Backing industry, boosting communities

One hundred years of keeping regional industries on the road.

For Ramsey Bros, having skilled people in the region is a big part of keeping our customers moving. As the Motor Trade Association of South Australia (MTA) marks its 100th year in 2026, we’re celebrating their impact — helping apprentices train close to home, businesses build strong teams and communities hold onto the skills they need to thrive.

What began in 1926 as a small group of service station owners has grown into an industry body supporting more than 1,300 members through training, advocacy, legal and workplace advice, and upskilling.

On the Eyre Peninsula, that support is easy to see. In 2017, MTA took over the Cleve training centre, and a $400,000 government grant later helped double its size, creating a modern facility for apprentice training. Today, around 130 apprentices from across the Eyre Peninsula train through the centre — including many of the Ramsey Bros technicians who keep our customers moving.

MTA staff regularly visit members to understand what’s happening on the ground. Jodi Ryan, MTA’s General Manager of Apprenticeships, says one challenge comes up time and time again: finding and keeping good staff.

In some towns, long-running workshops are reaching a point where owners are ready to retire, but can’t find the right people to take over. That’s where local apprenticeships really come into their own — for the apprentice and the future of the business, too.

“If they can have an apprentice that can be there to support their business, who remains part of the community, and then turns into a solid worker, that’s the key,” Jodi says. “It’s about that retention.”

Staying close to home

For Jodi, offering local training in Cleve is about much more than convenience.

“If us being there allows a student to stay in their community and get a qualification without having to travel to Adelaide, that’s a bonus for everybody,” she says. “It keeps money in the area. It keeps communities and families together.”

Jodi calls it a “mini Royal Park” — a regional version of MTA’s main training base in Adelaide.

“When a student from Cleve comes to Royal Park, they don’t notice any difference in the training,” she says. “That’s what we want.”

Supporting the next generation of technicians

MTA now trains around 1,100 students across 15 trades each year. It also introduced dual-trade pathways that help apprentices build a broader skill set in less time — including light vehicle and auto electrical, heavy vehicle and auto electrical, and more recently, agriculture and auto electrical.

The agriculture and auto electrical dual trade was developed with strong industry backing — something Ramsey Bros was proud to support. It reflects what businesses need now — technicians who can work confidently across both mechanical and electrical systems.

“We’re preparing the workforce for whatever drives into their workshop,” Jodi says.

That could be a diesel ute, a truck or a modern header packed with cameras, sensors and electrical systems. As machinery gets smarter, regional workshops need people who can keep pace with traditional diesel machinery and the new systems coming through the door.

More than training

Training might be one of MTA’s biggest roles, but it’s only part of the picture.

MTA also supports members with workplace relations and legal advice, and advocates on issues like workforce shortages, skilled migration, transport regulations and other industry pressures. For small businesses, juggling staff, customers and compliance, that practical support can be just as valuable as apprentice training.

“Navigating small business, whether it be automotive or not, is what we do,” Jodi says.

After 100 years, MTA’s role runs deep through the community. Its impact can be seen in the young technicians coming through the workshops, businesses investing in the next generation, and communities working hard to keep skills close to home.

On the Eyre Peninsula, that support doesn’t just build tradespeople — it means more local jobs, stronger businesses and skilled people staying in the communities they call home.

www.mtasant.com.au