Winners of the 2013 VACC Automotive Design Awards will be presented tonight at Deakin Edge, Federation Square at 6:30pm in an event that will be graced by Minister for Manufacturing, Major Projects and Ports, David Hodgett.
Since its establishment in 2006, the VACC (Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce) Automotive Design Awards has served as a wonderful opportunity for secondary and tertiary students in Victoria to display their talent by showing off their course work in public.
The student competition aims to promote automotive careers and the Australian automotive industry.
“VACC is passionate about the automotive industry and the various career paths within it. From auto-apprentices to company directors, VACC supports life-long learning and provides training courses and opportunities to learn new skills,” according to the VACC website.
Students can enter in all three categories: Drawing & Design, Model Making and Essay Writing.
Designs can be hand-drawn, sketched or computer generated, in black and white or color, and should illustrate the ‘vehicle of the future’. The concept must be able to be driven on the road and transport at least one person.
Students are also invited to make an actual model of their design, following the same criteria for the concept. Typically models are made out of clay and/or wood. Each model must be capable of sitting on its own wheels or be mounted on a display board.
They can also submit fact or fiction essays about the vehicle of the future. Students can write about a car, a motorcycle, a truck, a taxi or an emergency vehicle in 1000 words or less.
The shortlisted entries are judged by representatives from Australia’s big three local manufacturers: Ford, Holden and Toyota. Six winners will be announced tonight, plus an opportunity to work in the Ford Design Centre and one overseas scholarship.
Aside from the above mentioned car manufacturers there will also be representatives from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Melbourne Convention Centre, Australian International Motor Show, and other key players in the automotive industry, according to the media release.
The VACC Automotive Design Awards is a great opportunity for students to expand their network and be exposed to the workings of the industry as lecturers, trainers, future employers and the media will be attending the event.
VACC is the largest employer of automotive apprenticeships in Victoria. They also pay an apprentice’s wage and provide on-the-job learning with host employers who are also VACC members.
VACC is the peak automotive industry body in Victoria and Tasmania, with more than 5,300 small and medium sized business owners, employing approximately 50,000 employees.
