Through the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI, the Institute of Applied Technology – Digital delivered targeted AI upskilling programs to staff, building confidence, capability, and promoting responsible use across the VET workforce.
At a glance
FSO Skills Accelerator-AI initiative: VET workforce upskilling – AI Fundamentals & Prompt Engineering
Partner: Institute of Applied Technology – Digital (IATD)
Timeframe: Skills Accelerator Action Learning Sprint 2, December 2025
Primary goal: Build foundational and applied AI capability across the VET workforce to enable confident, responsible and practical use of generative AI in everyday roles.
Key outcomes
- IATD delivered two AI programs to 45 TAFE NSW staff members: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals and Generative AI: Prompt Engineering
- Significant uplift in staff confidence and AI literacy
- Practical application of generative AI tools embedded into daily work
- Strong satisfaction ratings across both foundational and advanced cohorts
The challenge
With generative AI tools becoming increasingly accessible, TAFE NSW, through its AI Taskforce, identified that many staff reported low confidence and limited understanding of how AI could be used responsibly and effectively in their roles. Staff expressed uncertainty around ethical use, appropriate prompting, and real-world application.
TAFE NSW identified a clear need for practical, contextualised AI training to support safe, immediate adoption within the VET environment. This was reinforced by FSO Skills Accelerator-AI partners, which highlighted similar gaps in AI literacy across the sector.
About the initiative
In response, IATD supported TAFE NSW by delivering two AI learning offerings tailored to staff capability levels, with a strong focus on practical application, ethical use, and role-relevant examples to support transfer of learning into daily work.
Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals:
Adapted from an existing IATD Microskill, this program was delivered as three sessions to 30 staff across customer service, admissions, general services, and business systems teams. Based on early feedback, the content and delivery were refined to better align with participant confidence levels and learning needs.
Generative AI: Prompt Engineering:
Delivered as a full-day Microcredential to 15 staff with prior AI exposure, this program focused on advanced prompting techniques, ethical application, and hands-on use of Microsoft Copilot to solve real workplace problems.
The impact
The initiatives delivered strong, measurable outcomes for both individuals and the organisation.
For systems and processes:
- Staff adopted generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot to support communication, drafting and workflow efficiency
- Practical prompting techniques improved the quality and reliability of AI outputs
- AI capability uplift supported broader innovation and service improvement initiatives
For people and culture:
- Participants reported an average confidence increase of over 100% in the Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals program and 48% in the Generative AI: Prompt Engineering program.
- High satisfaction across all measures, with ratings of:
- Overall experience: up to 4.9/5
- Educator knowledge: up to 4.8/5
- Met expectations: up to 5.0/5
“This course was one of the most informative and well-delivered programs I’ve completed in my 10 years at TAFE NSW.”
James Joseph, Team Leader, TAFE NSW
“Designed in alignment with TAFE NSW AI Taskforce and as part of IATD’s commitment to supporting the upskilling of our workforce, we observed participants commencing the AI training with a broad range of skill levels. As they progressed, there was a clear growth in their appreciation of the technology and a strong desire to deepen their understanding. The guided approach proved instrumental in dispelling misconceptions and inspiring ongoing development.”
Daniel Britton, Manager Education, IATD
What worked well
- Rapid iteration of content based on participant feedback
- Strong balance between foundational knowledge and hands-on practice
- Contextualised use cases aligned to real VET roles and workflows allowed staff to immediately apply learning in their own work context
Challenges faced
- Initial confidence levels were lower than anticipated, requiring rapid adjustment of content depth
- Diverse digital literacy levels across participants required flexible facilitation approaches
- Embedding ethical and responsible use alongside productivity benefits
Next steps
IATD are working with TAFE NSW Workforce Capability team to build an ongoing AI training program for staff based on lessons learned from the pilot, with training expected to continue in 2026.
Future offerings will further align foundational AI literacy with advanced pathways to support sustained, organisation-wide capability building.
Learn more about IATD’s Microskills and Microcredentials.
For specific enquiries, please complete IATD’s enquiry form or email [email protected].