29 September 2004

More than 40 local employers are anticipated to attend a dedicated industry training forum being held tonight at Charles Darwin University.

The forum will encourage awareness and discussion on training delivered by the Heavy Vehicles Department located within the University’s School of Trades.

The department, which has more than $1.2 million worth of training aids and equipment, delivers three streams of training (diesel fitter, road transport and earthmoving) to 89 apprentices including 30 who began their apprenticeship in 2004.

“ The process of an apprentice gaining a nationally recognised trade qualification from Charles Darwin University involves the efforts and cooperation of people from within the University, within government and within industry,” Heavy Vehicle Trades coordinator, David Ewing, explained.

“The forum is therefore a great opportunity for the stakeholders to keep up to date with developments in the programs we deliver, be aware of the changes in equipment that we use and identify and discuss opportunities to keep improving our service.”

Held tonight from 5.30pm at the Casuarina Campus, the forum will also include representatives from the New Apprentice Commission, the NT Department of Employment, Education and Training, the Training and Education Advisory Council as well as University staff and lecturers.

“The Territory’s unique environment and the extraordinary distances between communities means that transportation plays an important part in our everyday lives.

“This, coupled with increased construction within the Territory, means that Charles Darwin University plays an important role in developing the local skills base required to keep heavy machinery up and running.”

Mr Ewing said that the forum will also be an opportunity to acknowledge the strong support the heavy vehicle department receives from its stakeholders.

“This support has included $70,000 in training aid donations from industry as well as $25,000 in grants for new engines as training aids.

“Internally the staff have raised $36,000 on sale of old equipment which has been returned back into the department for new specialised tools,” Mr Ewing remarked.

With more than 85 per cent of VET in the Territory delivered through the University, Charles Darwin University interacts with about 11,000 individual VET students which is about 20 per cent of the Territory’s adult population.