Recognising the importance of training and educating future leaders, the VTA is encouraging operators to send their younger employees to its State Conference 2021, with a 10% discount on the full conference package for delegates under 30 years of age.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson said with older generations over-represented in the industry, and with the average age of drivers and other transport workers increasing instead of decreasing, it was important to take ongoing steps to retain young workers in the sector.
“The ageing transport workforce is certainly not something new to the industry and is an issue we have been working to address for some time. As well as proactively working to attract and retain younger generations of transport workers, we also need to expose these future industry leaders to the knowledge and experience our elder statespersons have to pass on,” Anderson said.
“Creating pathways for young transport workers to learn from their elder peers is critical for passing on the years of knowledge and insights those of us who have been in the industry for decades have acquired. The State Conference is a terrific way to expose young transport workers to these insights, as well as enable them to network and build up valuable contacts of their own, so we’re pleased to be able to provide operators with a discount for delegates under 30.”
The theme for State Conference 2021 is ‘What’s in Front for the Transport Industry’, and the VTA is steadily building a program of around 35 speakers to address delegates on a wide range of topics covering industrial relations, heavy vehicle transport law, human resources, safety, technology, infrastructure, education and training, with a focus on reforms confronting the freight logistics industry.
“We look forward to announcing further details and our provisional program over the coming fortnight but have been encouraged by the positive responses we have received from state and federal ministers and shadow ministers, and senior leaders from regulatory and statutory authorities, operators and suppliers,” Anderson said.
The State Conference will be held at the Silverwater Resort at Phillip Island (San Remo). A range of price points are available for those able to attend all or parts of the conference, with special discounted pricing for VTA members.
For pricing information and to register your attendance, please click here.