Cobar’s TAFE NSW automotive students will be able to hone their practical skills, thanks to a donation of unwanted vehicles.
Instead of sending unclaimed impounded vehicles to auction or scrap, Dubbo Regional Council has donated them to TAFE NSW as learning resources for students in Dubbo and Cobar.
Dubbo Mayor Ben Shields said the abandoned vehicles had been impounded, with rangers unable to contact their owners despite multiple attempts.
The latest donation is part of a long-running partnership between TAFE NSW and Council which provides training opportunities for HSC, trade and correctional centre students.
“To have this partnership with TAFE NSW is incredibly important because if we weren’t able to donate these cars, we would have to pay to have them destroyed,” Cr Shields said.
“So, it’s great to see that they are going to benefit students, as well as young people in rural and remote parts of New South Wales, and prisoners learning a trade.”
Cr Shields said staff follow the proper process when removing these dumped vehicles which have to be cleared by Revenue NSW before they can release them to TAFE NSW.
This ensures they don’t have any outstanding debts, and that someone doesn’t want to claim the vehicle as their own.
Students at TAFE NSW Cobar will also benefit from the donation of a vehicle by local business, DRC Drilling.
The vehicle had reached the end of its working life and was due to be scrapped.
TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Automotive Jeremy Reid said the vehicle donations will help prepare automotive students to be job-ready when they enter the workforce.
He said the vehicles will be used as teaching resources for a range of Certificate II and Certificate III automotive courses.
“Over two years, students will remove and rebuild the engines; re-fit and replace all the major mechanical systems such as brakes, steering and suspension; and will also work on the electrical and cooling systems,” Mr Reid said.
