Addressing Automotive Apprentice Shortage and Acknowledging 'New Energy Apprentice Payment

Apprenticeships Are Us

Automotive Apprenticeship Specialists

1 article

May 13, 2024

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Apprenticeships Are Us (ARU) supports the latest announcement made by Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen MP . In the first quarter of the 2024 calendar year ARU commenced in employment 148 apprentices/trainees in Automotive Industry. These were made up of School Based Apprentices, Traineeships and Full Time Apprentices across the Light Vehicle Mechanical, Heavy Vehicle Mechanical, Mobile Plant, Automotive Underbody, Automotive Electrical, Automotive Sales Panel Repair and Spray-Painting sectors.

Today’s Automotive Apprentices are struggling with the increased cost-of-living pressures and as a result are entering an industry reeling from the effects of an ever-increasing skills shortage of highly skilled automotive technicians. The pressure on a young person leaving school and entering a technology intense fast paced industry it necessitates that they must have the correct level of support and be mentored throughout this transition to help keep these young people engaged. ARU completed 2,049 mentoring visits in the first quarter of the 2024 calendar year to help to achieve this. Increasing the retention rate of apprentices needs to be a key focus for the automotive industry to help address the skills shortage situation the automotive industry currently faces and by providing apprentices access to Electric Vehicle Training along with other further training is a great starting Point.

The $10,000 dollar incentive which is paid in $2000 instalments is designed to help attract apprentices to the automotive industry and assist in their retention. The key criteria for apprentices to be eligible for this incentive and may need to provide evidence of:

• Work on Electric Vehicles.
• The host workshop has the required equipment to work on EV’s.
• There is already someone who is trained in EV’s working at the workshop.

With these key points in mind, it is important that automotive businesses don’t rush out to enrol apprentices in the first training course that is offered as this isn’t a requirement to meet the criteria. At ARU we agree that Apprentices should be trained to work with EV’s due to the high risk of working with the vehicles high voltage systems. ARU promotes a User Choice principle and works closely with all RTO’s.? We are happy to discuss training options for apprentices. We are finding that most of our dealer network Host Employers are using dealer brand training to help to contextualise training which will assist apprentices to learn on vehicles they are familiar with.

ARU promotes a User Choice principle, advocating for a tailored approach to training that aligns with the specific needs of apprentices and the workshops where they are employed. By working closely with Registered Training Organizations (RTOs) and leveraging dealer-specific training programs, ARU aims to provide apprentices with relevant and practical skills. This approach not only enhances the learning experience but also aids in the seamless integration of apprentices into the workforce, ultimately contributing to the mitigation of the industry’s skills shortage.

ARU's support of the government's initiative and its proactive strategies in apprentice training and retention reflect a comprehensive and thoughtful response to the challenges currently facing the automotive industry.

Philip Cooksey

General Manager

Apprenticeships Are Us

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