VET Workforce Project

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VET Workforce Project

The VET Workforce Project is a Commonwealth funded initiative being led by the ten Job and Skills Councils with the aim to build and support a secure and sustainable VET workforce.

Latest update
Latest update Trainer ToolBox Launched 2 June 2026
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) is delivering this targeted project focused on vocational education providers within the transport sectors.

Why this matters

Building a secure and sustainable VET workforce

The project aims to strengthen 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.

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.

Deliver practical initiatives to strengthen the TSC VET workforce

Stream 1 delivered the Supply Chain VET Workforce Study, which has been submitted to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. 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.

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 has now commenced, translating 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 focuses 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 has resulted in three RTO led initiatives, all of which have now been approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

Project

This project will produce

  • Transport Supply Chain VET Workforce Study (Stream 1)
  • Trainer ToolBox
  • ADF Instructor Recognition Initiative
  • Implementation Support Resources

Latest updates

General updates

Trainer ToolBox Launched

Industry Skills Australia (ISA) has launched a pilot initiative, the Trainer ToolBox, a FREE comprehensive online hub offering a wealth of digital professional development resources for the Transport Supply Chain industries (TSC) VET workforce.

The pilot initiative was developed as part of the VET Workforce Project, a Commonwealth-funded undertaking aimed at supporting, maintaining and growing the VET Workforce for the TSC industries (Aviation, Maritime, Rail and Transport and Logistics), as well as other key sectors of the Australian economy. 

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

Register for the Free Trainer ToolBox

Stream 3 Initiatives

Trainer ToolBox

The Trainer ToolBox will be a stand‑alone online hub designed to support the professional development for skills and knowledge in training and assessment of VET Trainers and Assessors.

It will provide access to digital resources identified by the TSC VET Workforce, that may include:

  • Interactive training modules
  • Videos and webinars
  • Live discussion forums

All resources will be supported by a custom Learning Management System (LMS), which will generate completion certificates. These certificates will assist RTOs in monitoring Trainer and Assessor currency.

ADF Instructor Recognition

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

The aim is to develop 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.

Implementation Support

Within the VET Workforce Project, Implementation Support focuses on developing and delivering training and guidance to TSC RTOs, VET Trainers, and Assessors. This support will assist with:

  • Training package implementation
  • Transition to updated qualifications and units.

Where You Can Help

  1. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) – Trainer ToolBox

ISA is seeking participants to assist with User Acceptance Testing (UAT). A limited number of TSC VET Trainers and Assessors will have early access to the Trainer ToolBox digital hub.

Participants will be able to:

  • Access and use professional development resources
  • Generate completion certificates
  • Provide feedback to inform final improvements.

Register as a UAT participant

  1.  RTO Implementation Support

We would also like to hear from RTOs that have TSC training packages (AVI, MAR, TLI) on scope and may need assistance with implementation.

In particular, we are interested in:

  • Recent qualification updates that have caused challenges
  • Areas where support from ISA could be beneficial

Supply Chain VET Workforce Study

*Please note that the information presented here by ISA has been distilled from a longer, more detailed document prepared for DEWR. It is represented with permission.

REPORT SNAPSHOT – The ISA VET Workforce Study at a glance

Study purpose

The ISA VET Workforce Study examines the current and future Vocational Education and Training (VET) workforce across Transport Supply Chain (TSC) industries. It focuses on a workforce profile and trends, emerging roles, and the barriers affecting attraction and retention of Teach, Train and Assess professionals.

Key findings

The TSC VET workforce is ageing, predominantly male, and less diverse than both the broader VET sector and the general Australian workforce. Women, First Nations people and people with disability remain underrepresented, indicating the presence of systemic barriers to entry and progression.

There is a significant shortage of qualified Teach, Train and Assess professionals in regional, rural and remote areas, with high accommodation costs worsening workforce supply challenges. The cost and complexity of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) is also discouraging potential entrants.

Ongoing digital transformation and rapid technological change across TSC industries are increasing the time and cost required for trainers and assessors to maintain vocational currency and professional competence.

Workforce pathways vary by sector. Maritime, Rail and Transport & Logistics typically attract older industry professionals transitioning into training later in their careers, while Aviation more commonly sees younger professionals take on training roles to maintain flight hours.

Opportunities and next steps

The study identified a previously unrecognised pool of potential Teach, Train and Assess professionals, presenting a strong opportunity for targeted recruitment. Increasing awareness of clear, supported pathways from industry into the VET workforce is a key priority.

ISA will work with industry, training providers and government stakeholders to address systemic barriers and help build a sustainable VET workforce pipeline for the future.

Why this matters

By analysing how training is delivered across Aviation, Maritime, Rail and Transport and Logistics, the study provides clearer insight into workforce challenges and the actions needed to ensure a reliable supply of skilled VET professionals for TSC industries.