (EDAOADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Telehandler operator certification
• Heavy equipment training
• Workplace safety compliance
• Industry association membership
• Operator licence program

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney, NSW

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of $490 (inc GST) per financial year for member organisations including rental companies, manufacturers, suppliers, end-users, trainers, and service companies.
2. Gold Card Training Program: Train the Trainer Accreditation Course (one-time $700 fee) and Annual Accredited Trainer licence ($125/year). Operators pay separately to trainers for Gold Card training.
3. Stationery and Card Products: Sale of TSHA stationery products including maintenance logbooks, summary statement cards, red pouches. Replacement cards (printed $35, digital $5.50), renewals ($57).
4. Business Support Services: Association provides insurance and risk management advice, HR and workplace relations advice, accounting and business advisory services as member benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TSHA is a not-for-profit industry association that delivers the Gold Card Operator Licence Training Program for telescopic materials handlers (telehandlers) across Australia. The program provides nationally recognised operator certification aligned to Unit of Competence RIIHAN309F, covering safety, hazard evaluation, pre-operational checks, and operation of various telehandler types and attachments. Training is delivered through a network of over 200 Accredited Trainers, with credentials valid for five years and renewable online.

Product overview

TSHA (Telescopic Handler Association of Australia) is a not-for-profit industry association that offers a portfolio of products and services centered on the Gold Card operator training and certification programme for telehandlers. The core offering is the Gold Card training programme, which provides structured certification covering safety, hazard evaluation, pre-operational checks, and operation of various telehandler types and attachments (forks, crane jibs, earthmoving buckets, work platforms). This is supported by the Digital Gold Card for electronic wallet storage, printed replacement cards, training course access through a national network of Accredited Trainers, and online verification services. Additional offerings include the Good Practice Guide, Information Sheets (safety guidelines, inspection checklists), TSHA Stationery products, the Online Library for members, and the Accredited Trainer programme for those seeking to deliver Gold Card training. The Gold Card programme is aligned to RIIHAN309F unit of competence and is widely accepted across Australian industry sectors including agriculture, mining, construction, logistics, and waste management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSHA Gold Card Operator Licence National operator training and certification programme for Telescopic Materials Handlers (telehandlers), covering safety, hazard evaluation, pre-operational checks, and operation of various telehandler and attachment combinations including forks, crane jibs, earthmoving buckets, and work platforms. Cards are valid for 5 years and can be renewed online.
• TSHA Digital Gold Card Digital version of the Gold Card operator licence stored in smartphone wallets, providing electronic proof of telehandler operator certification with the same validity as the physical card. Available for $5.50 for current non-expired Gold Cards.
• Accredited Trainer Programme Train-the-trainer certification programme enabling qualified individuals to become TSHA Accredited Trainers authorised to deliver Gold Card training and issue operator licences. Requires specific qualifications, experience, and completion of the Train the Trainer course ($700 one-time fee) plus an annual trainer licence ($125/year).
• TSHA Gold Card Training Courses National network of training courses delivered by TSHA Accredited Trainers covering telehandler operations, available in multiple Australian states with various attachment specialisations. Operators can search and book training through the TSHA website.
• TSHA Gold Card Verification Service Online verification tool for employers and site supervisors to verify operator licence numbers and confirm validity of Gold Cards through the National Training Database.
• TSHA Membership Annual membership ($490 inc GST per financial year) for organisations in the telescopic handler industry, including rental companies, manufacturers, suppliers, end-users, trainers, and service companies. Includes access to member portal, Australian Standards, accredited trainer network, events, resources, and business support services.
• TSHA Stationery Products Specialised stationery products for members including Red Pouches ($56.76), TSH Summary Statement Cards ($17.60 pack of 10), and Telescopic Handler Routine Maintenance Logbooks ($24.75).
• TSHA Gold Card Replacement Service Physical replacement Gold Card service for lost, damaged, or additional cards. Costs $35 for printed replacement delivered via Australia Post. Cards issued prior to 2014 without expiry date cannot be replaced.
• TSHA Gold Card Renewal Service Online renewal assessment for expired Gold Cards, allowing operators to extend their certification for another five years without retaking face-to-face training. Available within 12 months of expiry at $57 inclusive of GST.

Quantifiable outcome

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

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elevating Work Platform Association (EWPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSHA operates side by side with the EWPA. The TSHA Gold Card program is administered through EWPA systems including the Yellow Card portal and training database. Both associations share infrastructure, member services portal, and operate from the same National Office location.
• Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSHA partners with HRIA for annual conventions and industry events. The HRIA Convention features presentations from TSHA and is where the TSHA Accredited Trainer of the Year award is presented. TSHA provides links to HRIA events and resources on its website.
• International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation for powered access industry. Listed as related organisation providing global industry connections and standards alignment.
• Australian State WorkSafe AuthoritiescoreOthersTSHA maintains relationships with SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe VIC, WorkSafe WA, Safe Work SA, Work Safe QLD, WorkSafe TAS, WorkSafe NT, and WorkSafe ACT for regulatory alignment and safety standards development.
• Standards AustraliaminorOthersTSHA provides access to Australian Standards through its member portal and maintains alignment with relevant standards for the telescopic handler industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TSHA1001
• Facebookfacebook.com/TelescopicHandlerAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tsha

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 TSHA