The Institute of Applied Technology - Digital's Microskills delivers AI literacy at scale - co-designed, fully-subsidised, and built for workers, small and medium-sized businesses and jobseekers.
At a glance
Organisation: Institute of Applied Technology Digital (IATD) in partnership with TAFE NSW.
Target audience: Workers looking to upskill, people starting careers in AI, and small to medium business owners.
Timeframe: FY 2026.
Primary goal: Foster AI literacy, raise completion rates, and strengthen confidence in responsible use of AI.
Governance: A collaboration between National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC), Microsoft, and IATD.
Key outcomes
- Since November 2022, the AI Microskills suite has attracted over 200,000 enrolments, representing half of the 400,000 total enrolments across all Microskills.
- ~65% completion rate on Micro-credentials, exceeding historical averages of 13–15%.
- One million ‘Introduction to AI’ scholarships funded by the NSW Government, ensuring access for workers, SMEs, and jobseekers.
- A tested blueprint for scalable, inclusive AI education.
The challenge
Australia’s digital skills gap is holding back productivity and innovation.
AI was identified as a priority due to its projected $4 trillion impact and transformative potential across industries.
SMEs make up 98% of the economy but lack affordable AI training options. Online microcredentials align with SME time pressures but have traditionally low completion rates, so new thinking was needed.
About the project
IATD partnered with NAIC (previously operating within CSIRO) and Microsoft to co-design a suite of free, non-technical AI Microskills aimed at building AI capability across Australia’s workforce.
Although designed with SMEs in mind, the Microskills suite is open to all, including jobseekers, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), and industry professionals.
The AI Microskills suite includes:
- Introduction to AI
- Generative AI and its business applications
- Responsible AI
Courses are online, self-paced, and built for non-technical learners to meet industry needs. Industry experts collaborated with learning designers to create interactive learning experiences, generating interest and awareness of AI skills, opportunities and careers.
“These Microskills are designed for everyone. They’re practical, accessible, and focused on building AI literacy for everyday people who want to upskill. Whether you’re running a small business, looking for work, or simply curious about AI, it makes it easy to gain confidence without needing a technical background.”
Sumith Abkari, Industry Innovation Specialist, TAFE NSW
The impact
- Over 200,000 enrolments in the AI Microskills suite since November 2022.
- ~65% completion rate: Far exceeding historical averages of 13–15%.
- Scholarships created: One million ‘Introduction to AI’ scholarships offered, ensuring access for workers, SMEs, and jobseekers.
- SME confidence uplift: Real-world relevance and practical use cases meant the target was hit and SME confidence increased to adopt AI and align with national capability-building priorities.
“Our AI Microskills initiative shows what’s possible when accessibility, relevance, and industry collaboration come together. It’s a real blueprint for scalable, inclusive AI education.”
Sumith Abkari, Industry Innovation Specialist, TAFE NSW
Lessons learned
What worked:
- Trusted partnerships with Microsoft and collaboration with NAIC
- Online, non-technical format broadened reach and maintained engagement
- Business-focused framing encouraged SME uptake
- Engaging, relevant content created in partnership with industry increased completion
Challenges faced
- Sustaining engagement beyond entry-level Microskills
- Measuring downstream impact such as job outcomes and longer-term AI adoption
What’s next
IATD will continue scaling Microskills into formal qualifications and workplace pilots, align with NAIC’s AI 6 framework, and expand industry engagement in AI skilling.
IATD sees opportunities for collaboration and scaling through the Skills Accelerator by working with industry to co-design solutions that build AI capability — including expanding the Microskills AI suite to cover areas like prompt engineering.
“Being fluent in prompting is becoming a core digital skill — it’s about structuring your thoughts clearly so you can get the most relevant and useful answers from AI tools.”
Sumith Abkari, Industry Innovation Specialist, TAFE NSW
About IATD
IATD is TAFE NSW’s hub for digital skills. Co-designed with industry and universities, IATD delivers fast, flexible training in AI, cyber security, cloud computing, and more.
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