Future Abilities Organisation (FSO) and Microsoft at the moment introduced the launch of the FSO Abilities Accelerator-AI, a brand new strategic partnership between employers, {industry} and coaching suppliers to assist shut Australia’s AI abilities hole. Microsoft is founding companion to this initiative, which goals to ship scalable, inclusive, and high-impact skilling packages nationwide via the Vocational Schooling and Coaching (VET) system.
Introduced at FSO’s Nationwide Discussion board in Canberra, the FSO Abilities Accelerator-AI will goal learners and over 30,000 VET educators and directors, with the purpose of equipping Australians with the capabilities wanted to thrive in an AI-driven financial system. This 12-month pilot will check a scalable, sustainable mannequin that strengthens how {industry} and coaching collaborate. It’s going to deal with collaboration and useful resource sharing; direct engagement between {industry} and educators; supply of content material and actions at scale and peer studying, follow sharing, and help.
Federal Minister for Abilities and Coaching, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, welcomed the initiative, saying “Australia’s future prosperity will depend on our capacity to equip our workforce with the talents they want for a quickly altering world. The FSO Abilities Accelerator-AI is a good instance of how {industry} and the coaching sector can come collectively to satisfy that problem and develop sensible, scalable coaching.”
The launch of this initiative additionally has the help of greater than a dozen {industry} and coaching stakeholders together with TAFE QLD, TAFE SA, Commonwealth Financial institution, Adobe, VCCI, Enterprise NSW, Nationwide AI Centre, Canberra Institute of Expertise, Chisolm Institute, Lumify Studying, St George and Sutherland Neighborhood Faculty, Swinburne College of Expertise and Tech Council of Australia.
Future Abilities Organisation is a Jobs and Abilities Council funded by the Australian Authorities Division of Employment and Office Relations. Its function is to companion with {industry} and the vocational coaching sector to fast-track progressive coaching options which meet the demand for crucial abilities.
A As soon as-in-a-Technology Alternative for Nationwide Workforce Transformation
Generative AI is ready to rework how Australians work, with the potential to contribute $115 billion yearly to the nationwide financial system by 2030. To grab this chance, we should present our workforce with the talents to harness AI’s alternative at velocity and scale.
Whereas AI gives large advantages for employers and workers alike, it requires an schooling and coaching system that prepares the workforce for an AI-driven future. Australia’s VET sector, which reaches over 5 million learners yearly, is central to this effort.

“AI is already reworking how we work and unlocking new ranges of productiveness throughout industries. To completely realise its potential, we should work at tempo to empower our educators and learners with the talents and confidence to thrive on this AI-enabled world,” mentioned Patrick Kidd OBE OAM, CEO of Future Abilities Organisation. “This partnership with Microsoft, {industry} and main coaching suppliers is about turning ambition into motion: constructing a workforce that’s prepared for the long run, at the moment.”
Introducing the FSO Abilities Accelerator-AI
The brand new FSO Abilities Accelerator–AI is being rolled out in partnership with {industry}, educators and trainers in a collaborative strategy to co‑design AI coaching and share sources to assist us transfer faster.
With a purpose to succeed in learners and greater than 30,000 VET educators and directors, the FSO Abilities Accelerator-AI is seeking to drive a brand new benchmark for nationwide AI functionality. This system’s integration of AI coaching into nationwide requirements will empower Australians to maintain tempo and prosper in an AI-driven future.

“From pilot to coverage, this partnership units a daring blueprint for nationwide workforce transformation. By harnessing the collective experience and management of {industry}, we’re not solely getting ready Australians for the roles of tomorrow — we’re actively shaping the way forward for work itself,” mentioned Rachel Bondi, Company Vice President SME Microsoft Asia and Impartial Director at FSO. “Microsoft is proud to help and allow this industry-led collaboration with Future Abilities Organisation, serving to to make sure each educator and learner beneficial properties entry to sensible, job-ready AI abilities.”
Alongside Microsoft Elevate — Microsoft’s $4 billion international dedication to inclusive AI skilling — this partnership advances the corporate’s purpose of empowering 1 million Australians and New Zealanders with AI abilities by 2026.
Future Abilities Organisation and Microsoft are inviting authorities, {industry}, coaching suppliers, and neighborhood companions to affix this initiative. Extra data on the right way to get entangled will be discovered on the FSO web site.
Supporting quotes from our companions:
Lee Hickin, Govt Director, Nationwide AI Centre: “Australia’s AI future will depend on a nationwide workforce that’s able to adapt, be taught and lead. By embedding AI studying into vocational schooling, this venture ensures educators have the help to ship sensible, job-ready AI information and abilities.”
Nick Clare, Common Supervisor Industrial Improvement, VCCI: “We’re excited to contribute to this initiative and the upcoming Nationwide Discussion board. Our AI skilling agenda is progressing quickly, and we stay up for deepening our collaboration with FSO and different companions to assist scale and allow this essential work—particularly for small and medium companies the place sensible AI capabilities can unlock actual productiveness beneficial properties.”
TAFE South Australia: “The VET system is uniquely positioned to ship the dimensions, agility and {industry} alignment wanted to equip Australians with AI abilities. We help the FSO Abilities Accelerator – AI and its deal with strengthening collaboration between VET and {industry} to assist empower learners with the talents they want to reach an AI-enabled financial system.”