VET News
Wednesday 27th of August 2025
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Hello and welcome to VET News,
Firstly, I just wanted to give a big shout out to the team at Velg Training who have been doing an amazing job in preparing for this year’s National VET Conference being held on 30–31 October 2025 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The lineup of speakers looks fantastic and no doubt it will be another great event in the annual VET calendar.
This really is the principal VET conference of the year. It brings together people from across the sector and sets the tone for the conversations that follow in policy, compliance, and practice. It is not only outstanding professional development, but also the best opportunity to stay across the major changes and emerging issues shaping our field.
Of course, it is not all serious business. The Welcome Function is always a highlight, with plenty of chances to catch up with colleagues and enjoy some fun together (including the now-famous dance-off competition). It is a great reminder that the conference is about connection and community as much as learning. If you have the opportunity to attend, I strongly recommend it. There is a link below in events. I will be there. If you see me wondering around, please come and say hi.
Lastly, I have also just published a new article on our website: Why the CEO is the Biggest Risk in Any RTO. The article looks at what it takes to be a CEO of an RTO, particularly in the current environment where there is a higher expectation on governance, accountability, and informed decision-making under the 2025 RTO Standards. If you are interested in how governance and culture shape compliance, it is well worth a read.
This is the first in a series of articles I will be releasing on our website and through VET News, focusing on the requirements of the new standards. I figured there was no better place to start than the top. Stay tuned for further articles.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
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Compliance & Regulatory News
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USI Portal login security update
The USI registry has enhanced security by introducing passphrases and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to the USI Student Portal.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds extra protection to student USI accounts. When creating or activating a USI, and each time they log in, students will receive a one-time code sent to their personal mobile number or email address.
If a student doesn’t have a personal mobile or email, they can instead verify their identity by answering two security questions.
As an additional safeguard, passwords must now be at least 15 characters long. The USI registry recommends using a passphrase—a simple sentence or combination of words—which is easier to remember and much harder to guess.
Click here to find out more
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ASQA seeking information on the quality of delivery of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) training
14th August 2025
ASQA is conducting research to gain a deeper understanding of the quality of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) training delivered by registered providers.
Throughout August 2025, ASQA will be contacting providers who deliver the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and/or the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. These calls will seek information such as the number of students currently undertaking ECEC training and how assessments are being delivered.
The information collected will not be used as evidence for regulatory decisions. However, if significant concerns are identified, ASQA may undertake further assessment of the provider.
Click here to find out more
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ASQA’s Corporate Plan 2025-26 published
12th August 2025
ASQA’s 2025–26 Corporate Plan sets out how the regulator will ensure quality and integrity across Australia’s VET sector. Streamlined to three strategic objectives, the plan outlines key activities, including supporting providers to implement the Standards for RTOs 2025, taking action against non-genuine operators, and collaborating with governments, industry, and education partners. CEO Saxon Rice said the Corporate Plan reflected ASQA’s purpose of ensuring quality VET so that students, industry, governments and the community have confidence in the integrity of national qualifications.
Click here to find out more
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ASQA’s animated videos
ASQA has developed a series of animated videos designed to help both providers and students understand the Standards for RTOs 2025 and what they mean in practice.
Click here to find out more
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‘Vocational Voices’ Podcast
Season 10- Episode 1 Building inclusive VET systems and pathways
In part one of this two-part series, Steve Davis speaks with a panel of presenters from the 34th National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills’, held 9–11 July 2025 on the Gold Coast.
The conversation explores the structural and methodological foundations of creating inclusive VET systems—focusing on the how of designing and delivering education that works for everyone. Topics include inclusive approaches to VET design and delivery, training practices for a diverse workforce, strengthening pathways into and beyond VET for diverse learners, and building digital literacy to support varied learning needs.
Click here to find out more
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Our Gen AI Transition
Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) Generative AI Capacity Study is the first national, whole-of-labour-market analysis examining the opportunities and challenges that Generative AI presents for Australia’s workforce.
The study finds that Generative AI is far more likely to augment human work than replace it. While it can automate routine tasks, its greatest potential lies in boosting productivity, reshaping how we work, and creating new opportunities across the economy.
