Wodonga TAFE and Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) representatives were extremely proud to be recognised among the best of the best as an Industry Collaboration Award finalist at this year’s Victorian Training Awards.
The innovative ‘Women Driving Transport Careers’ (WDTC) program with Wodonga TAFE and TWAL, and sponsored by Volvo Australia, was recognised as one of three Award finalists - alongside the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program, and the CYP Design and Construction / Holmesglen Institute Collaboration.
The CYP Design & Construction / Holmesglen Institute collaboration was the 2021 winner.
Celebrated as a virtual gala in 2021, the Victorian Training Awards ceremony was studio-hosted on the evening of October 16, with all finalists tuning in live for recognition and the announcement of each award category winner.
Celebrating their 67th year, the awards brought together finalists in categories representing apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, training providers, employers, and industry – all involved in the Victorian training system.
The Wodonga TAFE and TWAL Women Driving Transport Careers program was designed to help reduce the driver shortfall within the transport industry as identified within the 2016 Volvo Report, and to promote the Transport industry as a viable and desirable option for women seeking employment.
Wodonga TAFE and TWAL worked closely with employers to change their perspective on employing lesser experienced, but better-trained staff, as experience does not always guarantee quality.
Wodonga TAFE assisted companies to embrace less experienced staff who had completed the comprehensive WDTC training program, and also encouraged a mentoring model for younger staff, with improved induction procedures.
This course had over 95% retention rate of students at completion, with many students also promoted into team leader and management roles.
In creating an inclusive training program through consultation with TWAL and employers, Wodonga TAFE helped empower these women to become ambassadors for the industry and to inspire other women considering their future in this vital industry sector.