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University and industry partnership to beat skills shortages

University banks on cadetship to ease skills shortages and help young people carve out a career in transport and logistics

By Ruza Zivkusic | October 12, 2011

Victoria University is banking on a cadetship program to ease skills shortages in transport and logistics and help young people carve out a career in the industry.

Professor Dr Hermione Parsons says major incentives are needed to attract young people to the sector. She says the number of transport industry workers aged 15 to 34 years is 10 percent below the national average of 40 percent for all industries.

Together with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), the university now offers a logistics program for students aged 18 to 25 to address a skills shortage in the industry.

Students will be working fulltime for a transport company while studying for a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics the first year and will receive a Diploma in Logistics after the second year, which is recognised nationally and internationally.

“Major incentives are needed and the VTA Logistics Cadetship Program in partnership with VU’s Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics is an outstanding initiative,” Parsons says.

“The two-year-program, resulting in a Diploma of Logistics, combines paid employment, work-based learning and education.”
Parsons says the program also provides a foundation for young people to develop careers in the industry.

“The VTA Logistics Cadetship Program will undoubtedly benefit employers and young people, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with the VTA in this exciting initiative,” she says.

Parsons says the initiative will respond to industry workforce development needs, attract and engage young people, integrate on the job learning with off-the-job studies and promote career development and lifelong learning.

The pilot project, which VTA business development manager Kerri Langes introduced while working at the Transport and Distribution Training Victoria, is back in demand after the industry expressed an interest in taking on cadets.

Up to 50 cadets have been through the program and VTA hopes to see another 15 go through the new round, with training due to commence next March.

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