What Makes VET Education Different? A Guide for New Trainers

Starting your journey as a Vocational Education and Training (VET) trainer can feel both exciting and overwhelming. VET isn’t just another branch of education – it’s a unique space designed to prepare students for real-world jobs through practical skills and hands-on learning.

But what exactly sets VET apart, and how can you, as a new trainer, embrace its distinctiveness? Let’s talk about it!

A Strong Focus on Practical Skills

Unlike university, which often focuses on reading books and writing essays, VET (Vocational Education and Training) is all about learning by doing. In VET, students learn real skills they can use at work. As a trainer, you help students get ready for the job by giving them practical experience, not just classroom lessons.

For example, let’s say you’re teaching a hospitality course. Instead of just talking about how to give good customer service, you’ll get your students up and moving. They might take turns acting as waiters and customers, practice writing down orders, and even solve pretend problems—like what to do if someone’s meal is late or wrong. It feels more like a real café or restaurant than a regular classroom.

🤸‍♀️ Ways to get your students involved in the classroom

Role Plays: Let students act out real-life situations from the job. For example, in a retail class, they can take turns being the shop assistant and the customer. They’ll practise greeting people, handling complaints, and using polite language.
Simulations: Set up the classroom to look like a real workplace. If you’re teaching business, students can practise using phones, writing emails, or holding a team meeting. This helps them feel what it’s really like on the job.
Group Projects: Put students in small teams to solve a workplace challenge. In a childcare class, they might plan a day of fun, safe activities for toddlers. They’ll learn teamwork and how to think on their feet.
Hands-On Practice: Give them tools and let them try things themselves. In a construction course, students can measure timber, use basic tools, or read simple building plans. It builds confidence and skills.
Walk-and-Talks or Demonstrations: Take the lesson outside the classroom. Walk around a real workplace or do a demo of how to use certain tools. Then let students try it themselves under supervision.

This hands-on learning helps students understand how things work in the real world. When you connect what you’re teaching to actual jobs, students stay more interested and are more likely to remember what they learn.

Industry-Driven Standards

In VET and TAFE, the training you give is closely connected to real jobs. This means you’re not just teaching from a book – you’re helping students learn exactly what they need to succeed in the workplace. Industry experts (people who work in the job every day) help design the courses. So when students graduate, they have the skills that employers are actually looking for.

📚 What This Means for You as a Trainer:

Training that keeps up with what’s happening in your industry: It’s not rocket science… if you’re teaching aged care and there’s a new way to support people with dementia, the training you deliver should include that. It means that learners are industry-ready, even when the industry evolves.
Engagement with people who work in the field: The education that we deliver comes from our work in the field. Mental health trainers are also mental health workers. Remember that your colleagues can give you advice, ideas, and even opportunities for your students.
You get to keep learning: Trainers are also learners – so be sure to go to workshops, read articles, or join events to make sure you’re teaching the latest skills.

I remember one student I’d spoken to, who had just completed a construction class, telling me, “My boss was impressed I already knew how to read site plans and use the safety gear properly.” Why? Because the course was built with real industry needs in mind. That’s the power of industry-led training – it helps students get jobs and feel ready from day one.

Flexible Learning Pathways

Vocational Education & Training is for everyone. Some students come straight from school. Others are adults changing careers or learning new skills after a long time away from study. As a trainer, you’ll work with people who have all kinds of backgrounds, learning styles, and goals. And that’s what makes it such a great career!

🧘‍♀️ How You Can Support Your Students:

Use different ways to teach: Mix pictures, videos, hands-on activities, stories, and real-life examples to help everyone understand in their own way.
Be patient and supportive: Some students may need extra time, help, or encouragement – especially if they haven’t studied in a while or if they aren’t a native English speaker.
Make learning personal and useful: Connect lessons to each student’s goals or future job so they see why it matters. It’ll get them excited about coming to class and wanting to listen to the information you are teaching them.
Keep things clear and flexible: Break tasks into small steps, and repeat key points. Be ready to adjust when students need extra support. Like learning anything, it might take time for it to sink in, and that’s OK.
Create a safe space to ask questions: Let students know it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help – everyone learns at a different pace. Encourage students to ask questions to solidy understanding.
Check in one-on-one when needed: Some students won’t speak up in class, so take time to quietly ask how they’re going and offer extra help if needed. I want my students to know that I am here to support them through their studying. I want them to reach out to me if they are struggling – in any area of their life. Because I will always have 12 minutes for them.
Celebrate small wins: Notice when students are trying hard or improving, and praise their effort to build confidence. It takes literally no extra effort to be kind – so be kind.

