Interview with Andrew Laming; MEMBERS ONLY

In this members-only episode, I sit down with Andrew Laming to unpack one of the most controversial periods in the VET sector—the reform of ASQA and the regulatory approach to RTOs. We explore what was happening behind the scenes at the time, including concerns around regulatory overreach, the impact on private providers, and how a shift toward a more educative and collaborative regulatory model began to emerge. We then fast forward to today and look at the current landscape—declining funding for private providers, changes to international student settings, and the ongoing tension between public and private delivery in the VET system. A key focus of this discussion is international education. We unpack its role as both an economic driver and a skills pipeline, while also addressing the challenges around quality, migration pathways, and the role of education agents. We also touch on the broader political environment shaping education policy, including workforce shortages, regional skills gaps, and the realities of long-term planning in a rapidly changing system.