VEPodcast

VEPodcast - Ian Crowhurst interview by SpecTraining

https://ilpasiapacific.com - check out the events here.

WEPodcast - Marc Miles by SpecTraining

VEPodcast April 1st 2026 - Vanessa McCarthy by SpecTraining

VEPodcast - Javier Amaro Castillo by SpecTraining

In this episode of the Vocational Education Podcast, I reflect on something that’s become increasingly important to me as I’ve spent more time designing, facilitating, and leading learning in the VET sector: understanding and managing my own energy. Over the years, I’ve become far more aware of when I do my best work, what drains me, and what helps me stay switched on—especially during long training days, multi-day workshops, or extended periods of cognitive effort. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about recognising energy patterns across the day and how that awareness directly impacts the quality of facilitation, engagement, and decision-making. I explore: How I use a simple time audit to identify my peak energy and focus periods Why energy management matters more than time management for educators and facilitators The cognitive demands of facilitation and the need to stay mentally present in the room How food choices, sleep, movement, caffeine, and sugar affect performance across long days Practical strategies I now use to maintain focus and avoid the afternoon crash Lessons learned from running a multi-day workshop when I didn’t manage my energy well I also walk through my current daily structure—from morning routines to focused work blocks and recovery strategies—and explain how putting these systems in place has helped me protect the quality of my work and my wellbeing. This episode is for trainers, assessors, instructional designers, and anyone working in vocational education who wants to deliver consistently high-quality learning experiences without burning out.

This is not only a new year - but a new commitment to you, the listener, to create and collaborate in ways that are more consistent and useful to you. I look forward to working with new and interesting people over the next twelve months and see where the VEP ends 2026!

Aren’t you fascinated by the human mind? With its 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections, our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us. But when it comes to learning, it’s not just about content or colourful delivery — it’s also about context. In this episode, we explore Pen Principle 5: Leveraging Context, and uncover how the environment — both physical and psychological — impacts learning and memory. From temperature, lighting and noise to relationships, stress, and even the instructor’s tone, every detail can influence how well knowledge sticks. Discover how context-dependent and context-independent learning affect performance, why learners often recall better in familiar environments, and what trainers can do to help students thrive in any setting. Join us for a deep dive into neuroscience, motivation, and practical design tips for creating powerful, context-rich learning experiences.

Marc and I share Ian interesting discussion on designing learning for impact and engagement. The type of learning that leads to real outcomes in real workplaces. Enjoy this session!

I chat with Julian Davis, the digital learning guy, about the fascinating technology of xAPI. How we can use I to track learner's interactions and progress outside of the typical LMS functionality. Enjoy the chat! I certainly did.

In today’s episode, we explore the fascinating science of conceptual and perceptual priming—two powerful ways our brains prepare us to learn, decide, and act. Conceptual priming happens when exposure to a particular idea makes related concepts easier to recall. For example, thinking about “safety” can prime thoughts of “security” or “trust.” Perceptual priming, on the other hand, works through our senses—subtle visual or auditory cues that shape how we interpret what comes next. Together, these forms of priming influence memory, retention, and behaviour, offering trainers and educators valuable tools to create more effective learning environments. Video link is here: https://youtu.be/VjfHw-jzBLs

In this episode of the Vocational Education Podcast, we dive into the power of interleaving as a learning strategy. Unlike traditional blocked practice—where learners focus on one topic or skill at a time—interleaving mixes different but related topics or skills within the same study session. Research shows this approach significantly boosts retention and recall, as the brain is forced to constantly retrieve and distinguish between concepts. For vocational learners, this means stronger problem-solving skills and a deeper ability to transfer knowledge to real-world tasks. We’ll explore how interleaving challenges the brain in positive ways, strengthens long-term memory, and prevents the “illusion of mastery” that often comes with rote repetition. You’ll hear practical ways trainers and assessors can embed interleaving into their delivery and assessment design, ensuring learners are better prepared for the workplace and more confident in applying their skills. Here's a link to the original video: https://youtu.be/oNtT00YCu2U

Making mistakes isn't the end of the world - in fact, it can improve how well you learn something. Other than the research from the original video linked here: https://youtu.be/RDa777HDWTo Here are the other tow pieces mentioned at the end: https://shorturl.at/TDmK6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0361476X2500044X?

