A pilot with the Digital Education Council and Bendigo Kangan Institute demonstrates how practical, tailored AI capability can be delivered at scale to Australian VET trainers.
At a glance
Organisation: Digital Education Council (DEC) and Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI), facilitated by the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI.
Target audience: Individuals holding a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or higher, learning and development professionals, and corporate trainers.
Timeframe: 2025 pilot.
Primary goal: To equip VET trainers with foundational AI knowledge, practical application skills, and ethical frameworks to confidently and responsibly integrate AI into training and assessment practice.
Delivery model: DEC AI Literacy for Trainers course – online, asynchronous (4 nominal hours, 30 days access).
Key outcomes
- 68 trainers engaged, with a 70.6% completion rate
- 87.5% rated the program Good or Excellent
- 91.7% reported increased confidence using AI
- Weighted recommendation score of 7.8/10, with 50% rating the course 9 or 10
The challenge
VET trainers play a critical role in preparing learners with the skills needed for the future of work. As AI continues to transform industries, there is a growing need for trainers to understand AI technologies, their real-world applications, and how they can be integrated into teaching and assessment.
While many trainers recognise the importance of AI, access to structured, practical professional development tailored to the VET context has been limited. The challenge was to build AI capability across the VET workforce in a way that is accessible, credible, and scalable, enabling trainers to confidently embed AI into training and support learners to develop the skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce.
About the pilot
The DEC AI Literacy for Trainers pilot was delivered through a collaboration between the DEC and BKI, with support from the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI to test real-world applicability for Australia’s VET workforce.
The pilot adopted a co-designed, industry-informed approach, combining global expertise with local VET relevance. Content focused on practical application, with modules covering:
- AI literacy fundamentals
- Prompt engineering
- Evaluating AI output
- Critical thinking and creativity in the age of AI
- Ethics of AI and responsible use
The program was structured into short, modular online content to maximise accessibility and participation across jurisdictions.
On completion, participants received a digital certificate that can be showcased across professional networks.
The impact
- Improved confidence and capability: Over 90% of participants reported increased confidence to start using AI tools in their professional practice.
- Strong relevance to VET roles: 89.6% rated the course as relevant to extremely relevant to their role as VET trainers.
- High satisfaction and advocacy: Participants reported consistently positive experiences, with strong willingness to recommend the program to peers, signaling readiness for broader adoption.
What worked and why
- Practical, usable content, tailored for VET: Clear concepts, hands-on examples, and real-world applications enabled immediate relevance to training and assessment contexts.
- Flexible delivery model removed barriers to participation: The online, asynchronous format allowed trainers to participate regardless of location, workload, or schedule.
- Credibility and partnership strengthened trust: Collaboration between a globally recognised community of practice and a leading Australian TAFE, supported by the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI, gave participants confidence in the program’s relevance, quality, and alignment with VET standards.
- Ethical and responsible use was positioned as enabling, not restricting: A strong focus on ethical and responsible AI use reinforced professional judgment and safeguarded training quality and integrity.
Next steps
BKI is now working with DEC to explore potential next steps and further adjustments needed to increase AI literacy and practical uses within the VET workforce. BKI has a strong focus on ensuring VET staff continue to use AI to enhance their work and build AI literacy skills needed as tools and impacts continue to change.
About the organisations
Digital Education Council (DEC)
The Digital Education Council is a global community of practice of over 170 institutions committed to driving sustainable innovation and AI adoption in Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI)
Bendigo Kangan Institute is a major integrated skills provider in Victoria, comprising of four brands: Kangan Institute, Bendigo TAFE, VETASSESS and eWorks.
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