Australian automotive dealerships are increasingly keeping an eye on overseas talent to fill workshop staff shortages.
The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is projecting there will be around 14,800 automotive repair and maintenance jobs short in 2018-19.
With not enough apprentices entering the trade, dealers are looking elsewhere.
The ABC reports one dealership, Lieschke Nissan in Walla Walla, New South Wales, is looking for mechanics in the Philippines and as far as Dubai.
Dealer principle Kim Lieschke says while his family business and the Nissan dealership has been a pillar of the community for 30 years, he simply needs workers.
“We have a fantastic team, but we need more workers, or in this particular case a qualified mechanic. It’s critical for our business to have the right people,” he told the ABC.
Some of the local community 40km north of the Albury Wodonga NSW/Victoria border may not entirely agree with the idea, but Lieschke says it’s a necessity in a population of just 700 with 250 employed locally.
“I probably wouldn’t be standing here today if my forefathers didn’t come from Germany,” he explains.
“We’re all people and it’s good to give people an opportunity.”
He also acknowledges his own European heritage.
“To me, race, religion isn’t what it’s about – I probably wouldn’t be standing here today if my forefathers didn’t come from Germany,” Lieschke concludes.
Lieschke Nissan also shares a franchise with Holden and has been advertising for staff since February.
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