Discover the PEN principles all over again with this new series - we're kicking off with this program about the benefits of active recall for knowledge and skills retention - so strap in and enjoy! Here's a link to the original video https://youtu.be/CkKXdft5qeE

On this episode we talk to Marc Miles about his new Facilitation Mastery Workshop, with some great value thrown in about further workshops in 2026!

In today’s discussion, we’re opening up the complex and often misunderstood world of the business of vocational education, and the ominous signs and trends that can’t be ignored if the sector wants to continue to stay relevant and important in coming decades. This isn’t a hit piece on the sector or even on individual business owners trying to make a buck from educating others. Quite the contrary. I wanted to explore my own history in the sector, and that of others I know or have worked with, and how we’ve all dealt with the changes to date, and what risks and likely outcomes await us. In doing so, I hope to arrive at a few truths that can help you to pick the good opportunities from the bad and make decisions about your own future in the sector with your eyes wide open to the influences that have direct and indirect impacts. The global AI arms race is already being played out with even the early inventors of the technology collectively warning against the potential uncontrollable outcome with few upsides for individuals. But play out it will, and sideline observers we will become. I have mentioned in the past that there may be a point where those undertaking an education say enough is enough, and push back on the automation of everything to once again re-introduce real human interactions and feedback from experienced trainers and facilitators. We’re still a while away from that point in my opinion. Largely due, ironically, in the government’s slow reaction to providing legislative regulation to the tech industry. And also the generational influence of current trainers and assessors in the sector of whom there are a majority of generation X and millennials making up this cohort – thus still not what we’d readily classify as digital natives. It's indeed an exciting and terrifying time to be a vocational educator. Digital literacy is no longer a nice to have, and political muteness isn’t an option if you want the sector to be unbiased, fair and level. Find your voice, decide on your personal learning journey, and let’s all see where it takes us. Because trends don’t determine the future. Our actions are what determines that.

Think you’re just a boss? Nah, you could be a mentor—and it might just change your team, your career, and even your bottom line. Let’s unpack why, with some important stats, real stories, and takeaways you can use tomorrow. Let’s take a look. First off, mentoring isn’t just warm fuzzies—it’s can be a game-changer for all those involved. Research says mentees get promoted five times more often than those without mentors, and retention jumps by 22%. That’s from McCarthy Mentoring’s 2017 study, and it’s not just relevant, but growing in importance in in 2025. Imagine keeping your best people longer and seeing them climb the ladder—all because you took time to guide them. That’s power! Here in Australia, COX Architecture saw this firsthand. After growing fast, their Sydney team—500 strong—used mentoring to tighten bonds and set sharper goals. Staff started to redefine and focus on their career paths, and the resulting morale? Unbeatable. Check it out on Parlour’s site if you’re curious. I’ll include the links on the blog I’ve connected to this podcast. Now, let’s talk diversity. Mentoring lifts everyone. Cornell University found it boosts minority leadership roles by up to 24%. In Aussie terms, look at the Australian Business and Community Network—ABCN. They went digital with Accenture in 2020, mentoring disadvantaged kids, including Indigenous communities. Result? 42% felt more confident about their future. That’s not just feel-good—it’s building a pipeline of diverse talent. As a manager, you could do that too! Okay, here’s a stat to chew on: 71% of Fortune 500 companies run mentoring programs. It’s not a trend—it’s a standard. Down under, AusIMM’s 2024 program hooked up over 100 mining pros. Mentors reported a 20% jump in job satisfaction—proof you don’t just help others, you grow too. And get this: Cox Automotive saved over $3 million in turnover costs since 2017 with mentoring. That’s cash you could keep in your budget! So, real-world wins? Plenty. Avison Young pushed women into leadership with mentoring—diversity ticked up fast. Vertex Pharmaceuticals went global, mixing reverse mentoring with peer circles—genius for multigenerational teams. And Paychex? Their high-potential women hit 94% retention. These aren’t flukes; they’re proof mentoring works. Locally, ABCN’s online shift delivered 179 sessions in a year—regional kids got a leg up. That’s mentoring breaking barriers, right here in Oz. Takeaways time! One: mentoring keeps talent and cuts costs—think millions, not pennies. Two: it’s your diversity secret weapon—lift up underrepresented voices. Three: you’ll grow as a leader—satisfaction and skills, sorted. How do you start? Assess your team’s needs, pair people smartly, and track the wins—engagement, retention, you name it.

