APPRENTICESHIP ACADEMY TAKES THE LEAD
![DSCF0694-2100x1400-ef5b64a1-b6a1-493b-a051-73c3197bdf8f.jpg](/media/tn0bfkk0/dscf0694-2100x1400-ef5b64a1-b6a1-493b-a051-73c3197bdf8f.jpg)
![](/media/mwylyycf/dscf0930-2100x1400-b05aa241-01cf-46fd-bea8-7be9df22bdf5-1024x683.jpg)
Patterson Cheney Trucks Dandenong apprentices Thomas Moorman, Kristen DaSilva and Madeleine Sutton.
Mr Sherry said the aim was to build a strong camaraderie among the participants to help them feel more committed to finishing their apprenticeships. For a range of reasons, many Australian trades currently experience high levels of apprentices not completing of their training.High Dropout Rate
According to the latest research by National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), one third of all first-year apprentices and trainees do not complete. In its Completion and Attrition Rates for Apprentices and Trainees 2021 report, released on August 11, the NCVER said that less than half of the apprenticeships begun in Australia in 2017 had been completed. Mr Sherry said the combined dealership initiative decided to take the bull by the horns to encourage young people to consider a career as a truck mechanic. The group works with training and government organisations to reach out to young people who might be interested. “We actually put some of them into our dealership one or two days a week so they can see whether they like it before they commit,” he said. Through the Apprenticeship Academy, an apprentice can become a qualified heavy commercial vehicle technician or an auto electrician, with training in all areas of the service and pre-delivery areas.![](/media/mn5azzic/dscf0944-2100x1400-07d353fe-6b45-4ef3-a549-25e6ca23e5f5-1024x683.jpg)
Free Toolkit
To sweeten the deal, everyone accepted into the Patterson Cheney Apprenticeship Academy is also given a starter toolkit worth $4,000. “We place the apprentices in our three dealerships,” Mr Sherry said. “We have five participants in Dandenong, six at Westar in Derrimut and two in Campbellfield, which is now expanding and doubling its workshop size.” The first intake in the Patterson Cheney Apprenticeship Academy range in age from 16 to late-20s and include a mix of male and female apprentices. As part of their training this year, the group visited the Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) head office to watch the final of the Isuzu National Technical Skills Training Competition to get an idea of the training opportunities for Australian truck mechanics. “The opportunity came for them to observe the competition, to see what goes and obviously we hope they’d be involved with it one day,” Mr Sherry said. “It’s also important for them to see the level of professionalism of the IAL guys so they can replicate that in the dealerships. “It’s not just bringing dirty old trucks into workshops and getting oil changed and getting themselves dirty as well. There’s quite a lot of nous that goes into diagnosing. Hopefully they can take some hints back to the workshop.”Women in Trucking
Kristen Da Silva, a first-year apprentice at the Patterson Cheney dealership in Dandenong, said she was enjoying her training as a truck technician. “As a kid I was always fiddling with things and putting them together. “Eventually I decided I wanted to be a truck mechanic.” Kirsten encouraged other young women to consider a trade as a career. “If anyone says don’t do it, it’s a man’s job, don’t listen to them,” she said. Madeleine Sutton is also a first-year apprentice at the Patterson Cheney dealership in Dandenong. Previously a restaurant manager, Madeleine was looking for a career change when she found the Patterson Cheney Apprenticeship Academy advertised on Seek.com.au. “I did want to be a truck driver when I was little, so I’ve revolved back to the truck aspect,” she said.![](/media/1yuo0ml4/dscf0875-2100x1400-9225981b-3bb1-46ad-82af-7c2300973abd-1024x683.jpg)
![](/media/lhfnijuo/3-view-range-25.png)
![](/media/yzvhvddg/iszs2180_hub_small_image_cta_730x766.jpg)
![](/media/ndwnaf53/iszs2180_6for3_banner_mobile_hub_small_image_cta_mobile_670x370_x2.jpg)
Take a load off with six years’ servicing for the price of three.*
For a short time, if you buy a selected N Series cab chassis or Ready-to-Work truck you can add a 6-Year Essentials Service Agreement Package for the price of three years, effectively halving your servicing costs. T&Cs apply.
Get a Quote