Victorian Automotive Design Leading the Way
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MELBOURNE – June 21, 2013: future of automotive design was proudly on show last night with the announcement of the 2013 winners for the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) Automotive Design Awards at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Minister for Manufacturing David Hodgett presented awards to Victorian secondary and tertiary students across three categories based on future car model design including model making, design and essay writing.
Mr Hodgett commended the winners for their innovative designs which were
judged by representatives from Australia’s big local manufacturers.
They were:
“The level of talent on display was highly impressive. The quality and quantity of automotive designs is testament to Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s hub for automotive and advanced manufacturing,” Mr Hodgett said.
“The VACC Automotive Design Awards is a fantastic opportunity for Victorian students to display their work and have it viewed by prominent members of the Australian automotive industry.
“The Victorian Coalition Government recognises the value of a skilled and creative workforce, and there are a wide variety of vocational training courses available in the automotive sector.” Mr Hodgett said the Victorian Coalition Government was investing a record $1.2 billion a year in vocational training, with $4.8 billion to be invested in training subsidies alone over four years.
The Coalition Government has increased subsidies for courses related to Automotive qualifications. As a result, in 2012, 86 per cent of training being delivered in this sector took place within the highest levels of government funding subsidy bands and 63 per cent of enrolments were aligned to specialised or ‘in shortage’ occupations.
Mr Hodgett said an estimated 103,000 people were employed in Victoria’s automotive sector, accounting for 30 per cent of total industry employment.
“Clearly our state’s automotive manufacturing sector is facing complex challenges, but the Coalition Government is committed to supporting the local car industry and encouraging innovation and growth in automotive manufacturing,” Mr Hodgett said.
“We hope that the students who are involved in the awards can play a major part in the growth of the industry and, from the amazing work displayed through these awards, I am confident that the future of the automotive industry is bright indeed.”
The VACC Automotive Design Awards are an annual event and winning students in the model making and design categories – and their training organisations – each receive $3,000, while the winners of the essay category and their training organisations receive $500.
The VACC is the peak automotive industry body in Victoria and a group training organisation, employing more than 400 automotive apprentices and trainees across Victoria and Tasmania.