“Our goal is to create a pipeline of great women in our operational teams to drive and become our leaders of the future.”
"All are doing incredibly well and improving with each passing minute behind the wheel.”
“Our goal is to create a pipeline of great women in our operational teams to drive and become our leaders of the future.”
"All are doing incredibly well and improving with each passing minute behind the wheel.”
Cleanaway’s Driver Academy for Women was launched to put female-identifying and non-binary persons on the fast track to permanent careers as drivers.
“Our goal is to create a pipeline of great women in our operational teams to drive and become our leaders of the future,” said Executive General Manager, Solid Waste Services Tracey Boyes.
The NSW academy was launched following the success of the first Driver Academy for Women in Victoria. The academy has also expanded to Queensland and South Australia/Tasmania.
Our NSW 2022 class of 12 trainees kicked things off in style with their induction ahead of the start of their training on 15 August.
Pictured: The academy recruits are all smiles and pose with their welcome packs on induction day.
Pictured: CEO and Managing Director Mark Schubert gave the recruits a warm welcome and wished them luck on their first day of training.
Starting from Week 1 of their training, our NSW 2022 recruits received mentoring and support from experienced Cleanaway drivers and accredited training providers.
Cleanaway trainers were also on hand to conduct safety lessons for the recruits which included teaching them how to operate safety equipment and perform routine inspections.
Pictured: Recruits take turns to practise using portable extinguishers in a fire safety lesson.
Pictured: Recruits getting the hang of securing straps (left), Driver Trainers and Assessors Jason Gardner and Mick Jolliffe teach the class how to carry out pre-start and post checks (right).
The class was given a pleasant surprise by Executive General Manager, Solid Waste Services Tracey Boyes who participated in some of the lessons.
Tracey even hopped along for a truck ride with academy recruit Jane Tabone behind the wheel.
Pictured: Tracey Boyes (middle) getting in on the action by learning how to tie trucker knots under the watchful eye of trainer Mick Jolliffe (far right). A trucker’s knot, also known as a trucker’s hitch, allows ropes to be pulled tight and secure objects on vehicles.
Pictured: Cleanaway heavy vehicle trainers guide recruits as they demonstrate their skills. The practical driving sessions include in cab coaching and solo driving time.
On Week 2 of their training, the recruits were given a tour of Cleanaway’s Eastern Creek facility which processes high quality recyclables from NSW’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme.
Upon their graduation, some of the NSW 2022 recruits will embark on their careers as container deposit scheme drivers while others will become municipal collections drivers.
Pictured: Resource Recovery Manager Danny Lemme and his team got the recruits up to speed on what happens at the Eastern Creek facility.
This was followed by another tour, this time at the Erskine Park Transfer Station which services municipal collections for the Sydney Metropolitan area.
Here the recruits enjoyed seeing recyclable materials being separated on site and how each waste stream can be managed as a commodity.
Pictured: Senior Business Development Manager Paul Spolder relishing his role as tour guide for the recruits at the Erskine Park facility.
As part of their training, the NSW 2022 recruits will receive assistance in obtaining their heavy rigid (HR) vehicle licences followed by 12 months of ongoing learning.
Getting the HR licence is the final piece of the puzzle for the recruits to become skilled and fully licensed Cleanaway truck drivers.
Weeks 5 and 6 proved to be especially successful with a total of eight recruits bringing home their HR licences.
The remaining four recruits are progressing towards attaining their licences in the coming days.
“The women ventured out beyond the depot and took to the streets and surrounding suburbs for some real world driving experience. All are doing incredibly well and improving with each passing minute behind the wheel,” said Driver Trainer and Assessor Adam Pascoe.
Pictured from left to right: Pia Fa’avae, Isabel Neto and Emma Flower were some of the women who received their HR licences on Weeks 5 and 6.
“I’d love to see at least another 50 to 100 women join Cleanaway through our Driver Academy in the next 12 months,” added Tracey.
“Supported by their networks of incredible women, I hope to see them stay and enjoy long careers at Cleanaway (and bring their friends!).”
NSW Academy Manager Kristina Duris said, “The women are totally different people from when they started in Week 1.”
“They are happier, more empowered and are loving life for the opportunity they have been given. They have worked so hard throughout the weeks to master their new skills, and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow on this journey.”
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