Proper driver training working in WA

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has released the White Paper which identifies a number of challenges, including improving vocational education and training (VET) course completion rates and overcoming barriers to employment.

Western Roads Federation CEO, Cam Dumesny says in Western Australia, the transport industry, working in collaboration with the VET sector, has demonstrated that these barriers can be overcome.

“We’ve been running the Heavy Vehicle Driver Operation Skill Set in Perth. We created it in collaboration with the Transport Workers Union. It’s funded by the Western Australian Government and run through TAFE,” Mr Dumesny said.

“This is not just your usual ‘tick a box’ trucking course where the aim of the game seems to be getting high enrolment numbers. What we’re interested in is how many of these students complete the course and how many get real jobs in the trucking industry,” Mr Dumesny continued.

“The course we’re running in Perth has been remarkably successful. The course has been so popular, it’s booked out until December. We’ve had 500 students who have enrolled in the course and are now employed in the trucking industry. Interestingly, 38 per cent of the newly trained and employed truck drivers are women, a rate substantially above the industry average of less than five per cent.

“I think the difference is that it’s industry working in collaboration with the VET sector. It shifts the focus from simply training the students to getting them jobs in the industry.

“For example, the students have a truck driver mentor who teaches them not only how to drive but how to drive safely. By the time the students finish the course, they’ve had really comprehensive training that prepares them properly for life either behind the wheel of a truck or in trucking operations.

“We know what employers want because we’re actually working in the industry. We know training must be aligned with industry employment needs and elevating standards, we don’t want sausage factories.

“This course has been so successful that we now believe all West Australians should have access to it. We’re working with TAFEs in regional centres across WA to roll the course out state-wide.” Mr Dumesny concluded.

Success stories abound with many new entrants to the industry gaining employment immediately on completion with huge industry support strengthened by the Western Roads Federations Industry Engagement Manager and Mentors.

One of the targets of the program is to attract entrants to the industry who may have never considered a career in transport. One of our favourite examples is friends Sarissa and Joanne (pictured above) who were looking to re-enter the workforce, saw the program advertised online and applied.

Having never driven a truck previously the ladies grabbed the opportunity with both hands and through a dedication to their training and the assistance of the Western Roads Federation Industry Engagement Manager secured FIFO work supporting the Pilbara mining industry with Matic Transport.