icare, Motor Traders' Association of NSW renew partnership

The Motor Traders’ Association of NSW (MTA NSW) and Insurance and Care NSW (icare) have renewed their industry partnership to deliver tailored support via specialist work, health and safety provider and MTA NSW subsidiary Motor Trades Care (MTC). The finalisation of the two-year agreement will see the MTC team work to improve safety outcomes across the motor industry, supported by expert guidance from icare.

Stavros Yallouridis, CEO of MTA NSW, said icare’s expertise will help enhance programs that reduce risks, boost workplace safety and improve the recovery journey for injured workers. “Our growing partnership with icare in the work health and safety (WHS) and return to work (RTW) space will be coupled with the specialised safety advice and training that we deliver to businesses across NSW, positioning our industry well for the exciting technological shifts underway in the world of motoring,” Yallouridis said.

MTA NSW previously expressed concerns about the future of automotive workplace safety following the announcement of federal and state targets encouraging a shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. With 49,000 technicians throughout NSW requiring training to safely work with high-voltage EV batteries, a shortage in upskilling programs suggests the industry may be unprepared for such rapid growth. In line with its goal to reduce workplace injuries, MTC will help businesses prepare to safely work with EVs.

Trevor Ballantyne, General Manager of Motor Trades Care, said this partnership is designed to ensure the organisations can support and educate automotive businesses to minimise WHS risks, and in the event of a workplace injury, identify the best treatment plan and get staff back to work in a reasonable time frame. “MTC is excited to deliver tailored programs, education, advice and support, alongside access to icare’s great research on workplace wellbeing and injury prevention,” Ballantyne said.

Since MTA NSW and icare established their partnership in 2019, MTC has helped reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries within the automotive industry. To date, MTC has successfully helped 200 businesses with over 3700 activities and more than 100 workers with compensation claim reviews. icare CEO Richard Harding said the partnership is a response to the needs of the automotive sector in NSW in relation to workers compensation.

“Workers and employers in the rapidly changing automotive industry are tackling challenges that can be confusing for small organisations to handle alone. Our continuing partnership with MTA NSW and their MTC team will help industry participants to receive impactful safety training and post-injury support. In particular, this will help local technicians, auto-electricians or panel beaters who are actively managing their small businesses as they repair cars and serve customers,” Harding said.

The updated agreement promises programs and outcomes for automotive workers, their employers and icare, as their insurer. Harding said the agreement reflects the vision of building safer and more productive workplaces. Motor dealers and industry members can access a range of free business resources via MTC’s Care Central.

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