The Iron Women Australia driver training program was on display at ‘The Depot’ careers expo held in conjunction with the recent Brisbane Truck Show, with a striking Volvo FH prime mover taking pride of place on the Wodonga TAFE stand.
The Iron Women initiative, developed by Volvo Trucks, is a comprehensive driver training education and licencing program aimed at getting women without any prior truck driving experience behind the wheel and onto a transport industry career path.
With Volvo having set up similar programs in other countries including France, South Africa and Peru, Volvo Australia has joined forces with Wodonga TAFE’s Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA) to facilitate the program.
Jo Bathols is one of the transport Industry training staff from Wodonga TAFE and gave a rundown on the program, which sees participants take part in a number of different activities over the duration of the program.
“Volvo Australia has donated the truck, and Wodonga TAFE is the preferred Registered Training Organisation,” Jo explained.
Over the two-week course, all women undertake 16 hours’ drive time and end up with a Certificate III in Driving Operations.
“We go through fatigue management, vehicle inspection, trip plan and navigate along with getting out on the road. They get their heavy rigid licence in the first two weeks then come back in 12 months with industry experience and come through for their heavy combination licence.”
“We oversee them through the whole process – a couple from our first intake are going to come back and also do their multi combination with us.”
The Iron Women program has been run successfully in other countries by Volvo for a couple of decades.
With the transport sector growing in Australia and the industry chronically short of workers, the Australian Iron Women program also has the backing of transport companies who see the value in getting women into the industry.
“There are 28,000 vacancies in the truck driving industry at the moment. Women are an untapped resource; women particularly don’t realise what a great career it is,” Jo said.
“We are led by Volvo as to how many participants we have in the program. Volvo put out the feelers to the likes of Team Global Express and other companies who had some women who wanted to do the course, and they came back to us.”
For Jo, the commencement of the Iron Women program has allowed her to take her skill set gained from working in the industry from the driver’s seat across to the passenger’s seat as one of the Wodonga TAFE training team.
“I have had 28 years in the industry, with 22 of them on the road. I got my B-double ticket in 2000, and back then women were somewhat bit of a silent population in the industry, but I had a lot of great mentors who were happy to help me into and through the industry.
“I have run interstate and spent the last four years on tippers; I came off the road about 18 months ago as I thought it was my turn to give something back and share some knowledge. It’s one of the best things you can do – I love it, and I can share my passion for it all.”
The Wodonga TAFE team were making their first visit to the Brisbane Truck Show and with the Volvo being a drawcard to the school groups and other visitors to ‘The Depot’ precinct.
“It’s just that ‘wow’ factor, they hop up into the truck and see, touch and feel what a truck is about. It’s building the interest by letting them know there may be an opportunity to do something a little bit different…there are lots of different careers they can go into,” Jo said.
“To be part of it here is extra special and help get the message out there that it is a great career move.”