Finding Townsville's Future Heavy Vehicle Drivers

The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) is the peak industry body for road freight in Queensland and has received funding from Jobs Queensland through the Grow Your Own (GYO) Funding Program designed to tackle regional workforce challenges in Townsville.

The QTA’s Driving Townsville’s Future Program is a heavy vehicle driver and/or transport and logistics pre-apprenticeship/traineeship program for new entrants into the industry.

The Driving Townsville’s Future Program will initially offer 20 people the opportunity to undertake five core accredited units of competency and work experience or on-the-job training. The program aims to create a pathway into the Heavy Vehicle Driving Apprenticeship, Bus Driving and Supply Chain Traineeships. Participants will enter the program as a job seeker or newly employed hire.

Jobs Queensland Chair Jim Varghese AM said “From North to Townsville and West to Toowoomba, these ‘Grow your own’ initiatives will deliver solutions tailored to each specific region and industry”.

“We heard from industry and regional stakeholders and will now support them to deliver solutions to challenges they identified”.

Gary Mahon, Chief Executive Officer, QTA said, “The program will support the transport and logistics industry in North Queensland with a practical skilling and on-the-job training program that provides entry level skills for people keen to work in the sector.”

“It is important to involve employers in these training programs to ensure that participants can practice what they are learning to get that true industry work experience.”

“This program is an excellent starting point to encourage more people into the industry and we will continue to pursue funding options to expand the program into other regions.”

The Association actively seeks opportunities through government funding programs that provide solutions to workforce and skills shortages and to support employers fill positions now and into the future.

Candidates and employers interested in engaging in this program can contact the QTA for more information.

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Media:

Contact: Gary Mahon – gary@qta.com.au, 0418 736 802

Program Contact: Angela Mottram – angela@qta.com.au, 07 3394 4388