Aside from the health and economic impacts, the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected Australia’s VET sector. The full scale of these effects, however, has just started to emerge. In what ways did the first waves of the pandemic affect the VET workforce – including trainers, resource developers and administrative staff? What changes and innovations happened? More importantly, what were the impacts on students and their practical learning, particularly those in industries with a high skills shortage? Steve Davis talks to Jenny Dodd, Chief Executive Officer, TAFE Directors Australia, Brian Rungie, Chief Exective Officer, PEER and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER about the varying impacts of the pandemic, as well as the COVID-19 related opportunities and challenges being faced by Australia’s VET sector. The discussion partially draws from NCVER research in progress which will be published in early-mid 2023.