Vocational Voices

Steve Davis interviews a group of presenters from the 34th National VET Research Conference 'No Frills', held on 9 - 11 July 2025 on the Gold Coast. In part one of this two part series, the discussion focuses on the structural and methodological aspects of creating inclusive VET systems, the 'how' of designing and delivering inclusive education. Presenters explore inclusive approaches to VET design and delivery, inclusive training practices for a diverse workforce, strengthening pathways into VET and beyond for diverse learners, and building digital literacy for a diverse learner base.

Steve Davis interviews a diverse group of presenters from the 33rd National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills,’ held on 10-12 July 2024 in Perth. With a spotlight on how VET partnerships are driving a dynamic workforce, these seven engaging experts share their insights on a wide range of topics. From exploring VET in Ukraine and envisioning the future of VET in Australia to enhancing inclusivity for disadvantaged learners, creating culturally appropriate employment pathways for Indigenous students, and promoting safety and inclusion for women in the construction trade, this podcast offers a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of vocational education and training. Tune in for a great podcast providing a condensed version of No Frills 2024.

Australia is on the journey to reducing carbon emissions, so what does this mean for the automotive industry?   Various sources indicate that electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle uptake is increasing in Australia, so this episode explores how the VET sector is preparing to meet the evolving demands of the automotive industry amongst critical skills shortages.    Podcast host Steve Davis speaks to Simon Walker, NCVER Managing Director; Dr. Gavin Lind, CEO of the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance; and Rod Camm, Group CEO of the Motor Trades Association in Queensland about what new strategies and collaborative efforts are required to make sure our workforce capabilities are up for the task and that our automotive industry can thrive in this era of electric vehicles.

Steve Davis, Simon Walker, Joanne Payne, Tabatha Griffin, Tom Karmel, Jenny Dodd, Hinemoa Priest, Melanie Kyle, Erica Smith, Olivija Komadina, David Longley, Christina Scott-Young, Michael Bassham, Joy de Leo, Michael Healy, Michelle Circelli, Angela Damm, Charmaine Marshall, Jeff Lynch, Tina Berghella, 29 November 2023 (85 mins) In 2023, we invited expert vocational voices from the VET sector to share their views, stories, experiences and insights on a range of hot topics. ‘Best of 2023’ is a roundup of the most interesting snippets and research findings from across the four podcast episodes we released during the year. Full of short and sharp insights from each of our guest speakers, we cover off some of the best bits of Season 8.

In this episode, we discuss the vital role of partnerships in the VET sector. These partnerships help connect training with the skills that industries need. Simultaneously, they build the capacity and resilience of both providers and employers.  Our focus centres on four key elements that are fundamental to successful partnerships. We take a close look at these factors in a case study featuring The Management Edge and Murrumbidgee Local Health District. In this case study, we gain insights from the employer, the trainer, and the learner regarding the power of collaboration in delivering leadership training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. This discussion draws from the research report Building effective RTO-employer partnerships [https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/publications/all-publications/building-effective-rto-employer-partnerships] and the accompanying Good Practice Guide [https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/publications/all-publications/building-effective-rto-employer-partnerships-good-practice-guide], both of which were published on 20 September 2023.