Victoria Throws Support At Caravan-Makers

With Victoria’s travel restrictions finally easing, the Andrews government has announced its support for the state’s caravan manufacturing industry as part of a $250 million support package it says will create 10,000 “steady and secure jobs” for workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But New South Wales manufacturers say a similar package would assist caravan and RV producers in that state to meet what they say is “record demand” that they are struggling to meet.

Citing “huge demand for locally-built caravans”, Victorian minister for employment Jaala Pulford said that as people spend more time touring the country, the need for specialist on-the-job training within the industry had become increasingly apparent.

She said the “earn and learn” initiative would support skill development in areas including administration, assembly, logistics, sales, service, repair, and warehousing.

“The caravan industry is booming and this (initiative) provides a great opportunity for Victorians to build a career in an industry that is really going places,” said Ms Pulford.

“Being able to earn a wage while learning new skills and building knowledge on the job is a winning combination.”

The minister said those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the long-term unemployed, and young people under 25 years of age will be prioritised by the scheme that has engaged 10 manufacturers, primarily across Melbourne’s northern suburbs, who are currently facing workforce shortages. 

More than 20,000 caravans are built in Melbourne’s north each year, accounting for 90 per cent of Australia’s production total. Minister Pulford said the sector is worth $2.3 billion to the Victorian economy annually, with approximately 7400 caravan industry workers drawing $600 million in wages per annum.

“People are travelling again and want more of our industry’s products and this program comes at a time when our employer members need it the most,” said Caravan Industry Victoria CEO Rob Lucas.

Australian caravan production is at a 30-year high as COVID-19 travel restrictions and the closure of international borders prompts Australian families to holiday domestically. 

Avida RV dealer development and sales and marketing manager Billy Falconer told GoAuto that assistance of the nature offered to Victorian manufacturers would be greatly appreciated in New South Wales.

“Our market saw huge demands following the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns,” said Mr Falconer.

“Our order bank doubled, almost tripled, and while we’re very fortunate to have that sort of demand, we are struggling to get the people we need to manufacture units to fill those orders.” 

Caravan Industry Association of Australia government relations executive Hugh Fitzpatrick said sales were up more than 15 per cent on an “ordinary” year, with local manufacturers benefiting greatly from the surge in demand.

Mr Falconer told GoAuto his company alone “could hire 25 people tomorrow if we could get them."

“That’s the real challenge; the flexibility that’s offered to potential employees elsewhere has caught us by surprise a little bit, and we’re rapidly working to change the way we do business to draw some of those people to the industry,” he said.

View the full article from GoAuto.