This week I attended the AVETRA 2025 conference to participate in a panel discussion on the rise of applied research in TAFE.
This is a timely topic, given the recent release of a Discussion Paper for the Commonwealth Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D). The Discussion Paper describes the factors which constrain Australian innovation and R&D activities, highlighting the challenges of a ‘siloed’ R&D ecosystem and a mismatch between research activities and the needs of Australian industry, government and community. However, it overlooks the importance and untapped potential of TAFE as a critical R&D stakeholder.
TAFEs have demonstrated capability in Applied Research. This is the kind of research that investigates, designs and applies solutions to real world problems. Applied research is valued by industry and community for its capacity to deliver and implement tangible and accessible outcomes. To meet these outcomes, researchers require specialised expertise and the trust of industry and community partners; they must be relatable and speak the language of industry. These are the qualities characteristic of TAFE.
TAFE educators lead and participate in applied research activities to improve learning and teaching, and to innovate and solve real-world problems through industry engagement and partnerships – often unfunded. While academic research outputs are usually measured according to scholarly publications in peer-reviewed journals, TAFE-led applied research is often ‘research-in-action’, with results rapidly applied to the vocational or industry context. Innovations are frequently iterative and immediately implemented.
However, without access to funding to support the conduct, dissemination and application of this research, the full potential of TAFE-led applied research may not be realised or recognised. TDA is advocating for formal recognition of TAFE’s capability and value as a critical component of Australia’s R&D ecosystem, along with the allocation of TAFE-specific funding to support TAFE-led research activities and ongoing development of TAFE research capability. TAFE Centres of Excellence have the potential to play an increasingly important role in Australian R&D, however changes to the allocation of research funds are required to support this.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has committed the Coalition to cutting the number of international students able to study at tertiary institutions to 240,000 each year.
A Coalition government would also aim to mandate that no more than a quarter of students at public universities come from overseas.
The Coalition target is about 30,000 less than Labor proposed last year.
Under the Coalition plan, public universities would be able to enrol no more than 115,000 international students a year, while private and non-university higher education providers would be permitted to enrol up to 125,000.
The measures would not impact private universities and vocational education providers.
The Coalition opposed Labor’s attempts to pass legislation to cap enrolments last year.
In this webinar, RMIT will showcase its innovative approach to experiential learning, which equips students with essential career-ready skills, with a particular focus on their Associate Degree in Fashion. Through strategic partnerships with leading industry employers such as Country Road and Cotton On, RMIT’s curriculum provides students with hands-on experiences that bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the real world of work.
The RMIT Fashion & Textiles team creates projects that immerse students in industry-relevant tasks while developing key transferable skills. RMIT will share resources to help students build career-ready skills, including use of AI, digital fluency, and communication. The session will highlight how these initiatives help students achieve professional goals, expand networks, and gain confidence, preparing them for success in the job market.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into how experiential learning can enhance employability and equip students for future success across various industries.
TAFE Queensland’s Robina campus has been featured in the latest edition of Sustainable Business Magazine.
In an interview with General Manager Karen Dickinson, the article describes the campus as ‘a beacon of sustainable education’, and applauds its strong focus on sustainability, innovation and environment stewardship.
Featuring energy-efficient buildings, extensive use of renewable energy sources, and innovative water management systems, the campus has also experienced significant growth in student numbers, from 720 to 3000 since opening in 2022.
Annette Wano is destined to make a difference to Mackay’s Torres Strait Islander community thanks to CQUniversity’s Nursing 
training and the Free TAFE initiative.
The proud Meriam Samsep woman is currently immersed in the final stages of her Diploma of Nursing, a dream she said wouldn’t have been possible without the Queensland Government’s Free Nursing initiative.
Kangan Institute is joining with nearly 30 organisations across Melbourne’s northern metropolitan region to improve outcomes for women and gender-diverse people and prevent gender-based violence.
The institute has joined the Building a Respectful Community (BRC) Partnership, with an agreement between Kangan Institute and Women’s Health in the North, which leads the BRC partnership, formalised on 26 March.
The BRC partnership will see Kangan Institute collaborating with local organisations and councils to run campaigns and share vital resources, taking on a connected approach to creating safe, respectful and inclusive spaces for women and gender-diverse individuals to thrive.
The move aligns with Respect and Equality at TAFE Week, which saw Kangan Institute joining the Victorian TAFE network last week in a series of student and staff initiatives to raise awareness of the drivers of gender-based violence.
Initiatives included an on-campus Respect and Equality at TAFE information and resource stall, a Relationships Australia Victoria workshop to build staff skills to respond to gender-based violence, and a Victorian vocational education and training sector panel discussion about creating safe and respectful work and learning spaces.
To support the rapid growth in its sector, the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support team hosted an industry roundtable at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus at the end of March.
The event brought together professionals from the Far Northern health, aged care, disability, and mental health sectors.
Sixteen attendees from diverse organisations, including Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation, CheckUP, Spinal Life Australia, and Queensland Health, shared valuable insights and feedback on industry challenges and training needs.
Health care and social assistance is Australia’s largest employing industry, with over 70,000 workers joining the sector in the past year.
In addition, the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries team has been actively meeting with various stakeholders to support Queensland’s energy transformation, which is expected to create 100,000 jobs by 2040.
The demand for skilled clean energy professionals is rapidly increasing and, to support this growth, the Centre attended the Solar & Storage Live Queensland trade show in Brisbane on 26-27 March 2025.
See more about the TAFE Centre of Excellence at TAFE Queensland.
MYOB has launched an innovative new product in Australia tailored specifically for a segment that has been underserviced, the soloist or sole trader. This mobile-first product is designed to be simple and easy to use, completely revolutionising how these solo operators manage invoicing, payments and expenses.
Many Aussie students are entrepreneurs, juggling their sole business or side hustle while studying, or will be once they finish their TAFE studies. We are thrilled to offer them Solo by MYOB, which allows them to snap ‘n track expenses, create invoices in seconds, secure payments directly from their phone, automate banking and more – all for just $6 for the first 12 months.
Please share the following details with your students:
If you would like to discuss further how you can promote Solo by MYOB to your student community, please reach out to Shailan Patel or Tricia Andrews.
To support the growth of Australia’s agriculture industry, Skills Insight is consulting with industry around the potential for a trade apprenticeship, to improve the visibility of agricultural career pathways and attract new entrants.
Following research into the feasibility of an agricultural trade apprenticeship, stakeholders are invited to contribute to mapping agricultural career pathways. This input will help provide insight into existing job roles and the broad opportunities and appeal of a career in agriculture.
Consultation workshops are being held around the country and online to collect insights during April and May.
TAFETalks: Enhancing career-readiness through experiential learning at RMIT
Wednesday 9 April 2025, 2-3pm AEST
Register here
9th Research Conference of the International Network for Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP)
8-9 May 2025
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, England
More information
National Apprentice Employment Network 2025 National Conference
11-13 June 2025
Sofitel, Brisbane
More information
WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Showcase
12-14 June 2025
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
2025 Skills Conference
24 June 2025
Amora Hotel, Sydney
More information
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025
Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World
25-26 June 2025
University of Sydney
More information
34th National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference ‘No Frills’
9-11 July 2025 (Abstract submissions due by 7 March 2025)
Gold Coast
More information
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
More information
Impact ATEM 2025
Association for Tertiary Education Management annual conference
7-10 October 2025
Australian National University, Canberra.
More information
Velg Training National VET Conference
30-31 October 2025
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
TDA Convention 2026
SAVE the DATE
5-7 May 2026
Brisbane
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
Save the date
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