TAFE and employers supporting women to enter the transport industry.

The Women Driving Transport Careers (WDTC) program has been successful in reducing the driver shortfall within the transport industry that was 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 Transport Women Australia Limited worked with employers to change their perspective on employing lesser experienced, but better trained staff that have completed the WDTC program, as experience does not always guarantee quality. After this consultation, Wodonga TAFE has assisted companies to embrace younger, less experienced staff, but who have completed a comprehensive training program, and encouraging a mentoring model of younger staff with improved induction procedures.

This course has had over 350 participants, with a 95% retention rate of students on completion. With multiple students across a number of employers having been promoted into team leader and management roles within their employer. By creating an inclusive training program, through consultation with TWAL and employers, Wodonga TAFE and TWAL have helped to empower these women to become ambassadors for the industry and to inspire other women into considering the transport industry.

The project shows a great deal of commitment by the employers, who hire staff and cover the cost of their 4-week training program whilst also paying them to complete this training before they begin working on-site. Volvo supplied Wodonga TAFE with a branded truck to assist with the program that was also co-branded with Wodonga TAFE & TWAL decals. TWAL play an important role in the program through industry engagement and networking to continue to grow the program.

The program has been embraced by some of the largest employers within the industry, such as:

• Linfox
• Australia Post
• Visy
• Alex Fraser
• Hanson Australia
• Mainfreight

Upon the success of the program, Wodonga TAFE, in partnership with TWAL and Volvo Australia, is launching the Dream Accelerator Program, targeted at building emerging and established leaders in the transport and logistics industries.