The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) welcomes the announcement that the New Energy Apprenticeships Program will now include the automotive sector.
“This $10,000 in support will help encourage prospective apprentices to look to the automotive sector as an industry with long-term employment prospects supporting Australia’s net zero ambitions,” AADA chief executive James Voortman says.
“This is a critical time for the sector; with new technology coming to market, Australia must have a well-trained workforce to service, repair and maintain electric vehicles.
“The changes to this scheme, which remove a requirement that an apprentice’s work be solely dedicated to clean energy, is a welcome recognition that along with servicing and repairing new technologies such as EVs and hybrids, automotive technicians will continue to provide services for traditional ICE vehicles well into the future,” he says.
The announcement notes the need for incentives to encourage more people into sectors pivotal in transitioning Australia to a net zero economy, as with electric vehicles.
EV uptake is increasing rapidly, and they are an essential technology to achieve emissions reductions in the light vehicle sector.
“The shift toward EVs offers immense opportunity for the development of new skills in Australia, and it is exciting to see this recognised and supported through schemes such as the New Energy Apprenticeships Program,” Voortman says.
“The automotive sector, as with many other economic sectors, is going through a skills shortage. The automotive service and repair industry is estimated to be short over 40,000 workers.”
“With new policies such as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard seeking to accelerate the uptake of EVs, particularly in the passenger vehicle space, it is more important than ever that the industry has access to incentives to encourage workers to participate and train in these clean energy technologies,” he says.
