Fascinating Visit to Thales Bendigo

On Wednesday 17 May and Tuesday 30 May, the two Year 11 Work Related Skills classes and the Year 12 Integrated Studies class were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Thales Bendigo and tour the factory. Students were met at the gate by Mr Rhett Nankervis, Uplift Manager, Vehicles and Tactical Systems/Protected Vehicles and his team, Marcus Sloane- Production Team Facilitator – Fabrication, Merla Kyffin – Production Assembler and Ryan Bond – Training and Capability Manager who provided safety equipment to the class. 

The students were given a history of the company, its operations and the roles of their hosts and then the group set off to tour the factory. Students witnessed the upgrading of the Bushmasters and heard about the unique manufacturing process for the 15-tonne, 4 x 4 vehicle designed to protect up to ten occupants. The students were immensely impressed with the machine including the tyres, the windows and use of the robot inside the core body of the machine.  

It became a competition to ask questions; Rhett was inundated with questions from students, all keen to secure a Bushmaster momento to take home! The students heard that the Bushmaster is in operation in six countries on four continents, with zero fatalities to occupants to date. 

Thales has just received an additional $160 million from the Federal Government to manufacture approximately 110 machines: a windfall to the Bendigo region, particularly in supporting the economy through employment of approximately 350 people. Rhett provided students with a detailed overview about the apprenticeships and job opportunities as well as the skills required by this international company. The tour finished with a sit in the Bushmaster, a class photo and the reluctant return to school as everyone was keen to stay longer! 

A huge thank you to Rhett and his team for their time and engagement with our students – it was greatly appreciated by all. 

Ms Kristen Simpson