Insurer Suncorp has donated three late-model, written-off vehicles to TAFE NSW Glendale to support the real-world hands-on training of automotive students and help them become “tomorrow’s technicians.”

“Suncorp is a proud supporter of automotive training for apprentices and is pleased to donate three late-model damaged vehicles to TAFE NSW Glendale,” said Brett Wallace, Suncorp executive manager for assessing and repair performance. “We know this is the best way to tackle one of the major challenges facing the motor vehicle repair industry – reaching, engaging, and developing skilled apprentices of the future. Our support of this latest industry initiative, in partnership with TAFE NSW and AAPR [Australian Association of Progressive Repairers], will further assist in educating today’s apprentices to become tomorrow’s technicians.”

“We already have plenty of state-of-the-art training equipment, but having whole cars will make a difference,” said Dave Allen, TAFE NSW Head Teacher for Light Automotive. “They will be a valuable practical teaching and learning resource that will enable students to be job-ready, to learn how to bring a damaged car up to a customer's expectations. It’s the hands-on experience TAFE NSW provides that sets us apart from other training providers and ensures students receive currency of training.

“These vehicles will be integral in our training and used every week, shared across automotive repair and maintenance, panel beating, and vehicle painting, and our light vehicle apprentices, pre-apprentices, and high school students. Everyone will benefit. We owe a big thanks to Suncorp.”

AAPR CEO Greg Preston thanked both Suncorp and TAFE NSW for their ongoing support and commitment to the automotive repair industry by assisting “with continuously developing the knowledge base of today’s automotive apprentices and technicians.”