What Acknowledge Education does

Acknowledge Education Pty Ltd is an Australian private for-profit tertiary education provider operating since 1883 across eight campuses in five major cities — Melbourne (Exhibition Street headquarters, Bourke Street, Brunswick), Sydney (Surry Hills and Barangaroo), Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. The company delivers higher education degrees, vocational education and training (VET), senior secondary VCE programs, and ELICOS English-language courses across six study areas: Health and Community, Education and Early Childhood, Engineering Design and Construction, Tourism and Hospitality, Senior Secondary, and English Studies. Its product set spans graduate certificates and diplomas through bachelors and masters, including flagship programs such as the AASW-accredited Bachelor and Master of Social Work (Qualifying), the ANMAC-accredited Diploma of Nursing, and a Master of Counselling co-delivered with the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC).

The underlying technology stack is a standard regulated-education platform: a Moodle-based learning management system (lms.ae.edu.au), an RTO Manager student portal (ae.rtomanager.com.au), and an online application portal with save-and-return functionality and a 48-hour Course Advisor callback. Revenue is generated almost entirely from tuition fees on a per-unit pricing model — total program tuition ranges from $12,000 (Diploma of Civil Construction Design) to $77,700 (Bachelor of Social Work) — plus administrative and enrolment fees, with FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans available to eligible domestic students. International students are recruited via a global registered education agent network and direct online application, while domestic students follow a seven-step enrollment process.

Go-to-market combines sales-led direct enrollment with a channel-partner agent model and content marketing via a Knowledge Hub and active social channels. The institution reports 6,000+ annual student placements with industry partners and a 98% placement satisfaction rate (Jan 2026 survey). The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, investors, or revenue figures, and currently faces a legacy employee underpayment remediation covering 632 affected employees from July 2016 to January 2023.

Name

Acknowledge Education

Legal name

Acknowledge Education Pty Ltd

Website

https://acknowledgeeducation.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education & Vocational Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Diploma-to-Degree / Articulation & Credit-Transfer Pathways (EDAIAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Vocational training programs
• English language courses
• Senior secondary education
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Higher Education Tuition Fees: Fee-for-service higher education programs including Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master degrees. Per-unit pricing with total tuition ranging from $25,200 (Graduate Diploma) to $77,700 (Bachelor of Social Work). Additional placement unit fees apply for programs with clinical fieldwork components.
2. Vocational Education and Training (VET) Fees: VET programs including Diploma of Nursing, Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design, Diploma of Civil Construction Design. Tuition fees plus material fees. Programs eligible for VET Student Loans ( FEE-HELP for domestic students).
3. Senior Secondary (VCE) Tuition: Year 11 and Year 12 VCE programs at $17,000 per year with consolidated fee of $900/year. Available at Melbourne campus.
4. English Language (ELICOS) Fees: English for Secondary Schools program at $425 per week with materials fees ranging from $380-$580 depending on study duration. 1-52 week programs available.
5. Administrative Fees: Enrolment fees ($200 for ELICOS/VCE, $250 for vocational), Administration fee ($250 for HE courses). Also includes refund/transfer request processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Acknowledge Education delivers accredited higher education degrees (Bachelor, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master), vocational diplomas (Nursing, Civil Construction Design), senior secondary VCE programs, and English language (ELICOS) preparation courses to domestic and international students. Programs span health and community, early childhood education, construction, and tourism/hospitality disciplines, with industry-integrated fieldwork placements and online study options. The provider operates five Australian campuses and serves both fee-paying and FEE-HELP/VET Student Loan eligible domestic students.

