Brand invites 40 Brisbane students to see range of opportunities for female workers
Scania Australia has hosted a special event at its Richland branch in Brisbane to showcase different career prospects within the transport sector to young students.
The event was designed especially for Year 10-12 female students from the nearby Glenala State High School, marking International Women’s Day on March 8.
Scania Queensland regional executive manager Richard Singer said the aim of the event was to broaden the appeal of the transport industry to a new generation of Australians and “to show that this is not the male-dominated industry it has been”.
Scania in Brisbane worked with Glenala SHS to identify students who demonstrated an interest in one of the many roles that are available within the transport industry, from diesel apprentice to warehousing, administration and financial control.
The students met with some of Scania Australia’s female employees, including people and culture director Michele Gellatly, Scania manager of truck rental and used truck sales Anna-Marie Taylor, national dealer development manager Frances Sotogi, branch manager Rachel Kairuz, Scania Richlands’ second-year apprentice technician Jessie Woehrle, and apprentice parts advisor Shani Byrnes.
The students got an opportunity to examine Scania trucks, and be driven around the premises by Scania driver trainers.
A group of students worked with a technician to track down a series of ‘faults’ using a Scania service laptop, while other groups heard employment histories from a selection of the Scania female employees, and were introduced into some pathways into the industry from TLI Connect and QMI Solutions.
Read expert advice on inclusive recruitment, here
Heavy Vehicle Industry Association (HVIA) chief executive Todd Hacking was also present to provide a further view, while trucking operators Michael and Megan Mahon provided a new Scania prime mover as a backdrop for the day’s events, and Megan provided a view of life in the industry from a female fleet-owner’s perspective.
Singer encourages young students to consider different career prospects within the transport industry, particularly with Scania as the company expands its base in Australia.
“Globally and locally, Scania offers a rich and rewarding array of job opportunities at all levels for female workers, and we have several very senior positions filled by very experienced and successful women, from national dealer development managers to our CFO,” Singer says.
“We are starting to see a shift as more females take up roles in the workshop as apprentices and technicians, as well as in key positions such as finance, marketing, dealer development and dealership management.
“We welcome applications from women across the business, and we offer a safe and equitable workplace.
“One of our core values is respect for the individual which places everyone on an equal footing within the business.
“We are a very multicultural business with employees drawn from every continent and literally dozens of countries around the world.
“We are able to draw on this diversity as it brings a variety of skill sets, different approaches and ways of thinking, delivering us an agile and flexible workforce that is solutions-driven.
“As an indication of the attraction of Scania as an employer, we have more than a dozen staff members nationally who have been with the business more than 30 years.
“Also, of interest to today’s students is the fact that Scania globally and locally is a leader in the shift towards a sustainable transport system.
“We are at the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly transport solutions, with the cleanest trucks and buses available, as well as a range of vehicle engines on offer that can run on low emission alternative and renewable fuels.
“For students passionate about protecting the environment, Scania is a great place to work.”
At the end of the day’s events, the students were presented with a certificate and a group photo taken in front of the Mahon truck.