Today is Reconciliation Day and tomorrow will end the celebrations that have been occurring in TAFEs across Australia as part of National Reconciliation Week.
In 2025 Bridging Now to Next is the theme for National Reconciliation Week. As most people are aware, this year there is a call for choirs to sing the 1982 Goanna song ‘Solid Ground’. With its lyrics “standing on solid ground, standing on sacred ground …”, this song has been used by many to make a significant contribution on the journey to reconciliation. It is a call for action, and this year that call is ‘Voices for Reconciliation’. As songwriter Shane Howard advises the choirs “sing it with gusto, sing it like you mean it, sing it like it matters, because it does. Sing it like we are on a journey to somewhere much better, because we are”. (Quoted from Reconciliation Australia website).
Bridging Now to Next is a great theme embodying the concept of actions for reconciliation.
The purpose of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is ‘to turn good intentions into action’ (Reconciliation Australia website). Building through the stages of Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, Elevate organisations make a commitment to action to support reconciliation.
Reflect RAPs are about developing relationships and scoping action. While Innovate RAPs are about the organisation stepping into “scoping their sphere of influence and developing appropriate actions”. Many TDA members have a RAP and are exploring next steps. To find out more, explore their RAPs which are on their websites. For example, go onto TAFE NSW’s website and listen to them talk about the actions they are taking that are consistent with their sphere of influence, or TAFE SA which launched their Innovate RAP at Tonsley campus last week, or the many other TDA members such as Federation University which has a Stretch RAP.
Reconciliation Day brings a focus to the importance of the journey to reconciliation. TAFEs are part of that journey. Today, as always, TDA acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, to emerging leaders and support their role bridging from the past to the present, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of our TAFE communities or connected with them.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has embarked on another mass cancellation of qualifications after it deregistered two private colleges.
ASQA has cancelled the registration of Nextgen Tech Institute, trading as Qualify Now, and Learning Options, trading as Contract Me.
Students from Nextgen who received qualifications from July last year have until Thursday to respond to ASQA or face having their qualifications cancelled. Qualifications affected include Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Certificate III in Engineering, Mechanical Trade, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), the requirement for VET trainers and assessors.
Students of Learning Options have until June 26 to respond or face having their qualifications cancelled. The affected qualifications were issued as far back as September 2023 and include those in the Business Services Training Package, as well as TAE.
ASQA says that, given the safety risks to impacted individuals, others in the workplace, and some of the most vulnerable members of the community, urgent action is required to consider the legitimacy of the qualifications issued by the two colleges.
It follows the cancellation by ASQA of more than 21,000 qualifications issued by deregistered colleges late last year.
But unlike those disqualifications, the latest round includes a significant number of VET trainers and assessors, who will no longer be eligible if their qualifications are cancelled, meaning significant disruption for some RTOs and students..
ASQA says its Investigations and Enforcement Team is currently managing more than 189 serious matters in relation to the conduct of 154 providers. Almost two-thirds of these relate to international students.
“More than 74% relate to alleged fraud, including bogus qualifications, cash for qualifications, fabrication of assessments and evidence, “ghost” colleges, funding fraud and visa/migration risks,” ASQA says.
There are 31 investigations into potential breaches of the NVR Act by non-RTOs relating to misleading advertising practices and qualification fraud.
Join us to explore how TAFEs are partnering with industry, Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) and other TAFEs to lead innovation in Clean Energy initiatives relating to automotive and batteries. Learn more about the importance of collaborative partnerships in preparing the future workforce to support current and emerging automotive needs and power a clean energy future.
You will also hear about the innovative work being undertaken by Canberra Institute of Technology Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence, Bendigo Kangan TAFE, and TAFE Queensland Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries, along with AUSMASA (JSC) and Foton Mobility Distribution, Australian distributor of new energy heavy vehicles.
GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE have commenced detailed discussions to plan the next phase of their operations, following the announcement of their intent to merge.
The two TAFE institutes say they have developed a collaborative relationship, leveraging skills and expertise to generate education opportunities in the region.
Recently, the Boards of GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE considered different options to collaborate and partner more deeply. Some options included sharing of capability and facilities, through to exploration of a merger.
“As a result, the organisations are entering a more comprehensive planning phase in support of a merger,” they said in a statement on their website.
“There are significant benefits to the merger of GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE including broader educational delivery, deeper industry and community connections and economies of scale.
“GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE are committed to strengthening the education outcomes of northern, central, and north-east Victoria,” they said.
The Victorian government has announced the site for the new Kangan Institute Melton TAFE campus.
The Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney joined representatives from Kangan Institute, Melton City Council, and stakeholders to advise that the new $55 million campus will be built on the corner of Hollingsworth Drive and Ferris Road, Cobblebank.
Set to open mid-2028, the campus will be transformative for Melton and surrounds, expanding access to skills and training while fostering community development.
The new campus will deliver skills and training in areas such as construction, associated trades, and digital technologies, supporting approximately 800 students each year.
Currently without access to a locally based TAFE campus, the City of Melton is the second fastest-growing community in Victoria, with an annual population growth rate of more than 6%, making it the fourth largest-growing municipality in Australia.
Image: Minister Tierney with Member for Melton Steve McGhie, City of Melton Mayor Cr Steve Abboushi, Kangan Institute Board Chair Sharan Burrow, CEO Sally Curtain and Board Member Cheryl Woollard, alongside local secondary students.
