The Motor Trade Association in South Australia (MTA SA/NT) launching the nation’s first dual trade apprenticeship in agricultural machinery technology and automotive electrical technology.
Through this, the MTA have maintained their commitment to delivering training solutions that align with the changing nature of the industry and help address the ongoing skills shortage.
The move comes after automotive along with multiple sectors experience an ongoing skills recruitment shortage and this has been exacerbated by the apprenticeship completion rates.
Nationwide in 2023, just 57.6 per cent of apprentices in the automotive and engineering trades completed their apprenticeship, according to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
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The new SA program is designed to increase productivity and apprentice employability, to combat the skills shortage that the automative industry faces.
The SA government has declared investment into the workforces of the Agricultural and Clean energy sectors have become a key focus in South Australia.
SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer, commended the program for its innovation in training and apprenticeships.
“The launch of this dual trade apprenticeship marks another important milestone in our commitment to future-focused training,” Minister Boyer said.
Minister Boyer hopes that the program, “equips apprentices with the skills needed to support our agricultural sector and adapt to rapidly evolving technology.”
Modern agricultural equipment has become difficult to grasp says MTA CEO Darell Jacobs.
“Modern agricultural equipment uses advanced and complex electronics, from integrated satellite navigation for cropping to electronic sensors used for targeted spraying.”
This highlights the need for an apprenticeship that reflects the rapidly evolving nature of the agricultural and automative industry is crucial.
Despite statistics like these, Mr. Jacobs said that he expects the new program to be a success, stating that more than 80 South Australians had signed up for the dual trade apprenticeship that was launched late last year.
The MTA has trained over 900 apprentices every year in a diverse range of courses in the automative and agricultural sectors.