Key findings:
- Generative AI is more likely to enhance jobs than replace them.
- Adoption is in its early stages and varies by industry, with many workers using AI tools independently.
- The impact will differ across occupations, industries, regions, and demographic groups.
- Building the right skills will be critical for maximising benefits.
The report offers deep insights and practical recommendations to help Australia prepare for this technological shift and ensure the workforce is ready for the future.
Click here to find out more
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Australian Cyber Security Centre
New step-by-step guidance to help protect your business’ devices and accounts
The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), in collaboration with the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and Cyber Wardens, has developed a series of practical guides to help you secure your devices and online accounts.
If your devices are compromised, your business could be at serious risk. Just like protecting your wallet, securing your devices is essential. Unauthorised access could expose your emails, text messages, social media accounts, banking information, and important files.
Simple steps you can take to protect yourself include:
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Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA)
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Using a password manager and reputable antivirus software
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Regularly backing up your data
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Keeping your software and systems up to date
Click here to find out more
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Australian Cyber Security Centre
Exercise in a Box- Be business ready for a cyber incident
This free service helps your organisation assess and strengthen its cyber security practices—at your own pace, in a safe environment, and as often as you like.
Exercise in a Box offers a range of ready-made cyber security exercises, complete with all the resources you need to plan, set up, and run them within your organisation. It also includes a report template to record your findings, making it easier to identify risks and implement meaningful improvements to your cyber security posture.
Click here to find out more
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National Safe Work Month 2025 – Activity kit
Our activity kit is your guide to safety: every job, every day this National Safe Work Month
October is National Safe Work Month, a time for employers and workers across Australia to commit to creating safe and healthy workplaces.
This year’s campaign theme, safety: every job, every day, encourages all workplaces – regardless of occupation, industry, location, and size – to prioritise safety every day. Practicing safety: every job, every day means we can reduce the rate of fatalities, serious injuries and illnesses in our workplaces, and ensure that everyone gets home safely from work.
To help you make safety: every job, every day a reality, we’ll be stepping through the risk assessment process throughout October, with practical resources to guide discussions and activities that you can use in National Safe Work Month and beyond. Here is what’s planned:
Week 1: Identify hazards
Week 2: Assess risks
Week 3: Control risks
Week 4: Review controls
Our activity kit is designed to guide you through the month with practical resources for your workplace that align with each step of the risk management process. Download the activity kit from our National Safe Work Month resource hub to get your plans for October locked in.
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Reports, Articles, Papers and Research
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New Perspectives on Old Problems: Gendered Jobs, Work and Pay
Jobs and Skills Australia has released the first paper in a three-part series on Gender Economic Equality.
Paper 1 – New Perspectives on Old Problems: Gendered Jobs, Work and Pay introduces the Gender Segregation Intensity Scale and new data on occupational and intersectional gender pay gaps across over 600 occupations.
Key insights include:
- Gendered occupational segregation remains high and largely unchanged over 15 years.
- First Nations women face the highest gender pay gaps.
- While overall pay gaps are slowly narrowing, detailed data reveals persistent disparities across occupations.
This paper addresses key evidence gaps and highlights the ongoing impact of gender on Australia’s labour market—and the work still needed to close the gap.
Click here to find out more
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Government-funded students and courses 2024
25th August 2025
This publication presents a summary of data on Australia’s government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system. Government-funded VET includes all training supported by the Commonwealth or state and territory governments, and delivered through TAFE institutes, other government providers (such as universities), private providers, and community education organisations.
Click here to find out more
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Historical time-series of government-funded VET from 1981 to 2024
25th August 2025
This time series provides a summary of government-funded vocational education and training (VET) activity in Australia from 1981 to 2024.To place the data in context, a timeline of major VET policy changes from the mid-1970s to the present is included.
The accompanying data tables show student numbers by selected training characteristics for the full period (1981–2024). For the years 1996–2024, the data is presented in greater detail, including figures on students, subject enrolments, program enrolments, and program completions, broken down by key training characteristics.
Click here to find out more
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The final LSAY survey is now open!
The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) track the lives of young Australians over a 10-year period, following them from their mid-teens through to their mid-twenties as they move from school into further study, work, and beyond. Since 1995, LSAY has followed multiple groups (or ‘cohorts’), each starting the survey at around age 15 and completing their final interview at 25.
