The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes the changes made to the New Energy Apprenticeship Program by the Australian Government.
It says the program expansion will encourage more apprentices to consider the automotive sector as a preferred career choice and enter a profession at the forefront of Australia’s shift to clean energy, servicing and supporting the country’s growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet.
The revised initiative appropriately requires apprentices to have EV exposure during their apprenticeship.
“Securing Government support for our members and their workforces has been a top priority of the MTAA this year. We are pleased the government is listening but note that more must be done,” MTAA chief executive Matt Hobbs says.
“We look forward to continuing the discussion with the government on the automotive industry’s important role in the economy’s transition to a low-emission future.
“This is a sensible move by the government to support the automotive workforce in preparing for the most significant transformation in the sector – the shift away from fossil fuels towards electric powertrains,” he says
The change also comes when the industry is readying itself for the impending New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will see Australia implement a light vehicle fuel efficiency standard for the first time, beginning in 2025.
The NVES is expected to broaden the range of zero- and low-emission vehicles available in Australia, resulting in a changing mix of vehicles, automotive business, and repair services.
MTAA has previously called for a wide-ranging package of support for automotive businesses and their workforces to transition to an increasingly electrified future, which has implications for training, tooling and facilities, and the need for charging infrastructure.
Compounding the impacts of the changing technologies supported by automotive businesses is the sector’s growing skill shortage, particularly for technicians with EV expertise, making changes to the incentive scheme even more critical.
While automotive electricians and technicians are eligible for the incentive, MTAA calls on the government to include motorcycle technicians and panel beaters already significantly immersed in supporting electric vehicles.
The MTAA and its state and territory bodies are now focused on working with their 15,000 members to understand the changes to the New Energy Apprenticeship Program and assist businesses and apprentices to access this support.
