As the largest private provider of automotive apprenticeships in Queensland – with more than 2,300 students currently being trained across all sectors of the automotive industry – the MTA Institute puts much emphasis, time, and resources into ensuring its trainers can deliver the best, most comprehensive training to its students.
The commitment to being a leader in the automotive training space has seen the Institute adopt some state-of-the-art technology over the years, including the many digital resources that are a part of its apprentices’ journey today.
However, while communication, theory work, research and more can be done via high-tech hardware and online resources, MTA Institute trainers do, of course, deliver the essential practical training in-person, and do so by working one-on-one with students at their workplace.
This means that the MTA Institute trainers are spread far and wide across Queensland, and while they are all experienced tradespeople who switched their vocation to one of teaching and sharing their knowledge, each year (when COVID allows), the Institute brings them together for a series of professional development workshops and the chance to discuss industry developments and compare experiences.
Peter Hull from Evoke Electric Motorcycles gave a presentation on that technology
The annual Trainers’ Meeting plays an important role in enabling the trainers and the Institute to remain leaders in the automotive educational sector, and this year’s gathering was set to coincide with the latest edition of MTA Queensland’s Carmageddon symposium – offering the trainers the opportunity to be involved with a forum that included many industry stakeholders discussing the future direction of, and challenges facing, the industry.
“Notwithstanding the ongoing virtual communication we have with the training group, we bring the team together to discuss what’s going on in industry skills as we know this helps get the best results for trainers’ students, employers and the Institute,” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of the MTA Institute.
“Much of the professional development at this trainers meeting was about upskilling in qualifications, delivering some technical information, as well as discussions about where we are heading as an industry,” he added. “That was why we scheduled the gathering around the Carmageddon forum. It gave the training group an understanding not only of what that event and why it has been so well received by the automotive industry, but also enabled them to immerse themselves in the discussions that saw industry leaders consider where the industry is heading and then think about what we can do as a training group to prepare for these changes.”
Adian Parks of ADAS Solutions Australia delivered training sessions on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
On the agenda for the trainers’ meeting this year was the AURETH101 BEV training unit – a unit that tackles the depowering and reinitialising of battery-electric vehicles. With electrification of the industry now well underway, such training is becoming a necessity for technicians, and this particular training unit, as well as courses on inspecting and servicing BEVs and HEVs are available to industry through the Institute (click HERE to find out more).
“We all know the electrification of the industry is coming and we will continue to provide trainer professional development in this area with trainers being placed in upcoming HEV/BEV courses in Brisbane,” said Mr Kulpa. “The MTA Institute has always responded quickly to the changes in automotive training, and we must be able to customise training to deliver a solution to automotive businesses.”
Other professional development workshops included sessions on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) delivered by Adrian Parkes of ADAS Solutions Australia, a presentation on Evoke electric motorcycles, and on Parts Interpreting and Tyre Servicing.
Several trainers also made the trip out to Banyo in northern Brisbane to the Queensland head office of Toro Australia – makers of outdoor power equipment such as mowers, loaders, trenchers, stump grinders, and more – to get the latest on developments in that sector of the industry.
Several trainers also made the trip out to the Queensland head office of Toro Australia
These annual trainer meetings are part of the continual development and growth of the MTA Institute, a training organisation that has, over the past four decades, worked hard to be at the forefront of automotive industry training, striving to deliver a comprehensive, challenging, and enjoyable experience to its students. Meetings such as these, with the professional development agenda that it delivers, cements the Institute’s leadership position in the sector.
“Whilst the training group has a wide and deep level of experience, I believe there is always something new to learn,” said Paul. “Future skills have numerous dimensions and can be demanded by emerging industries, such as the hydrogen industry, but also apply to an existing job – such as new functional digital skills – to deliver the outcomes in a different way than ever before. The MTA Institute accepts these challenges to ensure we remain the number one automotive training provider for industry.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (August 2022)
31 August 2022
