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About Michelle

The story behind the standard.

A 30-year journey through Australian vocational education — from the training floor to group leadership.

The Full Story

A senior VET executive, three decades in the making.

Michelle Newman is a senior vocational education and training executive and Managing Director of the CAQA Groups and Career Calling International, with more than 30 years of sector leadership across Australia and internationally. She leads business operations, consultants, and resource instructional designers, and is passionate about supporting RTOs through high-quality resources, compliance support, professional development, validation, AI training, and practical solutions that help providers operate with confidence.

Her experience spans RTO leadership, training product development and contextualisation, Australian Apprenticeships, account management, and business growth, underpinned by deep knowledge of ASQA, AQTF, and Skills Victoria compliance environments.

She believes compliance should be practical, meaningful, and connected to quality training — helping organisations strengthen their systems, meet regulatory expectations, improve learner outcomes, and stay prepared for sector change.

Helping organisations strengthen their systems, meet regulatory expectations, and stay prepared for sector change.

The Newman approach
Key Strengths

What Michelle brings to the table

Executive LeadershipBusiness operations, strategy and HR across multiple divisions
Compliance & AuditASQA, AQTF and Skills Victoria audit readiness and quality assurance
Resource DevelopmentReview, writing and contextualisation of accredited training materials
Commercial ManagementBudgets, income generation and KPI achievement
Stakeholder EngagementClient consultation and long-term account relationships
Training DeliveryTrainer and assessor across leadership, business and hospitality
The Working Week

Three decades of practice, still practising.

Reviewing resources, coaching consultants, walking providers through audit readiness — the standard is set by doing the work, not just directing it.

Consulting & resource development

Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles for a professional headshot.
RTOTrainer & assessor
Leadership in Practice

Still teaching. Still auditing. Still building.

Michelle serves as trainer and assessor for the Diploma of Leadership and Management at the CAQA RTO, reviews and writes compliant accredited training materials across multiple training package areas, and maintains current knowledge of training products and VET compliance requirements.

She consults with training providers on compliance, training resources, audit readiness, business operations and practical improvement strategies — and supports providers in attendance at regulatory body audits.

See the career timeline

Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, poses confidently in a business suit.
The Person

Practical, meaningful, connected to quality.

Michelle's approach to compliance has not changed in three decades: it has to work for the provider, the trainer and the learner.

Portrait Series

The 2026 portraits.

Studio and location portraits from the 2026 series. Click any image to open the full size file.

Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles for a professional headshot.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles for a professional headshot.
A professional portrait of Michelle Newman, Managing Director, wearing a navy blazer and glasses.
A professional woman with glasses smiles while wearing a light-colored suit, representing CAQA Groups' leadership.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles in a professional headshot.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director, poses professionally in an office setting.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles for a professional headshot wearing glasses and a burgundy dress.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, smiles while wearing a blue and black dress.
A professional headshot portrait of Michelle Newman, Managing Director at CAQA Groups.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, is seated in a neutral-toned room wearing a beige sweater.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director at CAQA Groups, sits confidently in an office setting.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director, is seated in an armchair wearing a blue dress and glasses.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, is seated confidently in an office setting.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director, is pictured seated in a chair wearing glasses and a tweed dress.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director, is pictured in a blue suit sitting on concrete steps.
Michelle Newman, Managing Director of CAQA Groups, stands on a tiled patio wearing an olive green shirt dress.
A businesswoman stands confidently in a navy suit within an office hallway, showcasing professional attire for vet quality.
Michelle Newman poses in a plum jumpsuit on city steps, showcasing professional business attire.
Queen Rania of Jordan walks across a crosswalk in a red dress, showcasing professional business attire.
A smiling Michelle Newman, Managing Director, poses in professional attire for a portrait.
Let's collaborate

Operate with confidence.

Compliance advisory, resource strategy and professional development for providers who want quality to be more than a checkbox.

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