The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026, recognising the vital role apprentices play in securing the future of Australia’s automotive industry as well as the businesses, families and educators who support them.
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual nationwide initiative that highlights the importance of apprenticeships and traineeships in building a skilled workforce across key industries. For the automotive sector, it is a timely reminder that hands-on training, strong employer engagement, and continued government and industry support are essential to keeping Australians moving.
VACC is the largest single employer of automotive apprentices in Australia, currently supporting more than 580 apprentices working across VACC and TACC member businesses throughout Victoria and Tasmania. These apprentices are training across the full breadth of the automotive sector, including vehicle repair and servicing, body repair and collision, motorcycles, heavy-duty diesel and agricultural machinery, developing skills that support both metropolitan and regional communities and enable greater mobility of skills across the industry.
Apprentices employed through VACC benefit from an industry-leading support model, including dedicated apprenticeship field staff who mentor, guide and support apprentices and host employers from commencement through to completion. This approach delivers some of the strongest completion outcomes in the sector, with national automotive apprenticeship completion rates sitting at around 54 per cent, compared with over 70 per cent for VACC-supported apprentices.
VACC has also made significant investments in training infrastructure to ensure apprentices and the broader industry can develop skills aligned with modern vehicles and evolving technology. This includes the recent purchase of a dedicated Automotive Training Centre in North Melbourne, with training to commence following refurbishment in 2026, as well as close collaboration with TasTAFE to ensure apprentices in Tasmania have access to modern, fit-for-purpose training facilities in Hobart.
Beyond formal training, VACC is deeply committed to promoting automotive careers to young people, working closely with secondary schools across Victoria and Tasmania to raise awareness of automotive apprenticeships. Through school engagement, career information sessions and direct conversations with students, VACC helps young people understand the diverse opportunities available as they begin to finalise their career pathways beyond school.
VACC also acknowledges the vital role played by parents, families and friends, whose encouragement and support are often critical to apprentice success. Their guidance and belief help apprentices stay the course, complete their training and transition confidently into the automotive workforce.
VACC chief executive officer Peter Jones said National Apprenticeship Week was an opportunity to celebrate apprentices and everyone who supports them.
“Apprentices are the future of our industry and supporting them properly is not optional, it’s essential,” Jones said.
“As the largest single employer of automotive apprentices in the country, VACC sees first-hand what works: strong employer engagement, consistent mentoring and access to high-quality training facilities. When apprentices are supported well, they gain skills that are transferable, future-focused and critical to the long-term strength of our industry.”
VACC also says it recognises apprentice achievement through its annual Automotive Industry Awards, celebrating apprentice graduations and spotlighting excellence across the sector. Recent recipients include Sean Perry, named 2025 VACC Apprentice of the Year, whose journey highlights the value of structured mentoring, quality on-the-job training and strong employer support in building long-term automotive careers.
Executive manager of membership and training Nigel Muller said apprenticeships remained central to the industry’s future.
“Automotive trades are becoming more complex every year, and apprentices need access to the right facilities, qualified trainers and ongoing support to succeed,” Muller said.
“Our focus is on helping apprentices not just start their careers, but finish them well, with skills that will serve the industry and the community for decades to come.”