Free AI and IT Training for Teachers

Two education initiatives designed for Australian school teachers: Virtual Teacher Training (VTT), a free professional development program for digital technologies, and Lumen AI, an AI learning environment designed for K-12 school teachers are now launched and looking for participants.

The VTT program was developed to address many of the challenges teachers face, and is a free, self- paced program providing structured, curriculum-aligned content covering Python programming, computational thinking, and classroom implementation strategies, delivered through a flexible online platform that teachers can complete at their own pace.

VTT includes ready-to-teach lesson materials and a browser-based coding environment, removing the need for additional software installation and reducing technical barriers. It's designed to accommodate the reality of teachers' workloads while building their capability progressively.

Lumen AI provides a curriculum-aligned, safe classroom tool for K-12 teachers. It offers users structured exposure to AI through guided, curriculum-aligned activities, such as essay development and image generation. This enables them to build foundational understanding of a responsible approach to AI, how AI systems work, their limitations, and the real-world applications. The broader AI Education Program will help to meet current and future needs for AI skills by equipping K-12 students, teachers, parents, and carers with AI literacy and skills.

The two programs address a need voiced by Australian teachers to bring AI and digital training into their classrooms that they can use safely with students. New research commissioned by Amazon reveals that while 76% of teachers feel enthusiastic about using AI in the classroom and 78% are already using AI tools for their own productivity, only 32% of teachers have access to approved tools they can use in the classroom.

The programs are from Amazon and digital technology education charity, Tech Futures Australia (TFA), formerly Code for Schools, as part of Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) AI Spring Education Program.

Research paints a picture of educators caught between enthusiasm and constraint. Nearly all teachers surveyed (96%) said they would participate in free, self-paced digital technologies training that includes ready-to-use materials. However, the barriers facing teachers are systemic, with 43% of teachers citing a lack of formal training in digital technologies, 39% identify a lack of curriculum-aligned resources as a major challenge, and 24% are unsure how digital technologies fit within the curriculum. These findings demonstrate a lack of practical support required to translate their enthusiasm into classroom outcomes.

According to the Tech Council of Australia, AI is projected to contribute up to $600 billion to GDP by 2030, with demand for skilled workers expected to increase significantly. However, without early intervention, Australia faces a projected shortfall of 60,000 AI professionals by 2027.

“Tech Futures Australia, with support from Amazon and AWS, is creating locally developed, curriculum- aligned programs that equip Australia's most critical education enablers, teachers, with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to prepare themselves and the next generation for a digital and AI future,” said Louise Stigwood, Managing Director, ANZ Public Sector, AWS. “By empowering teachers first, we're helping to create a foundation for long-term impact that will benefit students, workers, and the Australian economy for years to come.”

“We built these programs because Australian teachers told us exactly what they needed - structured training, curriculum-aligned resources, and safe, practical tools they could actually use in the classroom,” said Megan Fyfe, CEO of Tech Futures Australia. “That's what Virtual Teacher Training and Lumen AI deliver. With the support of Amazon and AWS, we're able to bring them to teachers across the country at no cost, helping ensure every student has the opportunity to build the digital and AI skills that will shape their future."

"By providing practical training, real-world context and safe learning environments, initiatives such as VTT and AI Spring Lumen AI are designed to empower teachers to confidently deliver these skills in the classroom and expand access for students across the country," said Stigwood.

“Building digital capability and understanding must start at the school level, but it can only happen if teachers have the confidence, training, and tools to deliver it. These programs are designed to create a pathway from teacher capability to student outcomes to ensure Australia can continue to forge its path as a global leader, build our national capability for success on the global stage,” said Stigwood.

Virtual Teacher Training is available now at no cost to all Australian teachers. The program can be accessed online and completed at the teacher's own pace, with no software installation required. Lumen AI will be rolled out nationally throughout 2026, with additional modules for K-12 students and parents to follow.