Victoria’s vocational education sector is undergoing a massive $459.4 million digital upgrade, and it could be exactly what is needed to fast-track more women into STEM careers.
When it comes to closing the gender gap in technology, engineering, and cybersecurity, accessibility is half the battle. Clunky enrolment processes and rigid legacy systems often act as hidden barriers for women looking to reskill or re-enter the workforce. Now, a major technology overhaul across Victoria’s TAFE network aims to change that.
ReadyTech has been selected to deliver a common student management system (SMS) across Victoria’s 11 TAFE institutes, with the potential to support over 170,000 students. The unified platform is designed to modernise enrolments, curriculum delivery, and the end-to-end student journey.
Removing Barriers to STEM Reskilling
The rising demand for lifelong learning means more women are pivoting into tech careers later in life, often balancing caregiving or existing jobs. Victoria’s legacy educational infrastructure was not built to support this shift toward flexible, scalable learning.
By streamlining the digital experience, the new unified platform removes administrative friction. A seamless user journey makes it easier for women to take advantage of Free TAFE initiatives and successfully enrol in high-demand STEM and IT courses.
Marc Washbourne, CEO and Co-Founder of ReadyTech, noted that the milestone is the result of years of investment in building an enterprise-grade platform specifically for education, originally co-designed with educators and administrators.
“What began as a co-designed partnership with Bendigo Kangan Institute has evolved into a system-wide solution now trusted to power the future of the Victorian TAFE network,” Marc said.
“We are proud to be trusted as a long-term technology partner leading digital transformation in the next era of vocational training in Victoria.”
A Vision for Future Workforces
Across Australia, the five-year National Skills Agreement is injecting billions into the vocational sector to build workforce capability. In Victoria alone, the Commonwealth will provide up to $3.15 billion to expand the VET sector, creating more Free TAFE places for critical industries.
Delivering training at this scale requires a platform that meets the modern learner’s expectations, one that responds faster to evolving policies and industry needs.
“I commend the Victoria Government for its vision and leadership in advancing digital transformation for the Victorian TAFE Network,” Marc said. “Vocational education is critical to Victoria’s economy and workforce capability, and delivering transformation at this scale requires strong coordination and a shared vision.”
By replacing outdated systems with an agile, workforce-aligned model, the Victorian TAFE network is laying the digital groundwork to welcome and support the next generation of women in tech.
