Greg’s journey to shaping Queensland's future bus drivers
After more than 30 years behind the wheel and over two million professional driving kilometres, transport and logistics teacher Greg Fawcett, is using his experience to help shape Queensland's future transport workforce.
Through TAFE Queensland's long-standing partnership with Brisbane City Council, Greg delivers the Certificate III in Driving Operations (TLI31222) across the Mt Gravatt, Eagle Farm and Virginia campuses, preparing the next generation of bus drivers with the practical skills needed for rewarding careers in the transport and logistics industry.
And as Brisbane prepares to welcome the world for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, developing a skilled and professional public transport workforce has never been more important.
Today, Greg draws on his extensive industry knowledge to provide Brisbane City Council bus drivers with valuable insights and practical skills for today's transport workforce.
The Certificate III in Driving Operations (TLI31222) provides practical, hands-on training that equips students with the skills and knowledge to safely transport passengers, operate heavy vehicles, manage fatigue and communicate effectively in a transport workplace.
For Greg, the course is about much more than teaching students how to drive.
“The training helps students understand not only the job they're doing today, but the opportunities available to them throughout their career,” he said.
“I hope it shows them what they can achieve and how they can become better, more professional operators on the road.”
His industry background allows him to bring real-world examples and practical context into every lesson, helping students understand not only the technical requirements of the role but also the responsibility, safety standards and customer focus required to succeed in the industry.
Greg's transport journey began in Bathurst, New South Wales, in 1994, driving school buses and local route services.
What started as a local driving role soon developed into an international career spanning Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and North America.
One of the defining chapters of his career was working for a Sydney-based backpacker tour company, transporting travellers through some of Australia's most iconic and remote destinations.
Greg spent much of his time on the road, completing tours from Sydney to Cairns, Cairns to Alice Springs and onwards through Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
“The thing I absolutely loved about that company was that we rarely used major highways,” Greg said.
“It allowed us to experience the real Australia.”
His passion for travel and transport also took him overseas, where he drove tours throughout Western Europe before travelling to Canada and North America to continue his work in the tourism sector.
After returning to Australia, Greg worked in Cairns, Hervey Bay and Toowoomba, gaining experience across bus operations, charter services, four-wheel-drive touring, compliance and driver training.
Some of his most memorable experiences include travelling the Oodnadatta Track, exploring Cape York, navigating the Flinders Ranges and completing the legendary Gunbarrel Highway journey.
“I love the remote areas of Australia such as the Oodnadatta Track in outback South Australia, Flinders Ranges and Cape York,” Greg explained.
“I've also completed the Gunbarrel Tour, which travels from Byron Bay to Steep Point in Western Australia through the heart of Australia, including the historic Gunbarrel Highway built by Len Beadell during the 1950s.”
Along the way, he built a remarkable career. But after nearly two decades of long-distance driving, Greg recognised an opportunity to use his experience in a different way.
“I had worked out in 2013 that I had completed about two million kilometres professionally and was ready for a change,” he said.
“I felt there was an opportunity to share my experience and knowledge with the next generation of drivers and help strengthen skills across the industry.”
That desire to make a positive contribution to the industry led him into training and compliance roles before joining TAFE Queensland as an educator in 2015.
More than a decade later, he remains passionate about helping students build rewarding careers and supporting Queensland's transport industry through high-quality, industry-aligned training.
“When a student says they found the training informative, entertaining, useful and helpful not only for their current job but for future employment, that's what I enjoy most,” he explained.