Welcome back — another Christmas and New Year has come and gone! I hope you enjoyed a refreshing break and are ready to embrace all that 2025 has to offer

The start of a new year is always a great time to set goals, focus on priorities, and take aim at the opportunities ahead. For the AAAA, 2025 is shaping up to be another year where we won’t take our foot off the accelerator.
The upcoming federal election presents a critical opportunity to ensure our industry’s voice is heard. Advocacy remains a top priority, especially with the commencement of the National Vehicle Emissions Standards (NVES) trading scheme on July 1. The scheme is likely to have significant flow-on effects for our industry in relation to the price and availability of diesel and petrol 4WD and light commercial vehicles going forward.
While we support NVES in principle, the current targets and timelines are highly ambitious. You’ve probably read reports of battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales plateauing in Australia. The fact is, infrastructure gaps and vehicle lifecycle concerns remain significant barriers to the take-up of this technology. Forcing EV adoption without addressing these systemic issues is not the answer. We’ll continue advocating for a balanced and sustainable transition that works for the entire automotive ecosystem.
A critical part of this transition will be the aftermarket’s pivotal role in the service and repair of EVs. Independent workshops have been servicing and repairing hybrid and electric vehicles for many years already. However, we need to ensure the pathways for training and gearing up at the workshop level are well established as these vehicles gain a larger share of the car parc. This includes lobbying for government investment in training infrastructure to future-proof our industry.
We’re also closely monitoring the economic environment. Rising living costs and cautious consumer sentiment have led to car owners delaying servicing and non-urgent repairs — a pattern we’ve seen before. As interest rates moderate, we anticipate a return to regular servicing, as delays in maintenance inevitably lead to more costly repairs down the track. Similarly, the purchase of accessories and car care is being impacted by negative consumer sentiment and is likely to follow the same cycle.
Another major focus this year – and one that’s been high on our list for some time – is tackling the skills shortage. The inclusion by the Federal Government late last year of many essential automotive trades as a high priority on the Core Skills Occupation List for skilled migration is a positive step. However, we must also ensure a strong pipeline of local talent through diversity initiatives and ongoing industry promotion.
On the advocacy front, we’re also continuing to challenge the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads’ mandatory training directive for all Approved Inspection Station (AIS) members. The rushed, heavy-handed rollout of this policy undermines a system meant to enhance road safety. We are fighting for a fairer, more collaborative approach that supports – not penalises – our skilled technicians.
Speaking of strengthening our industry, we’re full steam ahead with preparations for Autocare 2025, Australia’s largest automotive training event. Taking place on June 20–21 in Brisbane, this event will feature a Workshop Management program for business owners and a Technical Training program for technicians and apprentices.
We’ve worked hard to bring you some of the biggest international names in automotive training to join Australia’s best trainers, all under one roof (read more on page 8). Together, they’ll deliver invaluable sessions covering advanced diagnostics, J2534 programming, and more. Programming will be a focus of the technical training stream – perfectly aligning with the growing number of workshops now accessing full OEM vehicle information through the mandatory data-sharing scheme utilising the AASRA portal.
Whether you’re a technician aiming to upskill or a business owner seeking growth strategies, Autocare has something for everyone. With world-class trainers, cutting-edge topics, a quality trade show, and excellent networking opportunities all in one place, it promises to be a highly productive and valuable two days. I highly recommend Autocare to anyone looking to advance their career or expand their business.
Running alongside Autocare is the National Light Vehicle Modifications Summit, an essential forum bringing federal and state regulators together with vehicle modifiers. With a review underway of VSB14 (the National Code for Light Vehicle Modification), the push for a workable Gross Combination Mass (GCM) code in several states, as well as a review of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) about to kick off, this summit will ensure our industry remains at the forefront of shaping the future of vehicle standards and regulations.
To learn more about Autocare’s training programs, to purchase tickets at early bird prices, or attend the Modification Summit, visit www.autocare.org.au
All our work is driven by our passionate AAAA team, and with the support of our members, we can and are achieving great things together. If you’re not yet a member, joining the AAAA will strengthen our efforts to serve our industry and provide you with exclusive benefits, including access to our HR/IR hotlines and the powerful Car Parc Data tool and much, much more – valuable resources to help you grow and succeed in 2025.
Let’s crack on and kick some goals!