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New boost for apprentices in electric vehicle training

New government funding has supported the reopening of a training campus for electric vehicles for TAFE students in Sydney.

In a step forward for preparing apprentices in automotive for an electrical future, new government funding has supported the reopening of a training campus for electric vehicles.

A newly refurbished TAFE campus has reopened in the western Sydney suburb of Wetherill Park with a focus on equipping mechanics and technicians with the skills to work on electric vehicles (EVs).

The $2.5 million refit of the Wetherill Park TAFE (Technical and Further Education) college was funded by the Australian federal government with a specific focus on the emerging technology.

In upskilling both existing qualified mechanics and new vehicle technicians, the new facility will provide industry training on how to ‘depower’ electric vehicles for safe repair, as well as ‘reinitialise’ them for full operation.

While providing a safe environment to work on high-voltage vehicles, the facility also offers industry recognised heavy-vehicle and light-vehicle simulators.

Changing attitudes towards electric vehicle training funding

A sales record for electric vehicles was set in Australia in 2024, with 91,292 electric vehicles, including passenger and commercial vehicles, sold out of a total of 1,237,287 new vehicles.

Multiple industry bodies including the VACC and leading collision industry trainer I-CAR are gearing up with additional courses to ensure the repair industry is ready with the skills to safely handle the rise of hybrids and EVs.

Automotive industry bodies have also argued that more government attention needs to occur in offering a broader range of funding to the repair industry both to support the transition and promote apprenticeships as a future career path.

It follows a government promise to offer $10,000 incentives to apprenticeships to the construction industry.

VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym, VACC CEO says apprenticeship incentives must be equitably distributed across all trades sectors to ensure sustainable workforce development.

“Getting your car repaired is just as essential as getting a new sink installed,” Gwilym says. “This selective bonus scheme risks diverting aspiring apprentices away from the automotive industry based solely on financial incentives, rather than genuine career interest or industry demand.”

“Whilst we support apprenticeship incentives as vital for Australia’s skills future, creating a system that favours one industry over another is short-sighted.

In December 2024,  the MTA NSW, Training Services NSW announced that Electric Vehicle apprenticeship qualifications will now be available. The two new apprenticeship vocations are Electric Vehicle Technology – Heavy Vehicle, and Electric Vehicle Technology – Light Vehicle.

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