Automotive education for Queensland kids
Auto Camp teaches teenagers the difference between camshafts and turbochargersIntroduction to the automotive industry started early for 28 Queensland high school students who took part in a pilot program called Auto Camp during the July 2018 school holidays.
They tinkered with engines, repaired damaged vehicle bodies, looked at hybrid and battery tech, and played with car design and electronics.
Clearly not every kid is playing Fortnite.
Set to continue over the next three school holiday periods, the short three-day courses are designed and run by the Motor Trades Association (MTA) Institute to introduce teenagers to the automotive industry and the employment opportunities it offers.
It was "…born out of an idea that would allow teenagers a chance to see if they’re interested in some of the basic aspects of the automotive industry with a view to helping them make more informed decisions about the future," said Marcello Riotto, Operations Manager of Training.
High-volume vehicle manufacturing may be dead and buried in Australia but its population is still buying and driving cars in record numbers, which means the automotive industry will continue to employ hundreds of thousands of individuals to put and keep them on the road.
"The MTA Institute saw a gap in the market and decided to offer a short course to high school students that would be compatible with their age group and give them a chance to get some hands-on experience and a general overview of what to expect in the automotive sector," added Riotto.
Held at the MTA Institute campus near the Brisbane suburb of Eight Mile Plains, the Auto Camp course includes a mixture of written and practical tasks.
Sebastian Howie, a student from John Paul College who took part in the first Auto Camp, said: "The trainers have been awesome, they're really thorough with their explanation and the practical stuff is great.
"It's a really cool thing to do in the holidays. It doesn't feel like school at all, but I've learnt a lot."
Jack Dugandzic, aged 15, said it was interesting to learn about how combustion engines work.
"It's been amazing to use the tools and get some real-life workshop experience,” he said.
“I feel like what I’ve learned will come in handy when I get my first car.”
The MTA Institute will hold Auto Camp courses for students aged between 14 and 17 throughout the rest of the year and into 2019.
The cost is $250 per student and each course runs for three days between 9:00am and 3:00pm during the Queensland school holidays.
Click here for more Auto Camp details.
Auto Camp dates:
September 25-27, 2018
December 4-6, 2018
April 9-11, 2019end
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