The Motor Trade Association SA/NT (MTA SA/NT) has reached a major milestone, revealing that it has for the first time more than 1,000 apprentices in training.
The announcement was made by Blair Boyer, South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, and Darrell Jacobs, CEO of the MTA SA/NT during the association’s 2023 Automotive Awards and Graduation Ceremony at the Adelaide Oval.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my role at the MTA is spending time with apprentices and talking about what’s important to them,” said Jacobs. “We are continually improving and updating our courses to best suit the needs of industry and the apprentices they employ.
“Apprentices have the benefit of earning whilst they are learning, and receive ongoing support to fuel their professional growth, including across a range of cutting-edge technology.”
When starting as CEO in January 2023, Jacobs and Jodi Ryan, General Manager of Apprenticeships at the MTA SA/NT, rolled out a new integrated training model. The initiative combines focused and intensive classroom learning with real-world workshop assessment in a business, connecting apprentices with the latest technology and techniques used by industry. It also assists South Australian businesses in dealing with acute labour shortages by providing more apprentice time and increasing productivity.
New apprentices also receive accredited electric vehicle qualifications to prepare for the automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles.
“With an increase of more than 120 apprentices in just its first four months, the MTA’s new integrated training model has proved to be a game changer,” said Jacobs.
More than 400 guests attended the 2023 Automotive Awards and Graduation Ceremony – the highest-attended ceremony the MTA has held. The event also crowned Samuel White as Apprentice of the Year. White thanked his family, friends, employer Detrac Diesel, and the MTA for their guidance over his apprenticeship, saying he looked forward to working on vehicles with the latest technology.
The awards were assessed against several criteria, including workshop and training performance, customer service, and the apprentice’s role in the community.
Boyer helped present the graduating parchments and spoke about the importance of vocational learning. “Our young people need to know there are a range of options available to them after school, not just university as a pathway,” he said.
“Congratulations to the MTA for having more than 1,000 people in training for the first time in its history, which shows how well it does in training apprentices in South Australia.”