9 tools picked for teachers, trainers and education providers

Best AI tools for teachers and training providers in Australia

Teachers and trainers spend much of their time outside the classroom planning lessons, differentiating materials, writing reports and giving feedback. AI tools can draft lesson outlines, generate practice questions, adapt texts for different reading levels and turn source material into presentations, giving educators back time for students.

Education also has a specific framework to work within. The Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools sets principles on teaching and learning, wellbeing, transparency, fairness, accountability and privacy, and state departments have their own approved tools and rules. RTOs and higher education providers face assessment integrity questions under ASQA and TEQSA oversight. The picks below cover schools, vocational training and adult education.

Last reviewed October 2026

The shortlist

Microsoft 365 Copilot
Paid
General Assistant
Schools and training providers on Microsoft 365 can use Copilot to draft lesson plans, rubrics and parent communications inside their institutional tenant. Check your department or sector's approval status first, as access and data settings differ between school systems.
Microsoft 365 Copilot review →
Google Gemini
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Schools on Google Workspace for Education can use Gemini to draft unit plans, create differentiated reading passages and generate quiz questions. Workspace education accounts carry different data protections from personal Google accounts, so use the institutional login.
Google Gemini review →
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Free plan + paid
Research/Study
NotebookLM answers questions only from the documents you upload, such as a curriculum document, a training package or course readings. Trainers can build study guides and audio overviews grounded in the actual material rather than the open web.
Gemini Notebook review →
Claude (Anthropic)
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Strong at adapting texts to different reading levels, writing worked examples and drafting feedback comments from a marking rubric. Remove student names and identifying details before using it, unless your institution has approved it for student data.
Claude review →
Quizlet
Free plan + paid
Education
Quizlet turns notes and vocabulary into flashcards, practice tests and study games with AI assistance. It suits secondary teachers and VET trainers who want students to revise terminology, such as WHS terms or trade vocabulary, outside class time.
Quizlet review →
Gamma
Free plan + paid
Presentations
Gamma builds presentations and handouts from an outline or a document in minutes. Trainers refreshing course decks and teachers preparing lesson slides can get a clean first version, then add their own examples and Australian context.
Gamma review →
Canva AI (Magic Studio)
Free plan + paid
Design
Canva for Education gives teachers AI writing and design tools for worksheets, posters, classroom displays and student projects. Many Australian schools already use Canva, which makes it an easy way to introduce AI-assisted design under existing accounts.
Canva AI review →
Goblin.tools
Free
Productivity
Goblin Tools breaks tasks into smaller steps and rewrites text in different tones. Teachers can use it to scaffold assignments for students who struggle with executive function, and students can use it independently to plan their work.
Goblin.tools review →
Synthesia
Free plan + paid
Corporate Video
Synthesia creates presenter-led training videos from a script, in multiple languages. RTOs and corporate trainers can produce induction, compliance and microlearning videos without filming, and update them when the content changes.
Synthesia review →

Compliance and privacy

The Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools, endorsed by education ministers, sets expectations on teaching and learning, human and social wellbeing, transparency, fairness, accountability, and privacy, security and safety. State and territory departments and Catholic and independent sectors decide which tools staff and students may use, and some provide their own, such as NSWEduChat. Student personal information is covered by the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles or state privacy laws for government schools. RTOs must keep assessment valid and authentic under the Standards for RTOs regulated by ASQA, and higher education providers face TEQSA's expectations on academic integrity. Check age requirements in each tool's terms before students use it.

Getting started

1
Check your department, diocese or institution's approved tool list and AI policy before choosing anything.
2
Start with planning tasks that contain no student data, such as unit outlines, question banks and differentiated texts.
3
Use document-grounded tools like NotebookLM with your curriculum or training package to keep outputs aligned to requirements.
4
Review assessment tasks for AI vulnerability and redesign where authenticity is at risk, such as adding observation or oral components.
5
Teach students how and when AI use is permitted, and state it clearly in each assessment.

Looking beyond off-the-shelf tools? See AI automation for teachers, trainers and education providers.

Frequently asked questions

Are Australian teachers allowed to use AI tools?

Generally yes, within the rules of their school system. The national framework supports responsible use, and states have published their own guidance and in some cases approved tools. Check your department or sector's policy, use institutional accounts, and keep student personal information out of unapproved tools.

Can I use AI to write student reports?

AI can help phrase comments from your own notes and marks, but the judgement must be yours and the comments must reflect each student accurately. Avoid entering student names and personal details into tools your school has not approved, and read every comment before it goes home.

How should RTOs handle AI in assessment?

Under the Standards for RTOs, assessment must be valid and the evidence authentic. Set clear rules about permitted AI use, design tasks that require observation, workplace evidence or verbal questioning where appropriate, and keep records showing how authenticity was confirmed.

Which AI tool is best for lesson planning?

Use the assistant built into your school's platform first, Copilot for Microsoft schools or Gemini for Google schools, because it runs under institutional data protections. NotebookLM is useful when you want ideas grounded in a specific curriculum document or text.

Can AI detectors reliably catch student AI use?

No detector is reliable enough to base an academic misconduct finding on alone, and false positives can unfairly affect students, including those writing in a second language. Focus on assessment design, drafts, conversations with students and clear rules about acceptable use.

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AI set up properly for teachers, trainers and education providers

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