The final cohort, who began in 2015 (Y15), turns 25 this year and is completing their last interview—marking the end of the LSAY program after 30 years and six national cohorts.
Alongside its core questions on education, training, employment, health, living arrangements, financial stress, and life satisfaction, this year’s survey also explores job aspirations, soft skills, disability and health, mental health, social support, caring responsibilities, and personal goals.
Fieldwork will close in December 2025, with results to be published in 2026.
Click here to find out more
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Training Packages Updates
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The following training packages has been updated on training.gov.au:
MAR: Maritime Training Package
11th August 2025
Qualifications– 1 qualification added, 0 updated and 1 removed
Click here to find out more
Skill Sets- 2 skill sets added, 0 updated and 2 removed
Click here to find out more
Unit of Competency- 6 units added, 0 updated and 6 removed
Click here to find out more
Imported Unit of Competency- 0 units, 1 updated and 0 removed
Click here to find out more
CUA: Creative Arts and Culture Training Package
13th August 2025
Qualifications– 26 qualifications added, 17 updated and 26 removed
Click here to find out more
Unit of Competency- 0 units added, 2 updated and 13 removed
Click here to find out more
Imported Unit of Competency- 130 units, 31 updated and 145 removed
Click here to find out more
SHB: Hairdressing and Beauty Training Package
13th August 2025
Qualifications– 1 qualification added, 0 updated and 1 removed
Click here to find out more
Unit of Competency- 1 unit added, 0 updated and 1 removed
Click here to find out more
Imported Unit of Competency- 0 units, 6 updated and 0 removed
Click here to find out more
SIF: Funeral Services Training Package
13th August 2025
Qualifications– 1 qualification added, 5 updated and 1 removed
Click here to find out more
Imported Unit of Competency- 28 units, 0 updated and 42 removed
Click here to find out more
SIT: Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package
13th August 2025
Qualifications– 3 qualifications added, 3 updated and 3 removed
Click here to find out more
Skill Sets- 0 skill sets added, 1 updated and 0 removed
Click here to find out more
Unit of Competency- 0 units added, 1 updated and 8 removed
Click here to find out more
Imported Unit of Competency- 8 units, 1 updated and 8 removed
Click here to fid out more
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ACAL’s 2025 National Conference
4th– 5th September 2025
Karstens Melbourne
Australian Council for Adult Literacy
Discover how literacy empowers adults, promotes inclusion, and enhances wellbeing across various areas of life, including personal development, community participation, education, and employment.
Click here to find out more
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National Safe Work Month
October 2025
October is National Safe Work Month – a time employers and workers across Australia commit to creating safe and healthy workplaces.
#SafeWorkMonth
Click here to find out more
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AIEC- Australian International Education Conference
14th – 17th October 2025
Canberra
This four-day conference offers a dynamic mix of networking, learning, and celebration, drawing participants from across Australia and around the world.
The 2025 theme, ‘Navigating Change’, highlights how international education professionals and organisations can turn uncertainty into opportunity. Attendees will explore strategies for building resilience, adapting to evolving conditions, and strengthening professional connections in an ever-changing global landscape.
Click here to find out more
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National VET Conference
30th – 31st of October 2025
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
The 2025 National VET Conference will take place over two days. As the 18th annual National VET Conference, this event promises an incredible opportunity for delegates to engage in meaningful professional development, connect with product and service providers, and network with peers from across Australia.
The 2025 theme, “Painting Our Future,” highlights the vital contributions each of us makes to the broader picture. Together, we will create something greater than the sum of its parts—a comprehensive and vibrant vision of what VET can achieve.
Click here to find out more
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11th Annual Conference on VET Teaching and VET Teacher Education
11th – 12th December 2025
Ann Harding Conference Centre,
Bruce ACT
VET Teaching in Tertiary Education: New Horizons for Policy and Practice
The Australian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group (ACDEVEG) 11th Annual Conference will showcase the vital role the VET sector plays in tertiary education. Presenters and delegates will explore how a more integrated education system can enhance VET teaching and support the professional growth of VET educators.
Click here to find out more
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