Quick thinking and swift action by the board of MTAA (Motor Trades Association of Australia) Super during the Covid-19 crisis spurred the establishment of the MTAA Super Scholarship Fund which offers up to $5,000 for auto industry workers seeking to extend their qualifications and skills.
The Fund will support studies in the fields of business, technology, innovation, communication and more.
“The idea for the Fund came from our Chairman, John Brumby,” explains MTAA Super board member, Geoff Lowe.
“The whole purpose was to make a small sacrifice that would help support people in our industry for whom study or learning opportunities might be impacted.”
“Very early on in the pandemic he raised the issue of the potential impacts Covid might have on workers in the automotive industry in terms of hardship.”
Each of the directors generously contributed a portion of their director’s fees and invited executive staff at MTAA Super to add to the Fund.
“The whole purpose was to make a small sacrifice that would help support people in our industry for whom study or learning opportunities might be impacted,” Lowe says. “We’re all in it together.”
As with so many others, the automotive industry in Australia is facing multiple challenges wrought by the pandemic, the recession, changing technologies and skills. The scholarship program is designed to provide opportunities for individuals in the automotive and related industries to pursue relevant education and training, and to strengthen the industry’s workforce.
A 40-year industry veteran himself, Lowe says the impact of the Covid crisis upon the industry has been mixed.
“Some sectors of the industry have recovered to an extent and are strengthening, and some are struggling to varying degrees, for example car and motorcycle dealerships,” Lowe says.
“Others doing it tough include the repair sector where they simply cannot get some of the components needed to conduct some repairs. It’s a very mixed bag.”
Lowe says that ultimately, he hopes the MTAA Super Scholarships, which will be awarded in December, will help individuals take further steps along their automotive career pathway.
“I hope the recipients genuinely grab hold of the opportunity the scholarship affords them,” Lowe says.
“Whether they’re using the scholarship to help with their studies to become a mechanic or they’re adding extra skills on top of what they already have, there are many, many pathways in this industry which plays a multi-faceted role in the Australian economy for hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.”