TAFE Queensland ushers in future of mobile plant industry

Electric and battery vehicles have risen in popularity in the light automotive industry over the past decade and now the heavy vehicle and mobile plant industries are following suit.

To meet the demands of these evolving industries, TAFE Queensland has begun working towards introducing new electric, battery and hybrid training to ensure students have the skill sets and practical training needed to prepare them for this technology and a changing industry.

TAFE Queensland already offers two skill sets for existing heavy and light automotive trades people, and is looking forward to extending our current training offerings in this space.

Under TAFE Queensland’s existing heavy vehicle apprenticeships, four new training units are being proposed to teach all aspects of hybrid and vehicle battery maintenance from depowering and reinitialising to inspection, servicing, and ongoing maintenance.

TAFE Queensland Heavy Automotive Business Manager David Jenkinson said that it is clear that the heavy automotive industry is evolving quickly, and training organisations need to adapt to the new technologies being introduced.

“After almost 140 years providing quality training, we at TAFE Queensland have seen many changes across the industries we service and are constantly liaising with those industries to provide them with the most skilled students and apprentices in the state,” Mr Jenkinson said.

“Electric and battery heavy vehicle training is no different, the industry has told us there will be a need for skilled workers who can service and maintain electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes and we will provide our apprentices with those skills,” he continued.

To further support the needs of industry and apprentices in 2021, TAFE Queensland’s Acacia Ridge campus opened a purpose built Heavy Plant Centre of Excellence that provides up-to-date industry relevant electric and battery operated vehicles and machinery training.

Funded by the Queensland Government, the centre was built in response to an industry need for workers to be safely trained in these emerging technologies and to ensure industry is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to reduce the risks associated with working on these vehicles and machinery.

Mr Jenkinson said that industry is already coming on board to support our students, through donations of electric and battery operated vehicles for our students to train on.

“In the last month we received an electronic excavator from JCB which will be a fantastic training tool for our students,” he said.

“Our students will be streets ahead of the competition from being able to do practical learning on the equipment currently used in industry."

“JCB have shown their commitment to assisting us in developing the highest skilled apprentices in the state and we cannot thank them enough for their support,” he concluded.

TAFE Queensland will be ensuring that none of their students miss out on the much needed electric and battery vehicle skills which will set them apart from their competition, and future proof the next generation of heavy vehicle and mobile plant trade professionals.