The AI Shift: Training for Tomorrow

This article captures key insights from our recent AI Panel at aXcelerate Day, where four leaders from across the VET and EdTech landscape came together to explore the future of AI in training and assessment: Amelia Hayson (Head of Professional Services, aXcelerate), Kerri Buttery (CEO, VETNexus & Founder, Digital Literacy Licence), Shannon Kinzett (Product Manager, aXcelerate), and  (National Head of Academics & Compliance, Macallan College & CEO, New England College).

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just transforming how we live and work – it’s reshaping how we teach, learn, and grow. Across the VET sector, the rise of AI has sparked a pivotal question: how can we embrace technology to empower educators and learners, without losing the human connection that underpins quality training?

At a recent aXcelerate panel event, four VET and EdTech leaders – Amelia Hayson, Kerri Buttery, Shannon Kinzett, and Marc Harris – explored this question in depth. Their collective message was clear: AI should empower, not replace.

From Challenge to Change

The rapid evolution of AI brings both opportunity and responsibility. As Kerri Buttery outlined, the challenge for RTOs lies in balancing innovation with compliance and authenticity. Trainers are being asked to navigate new grey areas – from managing academic integrity to maintaining privacy and regulatory obligations.

Kerri urged providers to move beyond policing AI use and instead focus on guiding it. “Rather than asking, ‘Did they use AI?’” she said, “we should be asking, ‘How can learners use AI effectively and ethically?’”

Her practical advice? Equip both trainers and students with the skills to use AI safely. That means:

• Embedding frameworks like Charles Sturt University’s S.E.C.U.R.E. Framework to ensure responsible use
• Maintaining strict privacy protocols – no personal or identifiable data in AI tools
• Prioritising transparency and clear assessment integrity policies

AI detection tools, Kerri warned, are unreliable and can damage trust between students and educators. She explained the issue isn’t the presence of a detection tool – it’s how the result is interpreted. A flag should prompt a conversation, not a conclusion.

Trainers and assessors should review the work in context, speak with the learner, and apply professional judgement before making any determination about academic integrity. Human input remains essential to ensure fairness and avoid unintended harm.

This is also why building AI literacy is critical. The ability to understand, evaluate, and collaborate with AI builds the foundations for future-ready learners.

Building AI Literacy in Students

To prepare learners for an AI-enabled workforce, Kerri highlighted four essential pillars from the AI Literacy Framework:

Engaging with AI
Help students understand how to interact effectively with AI tools, interpret outputs, and recognise both the capabilities and the limitations of AI.

Creating with AI
Teach students to use AI as a collaborative partner in content generation while still maintaining their own creative agency, critical thinking, and decision-making.

Designing AI
Support students in understanding how AI systems work, including common biases, data limitations, and how responsible AI is built and deployed.

Managing AI
Develop students’ ability to evaluate AI tools, understand privacy and data risks, and make informed choices about when and how AI should be used.

Empower, Not Replace

aXcelerate Product Manager Shannon Kinzett highlighted how AI is redefining when, how, and where learning happens. “AI can meet learners where they are, when they need it,” she said  — not in a separate tab, not through an external tool, but directly within the aXcelerate environment they already use every day.

AI Learner Support uses the RTO’s own knowledge base within aXcelerate — so learners receive guidance that is consistent, contextual, and aligned with their course content.

Through aXcelerate’s AI-driven learner support and assessment tools, she described how AI can:

• Reach learners in the flow of study, offering guidance the moment a question arises, so they stay moving rather than getting stuck or stepping outside their learning environment
• Relate through personalisation – adapting tone, depth, and style to each learner
• Reinforce critical thinking – encouraging reflection to break down concepts and learnings

The result is support that travels alongside the learner, enhancing the journey rather than interrupting it – a seamless companion that strengthens understanding, confidence, and engagement. It means more engaged learners, empowered trainers, and learning experiences that feel human – even when powered by AI.

Shannon also underscored the importance of intentional AI – ensuring every AI feature in aXcelerate is shaped by our core organisational values of Honesty, Empathy, Acceptance, Respect, and Trust (HEART). These values set the standard for how we design technology that supports real people in real learning environments.

Building on HEART, aXcelerate’s AI principles guide how AI is implemented across the platform to ensure it remains safe, transparent, and human-centred:

1. AI should empower educators, individuals, and teams to achieve their goals
   AI acts as an enabler, helping people work smarter, learn deeper, and access support when they need it most.
2. People are accountable for decisions
   Human judgement remains central. AI informs decisions – it doesn’t replace responsibility.
3. We are committed to safety and security
   aXcelerate’s AI features prioritise safe data use, privacy protection, and secure integrations.
4. We are committed to transparency
   Learners and trainers should understand how AI is used, what it does, and how it supports their experience.

Supporting Assessment with AI

Marc Harris, National Head of Academics and Compliance at Macallan College and CEO at New England College, shared his team’s success story implementing the aXcelerate AI Short Answer Marking Assistant across multiple campuses.

For his RTOs, the mission was clear: deliver high-quality training and assessment that meets student and industry needs – while managing the growing pressures of time, cost, and strengthening compliance.

The tool supports assessors by:

• Structuring feedback consistently across assessors, units, and campuses
• Highlighting where answers meet unit requirements and where evidence is insufficient
• Reducing repetitive manual marking so assessors can focus on high-value learner interactions
• Helping ensure timely, constructive feedback, directly supporting Standard 1 of the revised 2025 RTO Standards

After rolling out the tool, Marc’s team recorded:

• 30% reduction in average marking time
• More consistent and constructive feedback
• Faster turnaround times and fewer bottlenecks
• Stronger alignment with internal quality assurance and moderation processes

The biggest impact was the shift in trainer focus. With less time spent on repetitive marking tasks, trainers could redirect effort toward:

• One-on-one learner support
• Addressing knowledge gaps
• Facilitating deeper learning conversations

“It’s not replacing trainers,” Marc said. “It’s freeing them to focus on what matters most: student engagement and learning outcomes.”

The result is a better student experience, stronger engagement, and improved outcomes – all while maintaining compliance and consistency.

Building Trust in the AI Era

Amelia Hayson, Head of Professional Services at aXcelerate, framed the discussion around intentional AI. For her, the goal is to use AI guided by the principles of honesty, empathy, respect, and trust.

“People remain accountable for decisions,” she reminded the audience. “AI should empower educators, individuals, and teams to achieve their goals – safely and transparently.”

That mindset shift – from fear to empowerment – underpins the future of AI in VET.

Key Takeaways

• AI literacy beats AI detection. Teach ethical, effective use rather than policing misuse.
• Human oversight is always needed. AI is most powerful when guided by people who understand its context and purpose.
• Compliance and innovation can coexist. With frameworks, privacy standards, and transparency, AI can safely support the 2025 RTO Standards.
• AI can empower trainers, assessors and administrators. It saves time and strengthens the learner experience – without replacing human judgement.

As our panellists agreed, the future of training isn’t about humans competing with machines. It’s about people harnessing AI to teach, support, and inspire in smarter, more inclusive ways.

Interested in learning more about AI in aXcelerate? 

From learner support to assessment tools, we’re building AI that’s safe, human-centred, and built for the VET sector. Explore our latest AI-powered tools here.