Interviews and news from the VET industry

Interviews and news from the VET industry

Interviews and news from the VET industry

Interviews and news from the VET industry. I take a deep dive into 'accredited courses' and the legitimacy of those courses.

Ready to end your training session with a bang? In the world of learning and development, a memorable close can make all the difference. This blog dives into fun, practical ways to wrap up vocational training sessions—think Recap Raps, action plan pow-wows, and gamified goodbyes. Tailored for Aussie L&D pros, it’s packed with tips to leave participants energised and equipped. Discover how to turn your finale into a skill-sticking, morale-boosting masterpiece!

VEPodast - Future uses of AI in L&D by SpecTraining

Marc and I chat about some of the new apps and applications of AI in developing learning content.

Ready to be BLOWN AWAY! - I just dragged our Diploma of vocational education and training course brochure into Google's new 'NotebookLM' - and it created this conversational podcast... seriously amazing! I want to hear the next episode!! Imagine what you can do with this tool for students everywhere? You could use your lesson plan to create a 10 minute podcast as an overview of your topics... you could use the notes functions to allow students to summarise key points from your sessions, and much more! A great tool for education as it blends the neuroscience concepts of repetition and story-telling into one output that's easily digestible.

It's obviously time to discuss something that’s at the cutting edge of learning and development. Your friend and mine, generative AI. Now, I know we’ve all heard the buzz around AI, but I want to dig into how this tech is reshaping education and learning, backed by the latest research and information shared at the numerous seminars and webinars published in the last few months.

Here are a few simple ways to improve the way you DO empathy, rather than just being empathetic. And, why it's so important for trainers and educators.

Dr. Denise Meyerson is a distinguished Board Member, CEO, and Management Consultant with over three decades of experience at the board level, particularly in the education, training, and workforce development sectors. Currently, she serves as a Subsidiary Board Member and Director (MCI) of APM. In her executive capacity, she is the Founder and Director of Management Consultancy International, an acclaimed education and training provider within the APM Group. Following the acquisition of MCI by APM in 2020, Dr. Meyerson has taken on several key roles: Board member responsible for setting strategic direction, ensuring financial governance, and driving innovation. Strategic advisor to the CEO, contributing to the growth of MCI as a multi-million dollar consultancy and adult education business. Consultant to ASX-listed companies such as Stockland, NAB, and QBE, as well as various private companies and non-profits like Anglicare. Specialist in innovation, helping MCI achieve a top position on the AFR list of Australia's most innovative companies. Additionally, Dr. Meyerson is the Founder and CEO of The Focus Learning Group. Her prior experience includes leading Corporate College International, an education company sold to a listed entity on the South African Stock Exchange. Dr. Meyerson holds a Master's Degree and a PhD in English. She has been honored as an honorary member of City and Guilds, the largest examining body in the UK, for her significant contributions to vocational training and education. Her accolades include being named Learning and Development Professional of the Year by AITD and being among the first globally recognized master trainers of the LEGO Serious Play methodology.

A great talk with Denise about her humble but important beginnings in education in schools through to the establishment of many of the things we've come to know and love in school-based vocational education and beyond!

How often have you walked away from a workshop feeling that it fell short of achieving the necessary outcomes? Both in terms of hard decisions or outputs, or softer outcomes such as meaningful discussion, engagement and ownership? Beyond wasted time, the real cost of poor workshops and meetings is significant. All those people and other resource costs: before, during and after each event. Over time, objectives are not well met and benefits are not fully realised. Moreover, ongoing frustration and stress can lead people to resent meetings as an imposition on their being, not just their work. The idea that meetings are a “necessary evil” fundamentally limits your capacity to manage key conversations. In reality, project facilitation is a technical competency, alongside others. It enables those key conversations to happen more effectively, efficiently and elegantly. It is available to everyone. David helps his clients build their capability to enable all their stakeholders to participate in key project conversations.

