The National Apprentice Challenge is an exciting opportunity for heavy vehicle mechanical apprentices to take part in an “hands-on” competition staged live at the biennial Brisbane Truck Show.
Teams of two apprentices are selected to represent each of HVIA’s three national regions: Eastern covering New South Wales, ACT and Queensland; Southern including Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia and North-West, taking in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The three regional teams work simultaneously, on identical trucks, generously to identify and rectify a series of programmed faults as the clock ticks.
The winning team is the first successfully to identify and repair all the faults, or the team that rectifies the most faults within the allowed time frame.
For visitors to the show the competition is quite a dynamic spectacle, with commentary explaining the apprentices’ moves and strategy, as their approach to addressing the challenge unfolds. Things can get tense as the teams watch their available time evaporate.
The National Apprentice Challenge is a terrific showcase for heavy vehicle mechanical apprenticeships, demonstrating the nous and initiative quickly developed by these new entrants to the industry. It also aims to promote and foster a professional image of the heavy vehicle industry to the wider community.
The teams are selected from nominees based on their results from a two-hour exam held in each region.
The successful apprentices are hosted to attend the Brisbane Truck Show with all expenses covered including travel, meals and accommodation.
The winners will receive prize packages including hosted trips to the V8 Supercars thanks to major sponsors NTI Truck Assist and tool prizes donated by Warby Tools.
Nominations close Friday 19 February 2021.
National Apprentice Challenge news
2023 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge results
24 May 23
The 2023 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge went down to the wire before the Queensland team of Lachlan Tate (Brown & Hurley) and Brayden Conaghan (Penske Australia) took out the title with a flawless fault-finding final.
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3 May 23
We have been delighted by the enthusiasm from students and their schools to come to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show to look at career opportunities in the heavy vehicle industry.
READ MOREAustralian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week media launch
19 April 23
This year’s Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week officially launched at South Bank, Brisbane this week, unveiling the country’s biggest ever program of heavy vehicle events and activities and the largest display of zero-emissions vehicles in the southern hemisphere.
READ MOREChampion apprentices reunite at Supercars GC500
2 November 22
It was worth the wait for 2021 National Apprentice Challenge champions, Luke Kneebone of Webster Trucks in Tasmania and Sam Allan of Ballarat Isuzu.
READ MORESouthern Team flip the script in HVIA National Apprentice Challenge final
18 May 21
On the first day of competition Jack and Shaneet from the Eastern team took on Beau and Bekitemba from Western team.
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READ MORENational Apprentice Challenge – are you up for the challenge?
21 October 20
The call for apprentices from around the country is out now. The opportunity to compete in the National Apprentice Challenge, with selected teams taking on the best-of-the-best from all over the country, has been raised another notch.
READ MORENew grants support participation in business events
11 September 20
HVIA is pleased to share with you the Australian Government’s announcement this morning of a $50 million injection into Australia’s vital business events sector ahead of the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show.
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