Queensland Internatonal Business Academy

What Queensland Internatonal Business Academy does

Queensland International Business Academy (QIBA Pty Ltd) is an Australian government-registered training organisation (RTO 5304, CRICOS 01515J) that has delivered vocational and English-language education since 1986. The company operates four Australian campuses in Sydney (headquarters, Level 5, 540 George Street), Canberra, Brisbane, and Hobart, plus a LanguageCert test centre in Campsie (Sydney). Its portfolio comprises three core product lines: Professional Year Programs (PYPs) for ICT and Accounting graduates delivered in partnership with the Australian Computer Society, CPA Australia, and the Institute of Public Accountants; nationally accredited VET courses (Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Leadership and Management, Business Operations, Information Technology, and Hospitality Management, plus Certificate IV in Kitchen Management); and ELICOS English language programs including PTE Academic and LanguageCert exam preparation. The PYPs combine facilitated classroom coursework with structured internship placements and serve as a pathway for international graduates seeking Australian work experience and permanent residency eligibility.

QIBA's business model is tuition-driven across individual learners, with course-level pricing per program or per week — for example PTE full-time at AUD $360/week in Sydney (plus a $250 enrollment fee) and AUD $230/week in Brisbane, LanguageCert prep at AUD $400, PTE Express at AUD $399, Standard at AUD $499, and Unlimited at AUD $699. Course delivery blends 15 hours of face-to-face classroom instruction with approximately 5 hours of online learning per week, supported by the Learnbook (Moodle) LMS and Zoom for hybrid cohorts. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer enrollment via the qiba.edu.au website with a global network of international education agents across Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and other source markets, supplemented by overseas education fairs and Austrade-partnered events. The core customer segments are international graduates seeking Australian employment and migration pathways, English-language learners preparing for PTE/IELTS/LanguageCert, and domestic students pursuing vocational qualifications; named customers are individual learners rather than enterprise accounts. Leadership consists of CEO Helmer Lich and Business Development Executive Kate Lee, who manages international agent engagement across Asian markets. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and has no disclosed parent, external investors, or funding rounds.

Name

Queensland Internatonal Business Academy

Legal name

QIBA Pty Ltd

Website

https://qiba.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Queensland International Business Academy (QIBA) is an Australian-registered training organisation delivering Professional Year Programs, accredited VET courses, and ELICOS English preparation to international and domestic students across four Australian campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHADAD

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Community & Junior Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAHAF

Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics Management Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDAIAEAC

Business & Professional Language Training Abroad

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Language Schools & Immersion Programs

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• English language programs
• Professional year programs
• PTE preparation
• Corporate training

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses: Revenue from nationally accredited vocational education courses including Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Business, IT, Hospitality, and Leadership. Courses are delivered full-time at Sydney and Brisbane campuses with 15 hours face-to-face plus 5 hours online per week.
2. Professional Year Program (PYP): Government-approved professional year programs for ICT and Accounting graduates providing workplace skills training and internship placement. Combines formal coursework with practical internship experience for international graduates seeking Australian employment and PR pathways.
3. ELICOS English Courses: English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) including General English and English for Academic Study, as well as test preparation for PTE Academic, IELTS, and LanguageCert.
4. PTE Exam Preparation: Specialized PTE Academic exam preparation courses offered as full-time programs (4-24 weeks at $230/week) and part-time options including Express ($399), Standard ($499), and Unlimited 6-month ($699) packages.
5. LanguageCert Testing and Preparation: Official LanguageCert Academic test centre offering preparation courses ($400), test vouchers ($379), and combo packages ($749). QIBA is an authorized LanguageCert testing provider in Sydney and Canberra.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Queensland International Business Academy is a private Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) operating as a Pty Ltd that delivers vocational education and training (VET), English language (ELICOS) courses, PTE preparation, and Professional Year Programs for ICT and Accounting graduates across campuses in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, and Hobart. It also offers corporate training to organisational clients.

