The Motor Traders’ Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) says it welcomes the announcement by the NSW Government’s Automotive Training Board of new EV apprenticeships.
The two apprenticeship vocations are Automotive – Electric Vehicle Technology – Heavy Vehicle: AUR32721 Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology and Automotive – Electric Vehicle Technology – Light Vehicle: AUR32721 Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology.
The new EV apprenticeships reflect the culmination of extensive work by MTA NSW in collaboration with the Automotive Training Board, says MTA NSW.
“The new programs are designed to future-proof the workforce and ensure the automotive sector in NSW remains competitive in the global transition to sustainable automotive solutions.
“MTA NSW continues to advocate for comprehensive strategies to address the skills shortage, including incentives for training and upskilling, improvements to apprenticeship pathways, and enhanced collaboration between industry and government.”
MTA NSW’s government relations and advocacy head Collin Jennings applauds the government’s initiative while highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the sector:
“We’re delighted to see the government has listened to the concerns of the industry and taken these steps to address the skills shortages in our critical automotive sector,” he says.
“This is a great advocacy win for the sector, reflecting the collective effort and shared commitment to addressing critical challenges.
“While this is a positive step toward bringing apprentices into the pipeline, MTA NSW stresses that the NSW government must urgently approve new EV repair licences and pathways to upskill the current workforce. “
Jenning says more than a year has passed since the Motor Dealers and Repairers Bill passed the Parliament, “yet the industry remains in limbo and no closer to these crucial licences being approved”.
“This delay is hindering the transition of the existing workforce to EV repair capabilities and creating significant challenges for motorists.”
As the automotive industry shifts towards electrification, MTA NSW says it remains committed to leading the charge in workforce development to support members and the wider industry in navigating this transformation.
Join the conversation