The life of an automotive technician today is worlds apart from what it was just a few years ago.
Future-focused training at MTA NSW is powering the next generation of automotive experts.
Diagnosing faults via computer, reprogramming ECUs, and updating vehicle software are now everyday tasks in the workshop. The days of purely mechanical repairs are giving way to highly technical, digital processes, and the pace of change isn’t slowing down.
Australia’s automotive landscape is uniquely complex. Our geographic vastness and diverse regional needs mean that internal combustion, hybrid, and electric powertrains will likely coexist in workshops for many years to come. While ambitions to make Australia ‘the next Norway’ in EV adoption have quietened, the transition is well underway, albeit in a form that’s uniquely our own.
Keeping pace
This variety makes training particularly challenging. But despite ongoing skills shortages across the sector, MTA NSW is doubling down on its mission to support members, apprentices, and auto businesses in keeping pace with technology, while reshaping public perception of the industry along the way.
“The perception is still that of a dirty environment for the duration of an apprentice’s working life. That’s simply not the case,” says Jason Steporowski, General Manager – Memberships, MTA NSW. “We’ve seen members start out as a car washer, technician or parts interpreter and go on to become a business owner or dealer principal.”
“It’s a large industry, and it’s evolving rapidly. You’re not stagnant, there are opportunities everywhere.”
One of the most surprising developments in recent years is the uptake of EVs in regions where it was once assumed they’d never gain traction.
In Moree, regional NSW, MTA trainers were struck by the number of EVs parked on the main street, alongside the usual lineup of farm trucks. This isn’t an anomaly. Farmers, often early adopters of solar energy, are seeing clear financial and environmental benefits from electrification. With diesel among the highest operating costs on a farm, pairing renewable energy with electric vehicles and machinery just makes sense.
Tech way ahead
MTA NSW’s specialist trainers, some of whom have studied in US automotive classrooms, have also observed growing alignment between the auto and tech industries. In the US, education providers are integrating automotive and IT training, recognising how closely the two are now linked.
“The automotive department and IT department are now often the same thing,” Steporowski explains. “Gone are the days when workshop systems ran on clunky, outdated software. These days, they’re cloud-based, modern platforms with increasing complexity and capability.”
Roadmap
The shift seen in US training environments could provide a valuable roadmap for Australian institutions. As emerging technologies reshape what it means to work in the industry, training must evolve too, and with it, the appeal of automotive careers is broadening to attract a new generation of talent.
As Stavros Yallouridis, CEO at MTA NSW, recently noted in a release discussing some of the reforms that are currently underway in preparedness:
“As the largest private automotive Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in NSW, with over 2,200 apprentices in training, we’ve already helped more than 800 individuals complete EV training. This demonstrates not only the industry’s readiness to adapt but also the strong demand for these skills as the market evolves.”
Regulatory reform
“This modest but growing segment underscores why the timing of these regulatory reforms is appropriate. It’s important to undergo due diligence and preparation without undue urgency, as the market naturally evolves.”
As we move through the second half of 2025, there’s much to look forward to, particularly in how we train and prepare the next wave of automotive professionals. Whether you’re entering the trade or already deep into your career, opportunity abounds.
“This is the biggest advancement in our industry in over a hundred years,” says Steporowski.