The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026, highlighting its role as Australia’s largest single employer of automotive apprentices with more than 580 apprentices currently training across member businesses in Victoria and Tasmania.
The annual nationwide initiative recognises the importance of apprenticeships in building skilled workforces across key industries. VACC says its apprentices are training across the full breadth of the automotive sector, including vehicle repair and servicing, body repair and collision, motorcycles, heavy-duty diesel and agricultural machinery.
VACC’s apprentice support model delivers completion rates of more than 70 per cent, significantly above the national automotive apprenticeship completion rate of around 54 per cent. The organisation attributes this success to dedicated apprenticeship field staff who mentor and support both apprentices and host employers from commencement through to completion.
Training infrastructure investment
VACC has made significant investments in training infrastructure to align with modern vehicles and evolving technology. The organisation recently purchased a dedicated Automotive Training Centre in North Melbourne, with training to commence following refurbishment in 2026.
The chamber also collaborates closely with TasTAFE to ensure apprentices in Tasmania have access to modern training facilities in Hobart.
Beyond formal training, VACC works with secondary schools across Victoria and Tasmania to promote automotive careers through school engagement, career information sessions and direct conversations with students about diverse opportunities in the sector.
VACC chief executive Peter Jones says National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to celebrate apprentices and their supporters.
“Apprentices are the future of our industry and supporting them properly is not optional, it’s essential,” Jones says.
“As the largest single employer of automotive apprentices in the country, VACC sees first-hand what works: strong employer engagement, consistent mentoring and access to high-quality training facilities. When apprentices are supported well, they gain skills that are transferable, future-focused and critical to the long-term strength of our industry.”
VACC recognises apprentice achievement through its annual Automotive Industry Awards, celebrating graduations and excellence across the sector. Sean Perry was named 2025 VACC Apprentice of the Year, highlighting the value of structured mentoring, quality on-the-job training and strong employer support.
Executive manager of membership and training Nigel Muller says apprenticeships remain central to the industry’s future.
“Automotive trades are becoming more complex every year, and apprentices need access to the right facilities, qualified trainers and ongoing support to succeed,” Muller says.
“Our focus is on helping apprentices not just start their careers, but finish them well, with skills that will serve the industry and the community for decades to come.”
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