Victorian school-leavers offered two-year cadetships, promising employment by transport majors
Victorian school-leavers are being offered two-year transport and logistics cadetships, promising full-time employment by a major transport company.
The program, run by Transport and Distribution Training Victoria, is aimed at encouraging more young people to get involved the industry by making it clear there is more than just truck driving involved in the movement of freight.
Throughout the cadetship it is mandatory for participants to study a Diploma of Logisitics on top of regular duties within their assigned business.
Ben Usher is one program participant, who feels the program has helped him discover a career in an industry he previously had no idea about.
“The cadetship is a fantastic foot-in-the-door and a great beginning [in the industry],” says Usher, who is now Transport Co-ordinator at Toll Shipping.
“There is not one industry that is not touched by transport and logistics. There are endless positions available and it is a growing global industry.”
According to Victorian Transport Association (VTA) CEO Phillip Lovel, encouraging young people to become the next Paul Little or Lindsay Fox is vital for the survival of the industry.
“Many young people consider the freight industry to be just about truck driving. In reality, the industry needs the breadth of skills and knowledge, from professional occupations like lawyers, accountants and human resource managers, through to a vast range of supervisory and operational roles,” Lovel says.
The program will be promoted further during the VTA’s Freight Week, which will take place in Melbourne during the second week of September.