Transport on the table at Aoraki Polytechnic

Transport on the table at Aoraki Polytechnic

Industry leaders and Mayor Damon Odey met with Aoraki Polytechnic management last week (31 Oct) to discuss plans for new Transport and Logistics qualifications which will begin for the first time in 2015 under the Primary Industries portfolio.

The qualifications are being developed in direct response to feedback from Canterbury businesses who earlier this year identified a skills shortage of suitably qualified truck drivers due to an aging workforce, and a desire to lift the professional image of careers in the transport industry.

Operations Manager Garry Aitken from Temuka Transport said, “Our district has the biggest demand on drivers per head of population than just about anywhere in the country. Right now, collectively we are probably looking at a shortfall of 50 drivers within our hub. With the average age of class 5 drivers at 57, we need to prepare for the future and have people trained and ready to fill these jobs.”

“The image of the industry needs to change,” Aitken said. “As a class 5 driver you have the opportunity operate a half a million dollar piece of machinery, it also allows for male and females to be involved in todays’ environment as duties are a lot more user friendly than they were in the past, it is professional and can offer attractive career opportunities for all.

Aoraki Polytechnic Chief Executive Alex Cabrera said, “The qualifications are a great example of what can be achieved when industry and education work together. Industry involvement is essential in ensuring that we continue to provide the most relevant and practical skills for our community.”

The evening’s discussions centred on the content for the qualifications with Aoraki proposing two 17 week programmes achieving either a level two or level three National Certificate in Goods and Services qualification.

A qualification through Aoraki would mean drivers not only get a strong theoretical understanding of the principals around driving but also practical experience under their belts. Providing a pathway for drivers allows the industry to be seen as a professional career.”

Primary Industries Portfolio Manager Andrea Leslie said, “We have a unique opportunity here to work together to make Aoraki the South Island Hub for transport and logistics qualifications.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from industry on this initiative, we are able to develop a new model of learning. This aims to meet the needs of the learner as well as industry by providing directed educational content and guaranteeing employment at completion.

Be it advising on industry needs, contributing content information for courses, or even providing work placements for students, without the strong support we are receiving from the local industry, this opportunity would not be possible.”

Mayor Damon Odey congratulated the industry group and the polytechnic for working together on this. He said the issues facing the transport industry were not dissimilar to other industries in the community.

“We recently did a survey, and the biggest issue facing our region is people. Our region is in a great position, we have superb facilities, and the economy is really booming. Other small regions in the country face high unemployment, but we need more people to fill the jobs. Our challenge is to attract people into the region. This is something we are working hard on,” he said.

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