2006 Ford LTD for NT apprentices & trainees

The skills shortage – more qualified staff means more apprenticeships

Darwin Ford Dealer, Daryl Frost, has donated a 2006 model Ford LTD prototype to Charles Darwin Uni (CDU) saying “It is critical we continue to train local people to fill skilled positions here in Darwin.” The vehicle – the pride of the fleet – will be for the exclusive use of the trainees and apprentices in the automotive trades at CDU.

Currently the Frost Motor Group employs seven technicians from the Philippines because it is so difficult to recruit suitably qualified locals. Now that they have sufficient specialised, qualified staff on hand they are able to take on more new apprentices. Daryl Frost has been involved in training people in the motor trades for over two decades and served on the boards of group training companies.

He says, “Young people embarking on a four year program to become trades people need to know that their place of employment has sufficient qualified personnel to mentor and train them…the vehicle was built as a prototype for testing and evaluation and instead of having the vehicle destroyed, we negotiated with the Ford Motor Company to secure the car for CDU.”

The car “will be used in all facets of training for the light automotive discipline, ranging from the mechanical systems such as steering, suspension and brakes, to advanced air conditioning and the automatic transmission controlled by modern electronic technology that is evolving at a very fast rate,” said CDU’s Professor Garnett.

Frost Motor Group has also organised the donation of a Ford Fairmont Ghia to the CDU in Alice Springs for training through the local Ford Dealership, at the end of June 2006. The total value of both of these motor vehicles is approximately $120,000.

For more info contact Michelle Fraser at the office of NT Minister for Employment, Education & Training T: 8901 4010 M: 0407 642 011