Product overview

Acknowledge Education is a multi-campus Australian education provider offering vocational and higher education programmes across five campuses (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) and online. The institution operates on a unified platform model combining vocational diplomas and undergraduate/postgraduate degrees. The course portfolio spans Health and Community (including social work, counselling, nursing), Education (early childhood), Engineering Design and Construction (civil construction design, project management), Tourism and Hospitality, Senior Secondary (VCE), and English Language (ELICOS). Key products include the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), Master of Counselling (delivered via AIPC partnership), Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education, Diploma of Nursing (ANMAC-accredited), Bachelor of Community Services, Bachelor of Social Work (AASW-accredited), and various vocational diplomas. The institution also provides student support infrastructure including Moodle LMS, an RTO Manager student portal, and industry placement partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Social Work (Qualifying) A two-year full-time Master of Social Work (Qualifying) degree comprising 12 theory units and 2 placement units, equipping students to empower people, strengthen communities, and transform lives. CRICOS Code: 116234G. AASW-accredited.
• Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education A one-year full-time online postgraduate diploma comprising 8 units that prepares students for careers in early childhood education. CRICOS Code: 116494J. Fully accredited and career-ready.
• Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design A two-year advanced diploma teaching students to design and manage complex civil construction projects. CRICOS Code: 105230B. Includes materials fee of $400 and requires prior Diploma of Civil Construction Design.
• Bachelor of Community Services A three-year undergraduate degree comprising 24 units preparing students for careers in community services, case management, programme coordination, and team leadership.
• Master of Counselling A Master of Counselling delivered by the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC), accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Prepares graduates for advanced clinical practice and private practice eligibility.
• Graduate Certificate of Health and Community A 14-week postgraduate certificate comprising 4 units, providing entry into senior specialist roles and direct entry into the Master of Social Work.
• Diploma of Nursing (HTL54121) An 18-month ANMAC-accredited diploma with 440 hours of clinical placement, qualifying graduates to register with AHPRA as enrolled nurses. Total tuition fee: $25,200.
• Bachelor of Social Work A four-year undergraduate degree with 26 theory units and 2 placement units, holding conditional/provisional accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) for professional social work practice.
• Bachelor of Construction Project Management A three-year undergraduate degree comprising 24 units in construction project management.
• Diploma of Civil Construction Design (RII50520) A 15-month vocational diploma providing foundational skills in civil construction design. Tuition: $12,000; materials fee: $400.
• Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management A three-year undergraduate degree comprising 24 units preparing students for management careers in tourism and hospitality sectors.
• English for Secondary Schools An English language preparation course for secondary school students, delivered 25 hours Monday to Friday for 1-52 weeks at $425 per week. Materials (textbooks and uniforms) billed separately by study duration.
• VCE Year 11 and Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education senior secondary programmes for Years 11 and 12, available at Melbourne campus at $17,000 per year with a consolidated fee of $900 per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% placement satisfaction rate (Jan 2026 survey)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Community Abundance (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Bridge Darebin (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Christ Church Mission Inc (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Thomastown Neighbourhood House (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Bakhtar Community Organisation (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• AusWise (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• PCYC (VIC)minorOthersPolice & Citizens Youth Clubs - hosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Mental Health Foundation Australia (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Edmund Rice Community Services (VIC)minorOthersHosting organisation where AE students conduct integrated fieldwork placements in Victoria.
• Velie Healthcare ServicesminorOthersHealthcare provider founded by AE graduate Jebet. Supports disability and mental health communities. Example of graduate success and industry connection.
• Wandiyali Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CorporationminorOthersRegional NSW organisation where AE graduate Rahul works as Intensive Therapeutic Youth Worker.
• Asylum Seeker Resource CentreminorOthersMelbourne-based organisation where AE graduate Arun works as Social Services Coordinator.
• GRAF AustraliaminorOthersRegional WA engineering firm where AE graduate Ingrid works as Civil Engineering Draftsperson.
• Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIPC delivers the Master of Counselling program on behalf of Acknowledge Education. AIPC is the professional body that sets counselling standards.
• Social Research CentreminorOthersAdministers Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) and Student Experience Survey (SES) on behalf of Australian Government Department of Education as part of QILT initiative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UP Education: Likely parent or affiliated group of Acknowledge Education, indicated by the '[email protected]' contact domain. UP Education operates a portfolio of Australian private vocational and higher education brands with similar multi-campus, multi-sector delivery.
• Navitas: Global pathway and education provider with significant Australian footprint including diploma-to-degree articulation programs and international student recruitment — directly comparable business model to AE's pathway-led, CRICOS-registered offerings.
• Study Group: International education provider delivering pathway, diploma and degree programs in partnership with universities; comparable to AE's VET-to-HE articulation model and international student funnel.
• Academies Australasia: ASX-listed private education provider delivering vocational and higher education across Australian and international campuses — comparable scale, program mix and student demographic to AE.
• Torrens University Australia: Australian private university delivering vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programs across multiple campuses; competes directly with AE's higher education portfolio in health, community services and education disciplines.
• Kaplan Australia: Operates Australian pathway, diploma and degree programs with strong international student focus, including English language preparation — directly comparable to AE's ELICOS plus tertiary pathway combination.

Emerging players

• Think Education: Niche Australian private higher education provider delivering health, design and education programs; overlaps with AE on Early Childhood Education and selected health offerings but at smaller scale.

Regional players

• Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC): Counselling education specialist that delivers the Master of Counselling on behalf of AE under a core partnership; comparable as a niche HE provider in counselling and community services with overlapping student markets.

Broad incumbents

• Holmesglen Institute: Large Victorian TAFE delivering VET and some higher education including nursing and community services — comparable program portfolio to AE in Victoria but operates as a public provider with a much broader mandate.
• IDP Education: Global international student placement and English testing business — directly comparable to AE's international student recruitment funnel and agent-distributed application model, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/acknowledgeeducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acknowledgeeducation
• Instagraminstagram.com/acknowledgeeducation
• TikToktiktok.com/@acknowledgeeducation

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Acknowledge Education