AIS Newsletter November 2022

In this month’s newsletter we focus on Training Package releases approved by the AISC, an interview with Jacquelene Brotherton, Chair of Transport Women Australia Limited, and AIS’s submission to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy Consultation.

In Conversation: Jacquelene Brotherton - Chair, Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL)

Jacquelene has worked in the transport and logistics industry for over 50 years and is still as passionate as ever.  Her many and varied roles have included livestock, general and refrigerated transport, as well as fleet management. She is now sharing her passion with future generations of women and men who are being encouraged to join the industry. She has been able to do this most recently through the TWAL projects with the Girl Guides, the “Women Driving Transport Careers” female licensing course, the Driving the Difference Scholarships, and her regular column in Big Rigs Magazine.

Here she talks about her experience in the trucking industry and her role in bringing gender diversity to the industry.

How did you begin your career in this industry and what have been the highlights?

I began my career in my parents’ business in far western NSW in 1970 while still at school. We were the last fuel stop before the Qld border, so a natural stopping point for drivers and companies wanting to eat and refuel before heading for the border. I have had many highlights throughout my career, being awarded Life Membership of the Livestock Transporters Association of NSW in 1998 (now LBRCA) and winning the Excellence in Road Transport Award and the Female Leadership in Transport Award, both in 2018. I also get to promote the trucking industry both here and abroad at conferences and other events.

What does TWAL do?

We provide networking and mentoring opportunities for women working in or interested in transport. This promotes diversity and opportunities towards non-traditional career paths in transport.

We have several current initiatives and others in the process of rolling out. The yearly Driving the Difference Scholarship gives new and existing members the chance to enter the industry or upskill to advance themselves in their chosen field. We also have the Women Driving Transport Careers. This is a unique program that allows women to obtain their truck licence as well as being employed by a transport company.

For those seeking a clear direction in this industry, we have the Creating Connections Mentoring Program. This program matches our members who are seeking guidance with other members who have a passion for the industry and for helping others.

For networking opportunities, the Learning Initiative Breakfasts are a terrific way to get together to meet people as well as learn something new. These are free events that cover topics like health, superannuation, and other topics that may be relevant.

Last, and most importantly, we have the Trish Pickering Memorial Award. The award was established to recognise the achievements of women in transport, in particular for their dedication to improving the transport industry and for outstanding contribution over a long period of time. It is based on four pillars – strength, independence, leadership and acting as a role model.

Why should women be interested in the Transport Industry?

The Transport and Logistics industry offers endless opportunities for everyone, not just women. There are so many different roles within the industry that anyone can find their niche whether it is as a driver, a graphic designer or a technician, someone in IT or finance. We have something for everyone, and it is a growing industry.

If you are prepared to give it a go, you will not look back. The industry has the best people, it is diverse and inclusive, and you can have a great career. It has taken me from the outback here in Australia to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

What can companies do to attract more women to the industry?

Firstly, companies need to be current when it comes to their recruitment efforts. Most of what I have seen seem to address job skills from 10 or 15 years ago. Our Women Driving Transport Careers initiative works so well because the entire cohort consists of women, and they are confident and feel more supported. Although the trainer is male, he is an amazing supporter and mentor to the women involved and the results are excellent. Women are often nervous embarking on a new career especially if they are coming from predominantly female-led industries like retail or cosmetics into a predominantly male like transport. I feel that as the number of women grow in this industry, we will have more women trainers. It’s a knock-on effect. Women also need to feel safe, have safe amenities, good lighting, and well-maintained equipment.

Technology continues to change the transport and logistics landscape. How does this affect the industry’s ability to attract talent?

Transport does not sell itself as a high-tech industry and yet it is. We need to change this stereotype quickly. Again, it comes down to selling ourselves better to new talent. We also need to train new people in the best equipment available, use simulators where possible to show the potential, but we need to train them properly and fully before giving them a licence to drive a heavy vehicle as a career, not just teach them to steer, or think it is the same as a video game.

Do you have an inspiring story of someone who transitioned into the transport industry?

I have so many stories of women who have changed careers to become truck drivers. One who was a MAC makeup artist for eight years before realising her dream to become a truck driver. There was another who worked in aged care. She saw an advertisement for the Women Driving Transport Careers (WDTC) opportunity, and the rest is proverbial history. There was also a retired high school English teacher who married late in life to a truck driver and got her B-Double licence so she could become a two-up driver and travel with him.

Finally, what one piece of advice would you give to a young woman considering a career in the transport/logistics industry?

To quote Nike – Just do it, it will be the best thing you have ever done. TWAL is always here to support women once they join the industry and I have now been working in the industry for over 5 decades and I still love it!

For more information about how the TWAL is making a difference, click here.

What's Happening!

AusRAIL 2022

AusRAIL 2022 will bring together industry to celebrate, and network, and to discuss and engage on the latest issues facing the sector. AusRAIL brings together the greatest minds of the industry to engage on the industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities. Customer experience and the return to rail, sustainability, the evolving importance of rail freight and the challenges facing the rail supply chain will all be hot topics on the agenda.

Monday 5 December to Wednesday 7 December 2022 in Brisbane.

For more information, please visit https://ausrail2022.com/