Culture is Central for New MTA Member

Harmonious working relationships are a priority for Central Diesel Services, and it’s largely why they have recently joined the MTA.

“To find the right people to be on your team is key,” said owner Jackie Mabasa.

“The conversations that I’ve had with the MTA’s NT Automotive Business Specialist have been great and it gives you the feeling that you have a real team behind you.”

Central Diesel Services was bought by owner Jackie and her husband Peter, affectionately known as ‘PJ, in December 2020.

“The previous owners were retiring and moving to Queensland and we didn’t want to see another business in Alice Springs close down. There was definitely a need for it,” Jackie said.

Central Diesel Services, located in the Northside of Alice Springs, is a heavy diesel servicing and parts provider, and has mechanics skilled and experienced in work from routine maintenance to complex issues.

It is a service that is met with a lot of demand, aiding transport vehicles that need to be back on the road swiftly.

“I never realised how important it is,” said Jackie.

“We service transport vehicles that need to be on the road for freight and road trains that need to be on the road for carting,

“There are a lot of rural communities around us that need all of these vehicles, it’s all part of a larger picture.”

Central Diesel Services has nine employees, however finding workers to meet demand is a challenge in the automotive industry, with a skills shortage reaching unprecedented levels. This is exacerbated in remote areas such as Alice Springs.

“It is not easy to find heavy equipment diesel mechanics,” said Jackie.

“We are competing with mines and larger companies that have a bigger capacity than small businesses.”

“There’s a skills shortage in many places around Australia but in the Northern Territory we have a few more obstacles thrown at us being so isolated and with social issues.

“Getting people into Alice Springs is not easy, but not impossible.”

Despite the challenges surrounding attracting mechanics to Alice Springs, Jackie believes things will only get better for local businesses.

“My husband and I love Alice Springs to its core,” she said.

“It has such amazing facilities, sports and lifestyle, there is such a promising future here for people, the schools are wonderful for kids, we try very hard to get people to see that.”

The automotive industry has a strong presence in the town, and Jackie believes that makes it a suitable destination for aspiring mechanics.

“My husband has always been passionate about the industry and my kids are motor car mad. It’s in the Territorian blood to be around it.

“We’ve got the speedway, Finke desert race, drag racing – everywhere you turn there is something to do with motorcars and motorbikes.”

At the heart of Central Diesel Services is a strong focus on culture and creating a team that works cohesively together, which is also why a move to the join the MTA was logical.

“We have previously been with another employee relations company and it didn’t have that personal touch the MTA provided,” Jackie said.

“When you’re running a business it’s not just about running a business, you have to have many avenues of team behind you to make things work, it’s like a revolving door of working together.

“We were finding a lack of personal touch and helpfulness with the other company, but we found it with MTA. Joining up with them was a no brainer.

“It was like dealing with a local business and having that sense of personal connection.”

Retaining mechanics amidst a skills shortage crisis is a challenge but one that Jackie has confronted by ensuring that the environment at Central Diesel Services is as comfortable as possible for her employees.

“I always thought we were big on culture, but then I learnt that we could be doing this better,” Jackie said.

“We have done a lot of work on it in the last two years, it was and always has been important, but it’s at the top of the list now.

“People spend the majority of their lives at work, you want to give them a place where they feel inclusive, heard and appreciated, that’s something we work really hard towards.”

Heavy diesel maintenance is the bread and butter of Central Diesel Services, but they also have a strong hand in the community and sponsor local sport.

“We love to sponsor the local sporting clubs, and up and coming go-cart kids. Our kids play basketball and we sponsor that,” Jackie said.

“We like to share the love around and help out in the community.”

As for the future, Jackie is optimistic about the new partnership with MTA, and for what’s to come.

“The future plans are exciting and we are always working to be better,” she said.

“We are very excited to be working with the MTA and can’t wait to see where that relationship takes us.”