Metro Tasmania is on the hunt for more bus drivers as services across Hobart continue to be slashed due to a shortage.
The public transport provider has launched a new video campaign featuring current staff in a bid to entice more people to join its team.
Metro chief executive Katie Cooper said the initiative has led to a 167% increase in applications for bus operator roles since it began in July.
“Metro offers its bus drivers six-weeks of paid driver training, as well as employment benefits that include eight weeks of annual leave for full time drivers and personalised wellbeing programs,” she said.
“The videos are just one part of our approach to attract Tasmanians to a career in public transport.”
Metro has been forced to cut bus services in recent months due to a nationwide shortage of drivers, which Cooper said the company was “obviously not immune from”.
Appearing in one of the videos, Metro bus driver Ivan said he gets a “feeling of honour and privilege” when passengers trust him to get them to their destination safely.
“One of my thrills apart from passengers is just driving these big machines, you know and they give it to me to drive around all day,” he said.
“It’s like a little thrill that I get every time I get into the jolly buses.”
“Oh, that’s not even talking about the articulated buses because they’re even bigger and I just love it.”