Product overview

Queensland International Business Academy (QIBA) is an Australian government-registered training organisation (RTO 5304, CRICOS 01515J) offering a portfolio of education and training services since 1986. The core offerings consist of Professional Year Programs (ICT and Accounting) that combine facilitated coursework with ACS-affiliated internship placements, VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses across business, IT, and hospitality disciplines, and ELICOS English language programs including PTE Academic and LanguageCert exam preparation. The products span full-time accredited qualifications (certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas), professional development programs, internship services, and corporate training. Course delivery combines classroom-based face-to-face learning with online components via Zoom and Learnbook platforms, with campuses in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, and Hobart.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vocational Education and Training (VET) Government-recognised vocational courses delivered to students across multiple Australian campuses as part of the academy's core Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offering.
• ELICOS English Language Programs English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) delivered to international students seeking English proficiency for study, work, or migration in Australia.
• PTE Preparation Courses Preparation courses for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) designed to help students achieve the English proficiency scores required for study or migration.
• Professional Year Program (ICT) Professional Year Program designed for ICT graduates that combines workplace readiness training and an internship to support skilled migration outcomes in Australia.
• Professional Year Program (Accounting) Professional Year Program designed for Accounting graduates that combines workplace readiness training and an internship to support skilled migration outcomes in Australia.
• Corporate Training Customised vocational and professional training programs delivered to corporate clients and organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ students graduated
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Computer Society (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS is the professional body for Australia's information and communications technology sector. QIBA partners with ACS to deliver the Professional Year Program for ICT graduates, which includes the ACS Professional Environments (PE) Online course component. The partnership enables QIBA to provide recognized professional development and internship opportunities for international ICT graduates.
• Torrens UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathway partnership agreement allowing QIBA students to progress to higher education at Torrens University with recognized credits and potential scholarships.
• FTS Education & Visa ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational education agent and visa services provider supporting student recruitment for QIBA programs.
• CPA AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA Australia is one of the world's largest accounting bodies. QIBA offers Professional Year Programs for Accounting graduates, with some programs aligned to CPA Australia recognition for career advancement.
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accounting body partnership for accounting professional year programs, providing pathway to membership and career development in accounting.
• LanguageCertcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial LanguageCert Academic test centre partnership enabling QIBA to offer LanguageCert test preparation courses and official testing services at Sydney (Campsie) and Canberra campuses.
• Pearson (PTE)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Pearson for PTE Academic exam preparation courses and authorized testing support services.
• VELGminorOthersVELG (Victorian Ethnic Education and Language Group) affiliation for vocational education sector networking and professional development.
• Future UnlimitedminorOthersEducation industry affiliation for international student recruitment and promotion of Australian education opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Academies Australasia Polytechnic: Australian VET/ELICOS provider delivering nationally accredited diplomas and English programs to international students. Comparable in course catalogue, regulatory framework, and student demographic.
• Imagine Education Australia: Multi-campus Australian CRICOS-registered provider of VET, ELICOS, and pathway courses with a similar mix of business, IT, and hospitality diplomas. Closely aligned business model and international student focus.
• Acknowledge Education: Multi-campus Australian VET/ELICOS provider delivering diplomas, English programs, and pathways to international students. Comparable scale and product mix to QIBA across business, IT, and English courses.
• Stanley College: WA-based CRICOS-registered RTO offering VET, ELICOS, and pathway programs for international students. Directly comparable to QIBA in scope, target market (international students), and Australian vocational/English course mix.
• ILSC Education Group: Global ELICOS and vocational training operator with Australian campuses. Directly comparable in English-language course delivery, international student recruitment, and pathway programming.
• Eynesbury College: Adelaide-based CRICOS provider offering ELICOS, foundation, and diploma programs to international students seeking university pathways. Overlaps with QIBA in English language and diploma delivery for international cohorts.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Australia: Larger established provider offering English, diploma, and university pathway programs across Australia. Overlaps with QIBA in ELICOS and vocational offerings but operates at greater scale and broader portfolio.
• Navitas: Major global education provider with Australian pathway, English, and vocational programs through Navitas Professional and English language divisions. Larger incumbent competing for the same international student segments.
• Study Group: Global education group with Australian pathway and English programs (e.g., Taylors College). Comparable in international student recruitment and pathway-focused course delivery, though operating at materially larger scale.

Others

• Torrens University Australia: Existing pathway partner of QIBA, offering higher education degrees to which QIBA graduates articulate. Comparable ecosystem participant providing degree-level progression for QIBA's vocational completions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/qibamarketing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/queensland-internatonal-business-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/qiba_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Queensland Internatonal Business Academy