Attendees of last week’s HVIA Annual General Meeting were treated to a tour of Melbourne’s Kangan TAFE Automotive Centre of Excellence, the host venue for the meeting.
The tour was hosted by Michael Mavrikakis and Raman Badekar. Raman is familiar to many HVIA mnembers through his former role at Cummins South Pacific.
Kangan’s Docklands world-class facility has been strongly supported by HVIA members since its opening in 2012. Its vehicle and engine testing facility includes heavy vehicle dynamometers and associated engine emission test units, state-of-the-art auto electrical labs with the latest simulation and diagnostic equipment, and specialised workshop spaces.
The inner-city facilities provide a great proving ground for equipment and an inspirational start for apprentices and tradies who are taking their skills to the next level.
The latest $1.4 million investment in a new EV Lab is home to the latest training technology, including training boards, simulators and computerised teaching. Demand has already seen plans for further expansion brought forward.
HVIA’s new Skills and Workforce Manager Michael Rose says his role is to work with industry, training institutions and government to ensure the right courses are available and adequately resourced to meet the needs of HVIA members.
“We are in a good place when our partners across the TAFE network are asking us what we need, rather than the old way – which was rolling out set courses with outcomes that didn’t necessarily apply once an apprentice got into the workplace,” Michael says.
“The investment in structuring courses around actual needs, including providing micro skills to upskill existing workers, is a credit to Kangan TAFE and other facilities right across the country.
“An effective skills pipeline depends on our members investment in the future; through my role I hope to be working with as many HVIA members as possible, towards developing a talented workforce to secure our industry’s future.”