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In Depth Education
Kubota Australia has partnered with Holmesglen Institute to safely train the next generation of civil and building construction workers.
With the Victorian Government committing to building five new tunnels in Melbourne over the next 11 years, there is a growing need for safely trained tunnelling professionals. Holmesglen Institute Education Manager for Civil Construction and Tunnelling Andrew Warringah said Kubota’s equipment is used every day in all of the major tunnelling projects across Melbourne and it’s important students are taught how to safely use it. “Holmesglen’s Victorian Tunnelling Centre is one of only three similar facilities in the world, training 3500 local and interstate workers in tunnel construction, machinery operations and underground construction.
“Kubota equipment is essential in understanding civil construction. Kubota is the market leader for mini excavators and the go-to equipment for all major tunnelling projects around Australia.
“At the training centre we use a Kubota R065 articulated wheel loader, KX040-4 and KX057-4 excavators, an SVL75-2 compact track loader and an RTVX900 utility vehicle to train civil construction and tunnelling students.
“Students are taught to use the equipment first with a virtual reality simulator. They then go into Holmesglen’s practice tunnel to work with the machines and learn how to use them safely in controlled conditions.”
The partnership started with a meeting between Kubota General Manager of Sales Peter Gloury and Holmesglen Business Development Consultant Brian Parr. Kubota advised Holmesglen on the machines most likely to be used on site and the most appropriate machines for students to learn on. Kubota dealership Supergroups then delivered the equipment in late 2019.
The first cohort of students started in August 2019 and are now about to start work on their first tunnel project work sites. Supergroups Dealer Sales Director Shane Anderson has been working with Holmesglen since the partnership began, delivering the machines, keeping up with maintenance and assisting with demonstrations and training.
"This training will reduce injuries on the job & improve efficiency and proficiency on site"
“The training facility is state-of-the-art and provides a safe and controlled environment for students to practise on machines they will use on the job,” Mr Anderson said.
“This training will reduce injuries on the job and improve efficiency and proficiency on site.”
The Victorian Tunnelling Centre is located at Holmesglen’s Drummond St campus and teaches the Certificate III in Civil Construction for infrastructure and general construction. For more information on the partnership visit Kubota’s website by clicking the button below.