Amy is a distinguished leadership and emotional intelligence specialist, practitioner, facilitator, and keynote speaker, celebrated for her captivating and inclusive approach that resonates with audiences across Australia and the global stage. With over two decades of experience in learning, leadership, and organisational development, she has an impressive track record of connecting with and motivating groups of all sizes and leadership levels. Amy's unwavering commitment to unlocking individual potential shines through in a diverse portfolio encompassing the design and implementation of hundreds of customised learning and leadership solutions across various service-based sectors. Her dynamic approach prioritises alignment with organisational strategies and the cultivation of desired cultures and behaviours. Amy has spearheaded cultural change in core business areas, led cultural working groups, shaped culture strategies, and collaborated closely with senior leadership teams on transformative leadership initiatives.

Meet a passionate coach dedicated to nurturing intelligent individuals to enhance their leadership capabilities within the bustling realm of business. Having navigated the challenging transition from technical expert to the C-suite, this coach brings over 30 years of diverse leadership experience across roles ranging from technical positions to COO posts, and advisory board memberships in countries such as the US, UK, South Africa, Italy, and Australia. With a wealth of practical insights and frameworks, this professional simplifies the leadership process. Specializing in transforming technical experts into motivational leaders, they foster leadership habits and mindsets through targeted training and coaching. Leadership in today’s complex workplace—characterized by flat or matrix organizational structures, burgeoning workloads, and constantly changing parameters—presents significant challenges. This coach addresses these challenges, focusing on helping technical leaders transition into inspiring figures while emphasizing the importance of soft skills often overlooked by technical personnel. Having trained hundreds of technical leaders internationally, including engagements at Oxford University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this coach also advocates for re-humanizing the workplace. Their C-level operational management experience and deep roots in the ICT sector lend a real-world edge to their coaching and training sessions. Complementing other programs, their training builds on the theoretical foundations of MBAs or other leadership courses to apply leadership skills to day-to-day operational challenges. They continue to run masterclasses on Microwave engineering, believing that mastery of both skilled trade and leadership principles are essential for success. To discover more about their Virtual Online Live Training, follow or reach out via email at [email protected].

Deniese offers a solution for educators and trainers seeking to improve their online teaching. Their research-based professional development provides customised strategies that go beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. Teams gain the confidence to implement effective techniques that align with their specific needs while minimising workload strain. The result is a more engaged and connected learning experience that produces tangible results.

Michelle Bowden is an authority on presenting persuasively in business. Each year, she helps her clients overcome their nerves, captivate their audiences, and secure billions of dollars in business. Now, she's here to help you too! You can reach her at 0412391170 for a chat, or visit her website to learn more or to register for her Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass at www.michellebowden.com.au. Michelle is passionate about helping you win your next business pitch, speak confidently, clearly, and charismatically, no matter your natural ability. Her approach to teaching presentation skills is fundamentally different… Confident, engaging, persuasive presenting or public speaking in business involves much more than just stagecraft and slide design. Essentially, Michelle takes a strategic approach to presenting which involves three equally critical phases: Analysis Design Delivery You'll hear the word 'YES' more often when you apply Michelle's unique approach to best practice presenting. Why should you choose Michelle as your trainer? She has facilitated her Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass over 980 times for over 13,000 people. This masterclass actually works! She offers an impressive long-term post-training program so you don't forget what you learn! Most importantly, she genuinely cares about you. When you work with Michelle, she will stay in touch to keep helping you use what you know so you STAND OUT for all the right reasons! She is a 2 x best-selling, internationally published author on persuasive presenting in business. She is a multi-time nominee for the Educator Award for Excellence. She is well known for her one-on-one coaching with executives to help their pitch teams win multi-million dollar pitches and tenders. She coaches keynote speakers and executives to present brilliantly at company conferences, road shows, and client events.