In one of my business classes, I had a student who hadn’t used a computer in years. At first, she felt lost and overwhelmed… so I slowed things down and showed her each step on the screen. BSBTEC201 is easy right? Well, not for everyone. I didn’t even think twice before I even made simple checklists she could follow. By the end of the course, she was confidently typing up her own business plan.

Moments like that remind us that with the right support, every student can succeed.

Competency-Based Assessment

In VET, students don’t get grades like A, B, or C. Instead, we use something called competency-based assessment. This means students have to show they can do the task the right way, just like they would on the job. It’s not about comparing students to each other – it’s about making sure everyone reaches the required standard.

Why? Because if a student is learning to safely use a power tool, they must show they can do it correctly and safely. If they’re not quite there yet, they’re given more time and support until they are. It’s not about shame, it’s about competency.

🎓 Your Role as a Trainer:

Explain clearly what “competent” means: Let students know exactly what skills they need to show and how they’ll be assessed. Use simple language and real-life examples.
Give helpful feedback: Tell students what they did well and what they can improve. Feedback should guide them, not discourage them.
Make space to practise: Give students time and chances to build their skills before the assessment. Practising in a safe, supportive space helps them feel confident.

One of my colleagues told me about a student in a welding course who just couldn’t get a certain technique right during their assessment. It was a given they were getting a NC that day… but that’s OK! The trainer gave step-by-step feedback and arranged extra practice sessions for the student. A few days later, the student came back and passed the assessment with flying colours. The smile on their face said it all – they didn’t just pass a test, they learned a real skill they could take into the workforce.

Direct Links to Employment

Vocational Education & Training programs are designed to lead straight into the workplace. Many students choose VET because they want to learn the skills they need to get a job, get promoted, or change careers. That means, as a trainer, you’re doing more than just teaching – you’re helping students take big steps toward their future. You’re part teacher, part coach, and part career guide.

One of the best things you can do is share success stories. I love telling my students about past graduates – like the business student who now runs her own café, or the aged care student who’s become a team leader. These stories show what’s possible.

Stories inspire hope, especially when students are tired, unsure, or struggling. When they see others who’ve walked the same path and made it, it helps them believe they can do it too.

🔗How to Maximise This Connection for your students:

Help students build professional networks through internships or workplace placements.
Share industry insights and tips for success.
Inspire confidence by showing them the pathways their training can unlock.
Arrange industry guest speakers or panels.
Organise workplace visits or site tours.
Support students in securing internships or placements.
Encourage students to attend local industry events or expos.
Connect students with past graduates or alumni.
Invite employers to class presentations or showcase events.
Help students create LinkedIn profiles and professional resumes.
Set up mock interviews with real employers.
Encourage students to join industry groups or online forums.
Share job boards, newsletters, or social media groups related to the field.

To make the most of this, share real tips from your own work experience. Tell students what employers look for, what it’s really like in the industry, and how to stand out in a job interview.

If your course delivery includes workplace training or internships, support students as they prepare and reflect on those experiences. These placements are a powerful way for students to learn on the job, build networks, and often even land job offers before the course ends. Don’t believe me? Check out the stories on graduating Longy students in the Ag industry.

I love telling students about former graduates who’ve gone on to thrive in their careers. It gives them a sense of what’s possible and motivates them to keep going, even when the course gets tough.

Tips for New Trainers

Maybe you are stepping into the world of VET for the first time… here are a few extra tips to set you up for success:

Get to know your students: Learn their goals and what motivates them.
Stay organised: Managing assessments, lesson plans, and industry updates can be a juggling act. Find a system that works for you.
Embrace lifelong learning: The best trainers are also learners. Keep honing your skills and exploring new teaching strategies.

VET education is a dynamic and rewarding field, but it takes time to truly understand what makes it unique. If you’re a seasoned trainer, what advice would you share with someone just starting out?

And if you’re new to VET, what excites you most about this journey? Let’s share tips, stories, and encouragement in the comments below!

Till next time.