Back where it began: Qantas lands big boost for Qld with ground staff academy
Fledgling aviation engineers will have access to fresh training facilities as part of a boost for the sector by the flying kangaroo.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor and Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Queensland State Labor MP Minister Di Farmer speak with apprentice workers during a skills and training announcement . (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Qantas will partner with Aviation Australia to set up an engineering academy near airports in Melbourne and Brisbane.
The academy is expected to train up to 300 engineers for Qantas Group and the broader aviation industry each year from 2025, through a mix of classroom and practical learning environments.
Qantas has committed to investing in recruitment and training and aims to create 8500 highly-skilled aviation jobs over the next decade.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said the academy would allow more trainees to access world-class engineering training programs that Qantas was known for.
He said training was in the national carrier’s DNA.
“Qantas has a proud history of having some of the best engineers in the world and we want to make sure it stays that way,” Mr Joyce said.
“We’re delivering around two million hours in training in 2023 alone, and like our pilot academy, this will build our pipeline of talent for both the Qantas Group and Australian aviation more broadly.
“We’ve already had almost 1000 people register their interest in joining the academy and it’s a great opportunity for people looking at a career in aviation.”
Female candidates are encouraged to apply as Qantas looks to increase the representation of women in engineering roles.
Around seven per cent of Qantas engineers are female and expressions of interest in the academy from women are currently running at about 16 per cent.
Around 200 of the academy graduates are expected to be employed by Qantas each year while others will find work in defence and other parts of the aviation industry.
All trainees will be employees of the Qantas Group which means they will be paid to learn.
Aviation Australia chief executive Bill Horrocks said the facility would help address engineering skills shortfalls in the sector.
“Our training combines job-ready skills and education to translate into employment outcomes,” Mr Horrocks said.
“Facilities will provide students with the day-to-day experience of a working hangar, as well as supervised training on aircraft, for a seamless transition into operational environments.”
Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said like many Australian industries, the aviation sector faced skills shortages
He said the federal government welcomed investment in skills to help fill those gaps.
