Careers and Education

The educational component of the day is directed towards the career pathways available, pay rates, required skills & attitudes, the achievable goals from entry level, an understanding of the laws governing the transport Industry and the diversity of the favorable conditions.

There are opportunities available to begin a career at school, either as a part of a VET in Schools program or as a School based Apprenticeship.

From qualifications to lifestyle choices, the transport industry covers them all. The resources provided will be able to guide the curiosity of the adolescent, shine a light on the stepping stones from within or guide the bridging process from an alternative industry?

The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority will be onsite to assist you with information and interpretation of the many laws and regulations created to provide standard & safety for employers, employees and the general public at large.

Have a look at our Truckies Top Ten Tips, from the Australian Trucking Association.

Breaking Down The Barriers - Andrew Meddings

Andrew Meddings, Paraplegic Owner Driver, will be onsite to inspire us all & will be more than happy to have a chat, discuss the challenges he has had to overcome or perhaps the modifications required to accommodate his wheelchair. Andrew’s circumstances are the result of an accident. He independently drives all over Australia and is prime example of the diversity of the Transport Industry and what is achievable.

ATA Mobile Educational Facility - The Road Ahead

So far, in the eight months that this program has been operational, it has seen over 20,000 visitors at industry conferences, events (such as the Australian Science Festival) and schools. It has toured in all states except for Tasmania, which is planned in early 2010.

The following is a brief summary regarding the program:

A semi-trailer with expanding sides that is sponsored by the trucking industry of Australia.
The trailer’s audiences are schools (Grade Two to 12), industry, and families (using public events) around Australia.
A session in the exhibition trailer lasts from 40 minutes to one hour and can have a maximum of 30 students in attendance.
The dual messages are share the road safely and the industry is more than you think.
Each session has a 15-25 min interactive presentation to highlight safety, science, and the industry.
There are 11 interactive stations: one deals with careers; one is a gear changing exhibit; one is a truck packing exhibit and eight are a safety exhibit.
The message behind the gear change and truck packing programs is to look at some of the skills that are present in the industry (a driver changing gears by sound, or the mathematical issues that deal with logistics of a load).
The safety table covers the top 10 tips to drive safely around heavy vehicles.
There are two major puzzles that are also part of the program. (Topological mathematics in nature) that have the dual purpose of allowing students to problem solve and to highlight that industry uses mathematical problem solving techniques (e.g. to shift freight around Australia, Euclidian circuits are made to find the best path. We just don’t realise that we are doing complex maths.)
A new exhibit, in cooperation with the Australasian Rail Association, will be launched in July.

A few words from Stuart Lewis, the Exhibition Manager

My background is from Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, where I worked for over 10 years. For the last seven years I have been part of the Outreach Programs Area, where I have designed, built and presented educational science based programs that travel. During this time I have been around Australia twice (except for Tasmania), moving with the program demands every two weeks to three months, working with schools and communities (including indigenous communities).

Find out more about the program.

Stuart Lewis
Exhibition Manager - The Road Ahead

NRMA Mobile Member Centre

The NRMA Safer Driving School will be onsite along with a purpose built road safety education semi trailer and Subaru support vehicle.

Hunter Institute of Technology

Follow Your Dream... Representatives from the Hunter Institute of Technology will be available on the day with all of the info you need. Check the courses available in this dynamic & diverse industry. Hunter TAFE www.hunter.tafensw.edu.au

It’ll get you started!

Army

The Australian Army Transport Unit has confirmed attendance. This is another facet of Road Transport and is an integral component to the security for us all. Find out first hand what it is like to lead a lifestyle within the Australian Defence Force.