Sponsorship opportunities are now open for TDA Convention 2026 – Power of TAFE, Australia’s premier national event celebrating the strength and impact of TAFE.
With over 590 delegates attending in 2024, TDA Convention 2026 promises even greater reach and engagement.
This is a unique opportunity to showcase your brand to TAFE senior leadership.
Get the TDA Convention 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus
Contact Chad Murphy
E: chad.m@asnevents.net.au
P: (03) 8658 9530
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this powerful national conversation.
Join us to learn more about the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how TAFEs are applying the framework to improve inclusive learning and teaching practice.
Supported by Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET), this session will provide an overview of UDL 3.0, along with practical examples of its integration into practice at TAFE NSW, TAFE SA and CIT.
New research from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has identified some of the best methods used by training providers to help students complete.
The report, Student support: enabling the learner journey, identifies six key elements for student success, based on case studies of registered training organisations with high completion rates and student satisfaction scores.
The six elements identified are:
The research highlights the importance of targeted support for priority groups, including First Nations students, culturally and linguistically diverse students, and students with disabilities.
The research also identifies several challenges to providing effective student support, including internal factors, such as staff shortages and funding constraints, student-related factors, such as behavioural barriers, learner capability and mindset, and external factors, such as unsupportive workplaces.
Chisholm Institute has reduced the shortage of skilled workers in early childhood education and care – and is now making a global impact.
To address the sector’s critical workforce challenges, Chisholm partnered with Early Childhood Education Centres across the state, the Victorian Department of Education and Training, and Jobs Victoria, to lead the Early Childhood Education Traineeship Project (2022 –2024).
The project initially aimed to employ 150 trainees across Victoria. The team exceeded this target, employing 520 job seekers into traineeships.
This success stemmed from targeted recruitment and comprehensive support structures, including job readiness training, tailored mentoring and financial incentives.
My eQuals Connect 2025 is on in Christchurch, New Zealand on 2 September!
This year’s theme, “Connecting with the Future,” will feature two dynamic keynote speakers:
MyeQuals is also thrilled to welcome Chris Whelan, Chief Executive of Universities New Zealand, for the official opening.
Don’t miss this future-focused day of ideas, networking, and innovation.
MYOB Discover is back! Join them for the first big free online event of the year, with tailored insights, product updates and practical resources for your students.
This is the flagship event for all the key MYOB updates. 
Date: Wednesday 4 June, 12pm AEST / 12pm NZST Register for AU
This time they will unlock the power of AI in accounting and bookkeeping, bring you the latest on MYOB Business, introduce MYOB Practice Compliance and share the latest updates on MYOB Tax. We will also share updates for EOFY, Solo by MYOB and dive into next-gen Client Accounting,
It’s all happening – don’t miss out and register today.
The closing date for the direct entry categories of the 2025 Australian Training Awards has been extended to June 14.
The following categories are open for nomination:
Finalists from these categories will compete for national recognition at the Australian Training Awards gala event in Darwin later this year.
Nominations can be submitted via the Australian Training Awards website until 11:59pm (AEST) Saturday 14 June 2025
Powering Skills Australia
UEE Full Training Product Review: Project Launch on 3 June, 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEST.
Register here
Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) Consultations
CUA30320 Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching
SFL30115 Certificate III in Floristry
Retail Qualifications Continuum Review
TAFETalks: Clean energy futures powered by TAFE
Wednesday 4 June 2025, 2.00-3.00pm AEST
Register here
National Apprentice Employment Network 2025 National Conference
11-13 June 2025
Sofitel, Brisbane
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Webinar: Education to industry: how gen AI is shaping tomorrow
TEQSA and the National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC)
12 June 2025
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WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Showcase
12-14 June 2025
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
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TAFETalks: Powering inclusive TAFE Teaching with UDL guidelines
18 June 2025
Register here
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
2025 Skills Conference
24 June 2025
Amora Hotel, Sydney
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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025
Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World
25-26 June 2025
University of Sydney
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Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) 2025
3 July 2025
South Bank, Queensland
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34th National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference ‘No Frills’
9-11 July 2025. Registrations are now open.
Gold Coast
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TAFETalks: Evolving digital learning for strategic impact at TAFE Queensland
6 August 2025 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Register here
Victorian TAFE Association TAFECreates25 Conference
7 August 2025
Melbourne Polytechnic Conference Centre, Melbourne
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VET National Teaching & Learning Conference
14-15 August 2025
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
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National Skills Week
‘Explore All the Options’
25-31 August 2025
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MyeQuals Connect
2 September 2025
Venue: Rydges Latimer Christchurch
Register here
25% discount code: TDAMyeQuals
Impact ATEM 2025
Association for Tertiary Education Management annual conference
7-10 September 2025
Australian National University, Canberra.
More information
TAFETalks: Build the future of education with humans and GenAI
29 October 2025 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Register here
Velg Training National VET Conference
30-31 October 2025
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
Association of Colleges Annual Conference
18-19 November 2025
Birmingham, England
More information (contact TDA memberservices@tda.edu.au)
TDA Convention 2026
SAVE the DATE
5-7 May 2026
Brisbane
More information
48th WorldSkills International Competition Shanghai
22-27 September 2026
More information
2026 WFCP World Congress
23-28 November 2026
Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya
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