Tired of the mundane? Leanne Hughes ignites extraordinary experiences in individuals, teams, and businesses. Her podcast offers a potent blend of influence, community building, and a "why not?" attitude to help you shatter the ordinary. From Chanel to industry leaders, Leanne empowers positive change with actionable strategies. Tune in for a jolt of inspiration, like a coffee chat with a twist. www.leannehughes.com

I'm thrilled to welcome Neil Von Heupt to our podcast, a true innovator in the field of learning design. Neil crafts immersive learning experiences that transcend the mundane 'click-next' routine, focusing instead on collaborative, practical sessions that drive real performance and business results. With a deep understanding of adult learning in today's workplace, Neil expertly navigates the entire spectrum of learning design and organisational development. His projects are not just his own but are the fruit of collaborations with global experts in learning and organisational growth. A recognised figure in the industry, Neil is a Fellow of prestigious institutes and an active voice in the community through blogging and social media. Join us as we delve into Neil's world, where learning meets innovation and transformation.

Meet Chemene Sinson, Vocational educator and designer.

Here's a summary of the five qualities and traits of professionalism. Firstly, never criticise the training in front of your learners. No matter what’s going through your mind, just hold course and maintain your composure. Maintain your locus of control as internal as possible. Be the solution to your problems and don’t blame others. Represent yourself and organisation with dignity and integrity. Look the part, hold yourself well, and lead from the front. When things are tough, be tougher. We grow when we’re regularly put under pressure. From weight training and running, to dealing with conflict or intense emotional situations. The more we face it, the more resilient we become. And finally, be free to make mistakes and don’t let them define your training session. Move on and show your learners how confidently you can deal with problems. They’ll respect and trust you even more. Link to the original blog: https://spectraining.edu.au/blog/ Link to the video: https://youtu.be/u1DponfPyXM

Caroline is the Vice President of Enterprise at Dūcere Global Business School. Working with school levers through to CEOs, Caroline shares her passion of providing education to those who want it, not just those who can afford it.

Talking all things TAE, funding, standards for RTOs and more.

Great talk with Jeffrey Lehrer representing Scouts Australia.

We have a great chat about the Institute for learning and performance (ILP) and the various things it provides to the L&D community. Links to the various events discussed are: Learning Impact Summit https://ilpasiapacific.com/learning-impact-summit-2024/ Call for presenters https://www.surveymonkey.com/survey-taken?sm=FBgb62gEaqDa6psLCVaOyilRY2aGJx_2FKb14eSqojes9s5qt4wiOzcUbayeo3NsFPInKwp9X790YmLEggJnywgoD9MMO804V78RDOxmWLQ5svXJ7I13VuDDyxxwiEsyoPZko5zQ2FjpNwj1kjZ7rK7Q_3D_3D All ILP events https://ilpasiapacific.com/ilp-events/ Free ILP L&D Lounge https://ilpasiapacific.com/ilp-all-events/the-friday-morning-ilp-ld-lounge/?occurrence=2024-03-15 ILP L&D Capability Framework https://ilpasiapacific.com/ld-capability-framework/ 10893NAT Certificate IV in Learning Design & Facilitation https://ilpasiapacific.com/cert-iv/ Become a member https://ilpasiapacific.com/join-now/ Book a meeting with Nicole Hill, CEO https://calendly.com/nicole-ilp/meeting-with-nicole-grundy

Jenny is an amazing part of the VET sector. Her stories should resonate with many who have taken their skills and applied it to VET training.

We explore the current and future directions of AI in Vocational Education and Training. Some controversial ideas come up :-)

We talk about digital literacy for vocational trainers and assessors- both existing and potential.

What have we done about the TAE40122? How did we decide to structure and run this program and what's in store for the future?

A chat with a number of key people from the ITECA 2023 conference held at the Sofitel on the Gold Coast in June 7-9, 2023

We deep dive into the next standards from the RTO Standards 2015, 1.5 to 1.8.

Marc Miles and Dan Hill discuss the first part of the RTO standards to shine a little light on their interpretation and how they currently work to meet these standards. Part 1 covered 1.1 to 1.3 of the standards.

We look at literacy from three angles, the RTO, Students and Trainers. Here are three options we can point students towards when seeking to update their digital literacy levels: https://www.maxsolutions.com.au/digital-literacy , https://tafeqld.edu.au/course/18/18457/introduction-to-computers-and-the-internet, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/digital-literacy