VET Workforce Project - Industry Skills Australia

About the project

Project overview

The vocational education and training (VET) workforce plays a critical role in addressing skills shortages and supporting the evolving needs of Australia’s Transport Supply Chain (TSC) industries, including Aviation, Maritime, Rail, and Transport and Logistics.

As demand for skilled workers continues to increase across the economy, pressure on the VET sector has intensified, making it more difficult to attract and retain experienced professionals – particularly those who teach, train, and assess industry capability.

In response, the Australian Government, in partnership with Jobs and Skills Australia, developed the VET Workforce Blueprint to support a high-quality, sustainable national workforce.

Building on this foundation, Industry Skills Australia (ISA) has delivered this targeted project focused on vocational education providers within the transport sectors.

Why this matters

Building a secure and sustainable VET workforce

The project has strengthened workforce capacity and sustainability by improving understanding of industry-specific VET roles, addressing workforce challenges through RTO led solutions, and supporting attraction pathways and workforce pipelines across the TSC industries.

What was delivered

Stream 1 delivered the Supply Chain VET Workforce Study. The study used a mixed‑method research approach, combining data analysis with interviews, a national workforce survey and a workshop with Registered Training Organisation (RTO) representatives. This approach generated new insights while also validating findings from previous Industry Skills Australia workforce planning consultations.

The ISA VET Workforce Study found:

The TSC VET workforce is ageing, predominantly male, and less diverse than both the broader VET sector and the general Australian workforce.
There is a significant shortage of qualified Teach, Train and Assess professionals in regional, rural and remote areas.
The cost and complexity of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) is discouraging potential entrants.
Ongoing digital transformation and rapid technological change are increasing the time and cost required for trainers and assessors to maintain vocational currency and professional competence.

Read the Transport Supply Chain VET Workforce Study – Stream 1

Stream 2 built on the outcomes of the Study by further investigating and validating the key challenges and issues identified. The focus of this stream was on identifying practical, RTO-led solutions to address workforce pressures and strengthen the sustainability of the VET workforce across the TSC sectors.

Stream 3 translated the research and recommendations from Streams 1 and 2 into action.

Building on feedback from the VET workforce about key challenges and pressures, Stream 3 focused on developing targeted resources and professional development activities to strengthen the VET workforce across the transport supply chain and streamlining into the TSC VET Trainer and Assessor role.

This work resulted in three RTO-led initiatives:

What the project has delivered

Trainer ToolBox

Industry Skills Australia (ISA) launched the Trainer ToolBox in June 2026 featuring a FREE comprehensive online hub offering a wealth of digital professional development resources for the Transport Supply Chain industries (TSC) VET workforce.

The Trainer ToolBox is a standalone repository of freely available resources, developed in response to input from TSC Trainers and Assessors. It brings together the tools and knowledge they identified as essential to their development as VET professionals and educators of future industry talent.

The platform is delivered through a custom Learning Management System (LMS). It features an easy-to-navigate interface and a range of media such as videos and a community of practice.

Content is focused on key areas identified by TSC trainers and assessors as critical for their professional growth, including:

Assessment design

Digital tools and artificial intelligence

Facilitation skills

Instructional design

Language, literacy, numeracy and digital (LLND) capability

Online training delivery

Student engagement and support.

Participants can build practical skills as diverse as creating storyboards and understanding instructional design fundamentals; and from managing training across different generations to leading more effective group discussions.

A key feature of the Trainer ToolBox is its community of practice. This online forum allows users to ask questions, share insights and other resources, and connect with peers across the TSC industry. It provides a space for discussions on training package implementation, professional development, and industry challenges.

Registered users who complete learning activities – including watching videos and successfully responding to assessment questions – will receive a certificate of completion, demonstrating their engagement with the content. Registration is FREE.

Although content has been designed specifically for the TSC workforce, all Trainers and Assessors are welcome to use the Trainer ToolBox.

For more information email VETWBGroup@isajsc.org.au

Project

What this project has delivered

ADF Instructor Recognition

The ADF Instructor Recognition initiative mapped the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Instructor Course to the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122).

This led to the development of a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) toolkit that creates a streamlined entry pathway into TSC VET Trainer and Assessor roles for ADF veterans who have completed the ADF Instructor Course and maintained their currency.

Training Package Implementation Support

This initiative provides practical guidance and resources for the TSC VET workforce to support the implementation and transition of new or updated Training Packages. The initiative has progressed through the initial development and RTO consultation stages. Key achievements include the development of training and assessment materials, completion of courseware validation and an independent RTO interview and identification of priorities for further refinement and implementation.

In evaluation, The Training Package Implementation Support initiative was viewed as a practical way to support RTOs to interpret and implement Training Package requirements. By translating technical requirements into practical guidance and examples, it can provide greater clarity on the intent of units; how competency may be demonstrated and assessed; and reduce inconsistent interpretation among course developers, trainers and assessors.

Opportunities and next steps

Evaluation findings suggest the Trainer ToolBox pilot is achieving its intended objectives and delivering positive outcomes. Based on this evidence, the Trainer ToolBox is considered well positioned to progress beyond the pilot phase and into broader implementation. Not only can the Trainer ToolBox support Transport and Logistics Supply Chain trainers but is appropriate for ALL trainers and the VET workforce.

Based on feedback, it is recommended that the ADF Instructor Recognition initiative should progress to pilot implementation, with priority given to quality assurance, refinement and testing before broader rollout.

With the initial materials developed and validated with RTOs, it was recommended that the next stage of Training Package Implementation Support should focus on industry validation, pilot implementation and further refinement before broader rollout. There was a clear rationale and support for continuing the initiative.

Building on the evidence from Stream 1 and the solutions developed through Stream 2 and 3 delivered three targeted initiatives that address critical gaps in TSC VET workforce capability, currency and supply. ISA has converted workforce insights into practical, scalable solutions that lay the foundations for a more capable, sustainable and future-ready TSC VET workforce.