A record of more than 500 students, teachers, career advisors and parents recently visited the Motor Trade Association SA/NT (MTA) Training and Employment Centre at Royal Park for the Automotive Careers Day event.
Held over two days, the annual event exposed participants to seven interactive automotive stations with hands on activities including:
- Small engine repair
- Heavy vehicle turbo and engine tests
- In booth spray gun experience
- Panel dent removal and spot welding
- Paint mixing
- Automotive parts identification
- Virtual reality vehicle service and painting experiences
- Live hydraulics demonstration
- EV cinema experience
Attendees also witnessed live vehicle demonstrations with classic cars, motorcycles, police cars and fire trucks on display.
MTA SA/NT CEO Darrell Jacobs hailed the event as a great success, “We are shifting perceptions about automotive careers in a positive direction.
“By opening up our facilities and providing hands on experiences to young people and their influencers, we are opening their minds to the diversity of rewarding pathways available” he said.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School VET/Career Pathways Coordinator Annasophia Hamilton praised the relevancy of the event, “The students enjoyed viewing the different types of vehicles they could work with in the future.
“The energetic workshop, with its state-of-the-art equipment and apprentices actively training while we toured, gave them a clear picture of what their apprenticeship experience could be when they go to trade school."
For Moonta Area School student Leylani, the event was an opportunity to expand her knowledge of the different career pathways available, “Although Heavy Diesel initially drew me in, I enjoyed learning about different trades like paint and panel at the various stations. The event really helped me gain a clearer perspective on my career options.”
Leading into National Skills Week 2024, the event shared this year’s message “VET is a gamechanger”.
“Whether through electric vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems or CANbus and electrical systems, we are excited to showcase technology and innovation in automotive.” said Jacobs.
“We recognise that skill shortages remain an ongoing challenge for the automotive industry, but through events like the MTA Careers Day, we are confident that even more young people will start a career in automotive,” he said.
Mr Jacobs said the event was paying dividends “We have already signed up a number of young people into an automotive apprenticeship at the event and we expect to see even more in the weeks and months ahead.”
MTA Training and Employment currently trains more than 1,100 apprentices across South Australia, employing 400 full time and 50 school-based apprentices through its group training arm.
Earlier this year, MTA Training and Employment launched the nation’s first two automotive dual trade apprenticeships - light vehicle mechanical technology and heavy commercial vehicle mechanical technology, together with automotive electrical technology.