Joint government logistics cadetship launched after the first round of students graduated in Melbourne's CBD
A logistics cadetship backed by more than $500,000 in state and federal training grants has been officially launched after the first round of students graduated in Melbourne’s CBD.
The two-year course is a collaboration of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) and Transport & Distribution Training Victoria (TDT Victoria).
It is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Skills Victoria.
The program aims to educate 120 young Australians in three years, but Executive Officer of TDT Ian McMillan says more work needs to be done.
He says the course—that works in collaboration with Kangan Batman Tafe—is aiming to roll out the program across the country in-line with the federal funding provision of training at least 120 individuals by the end of the three-year term.
“[The cadetship] is a reflection of where the industry is going which is encouraging,” McMillan says.
“We are now getting calls from schools regarding the program.”
New South Wales and Western Australia look set to adopt the course on the back of its recent success, which has seen 14 young logistics trainees completing the program.
Toll Ipec, Manway, Kalari, The Camerons Group, K&S Freighters, Extra Transport and Seimens all adopted cadets with 50 percent of participating companies agreeing to continue with the program in 2009.
Rod Connelly from Extra Transport says it is a learning experience for the company as well as the student partipating.
“Historically rural areas were the breeding ground for future employees in transport and logistics but these days kids prefer to play with computers rather than trucks,” he says.
“We have to act in the betterment of the transport Industry in general. We must ensure that it continues to grow.”