Second round of Kirby CO₂ training set for September

This marks the program’s second round of training scholarships for 2025. The ARBS Education and Research Foundation, the Australian Refrigeration Council, Woolworths, SuperCool Group, Danfoss, Copeland and Sauermann have supported the scholarship fund.

Kirby says there has been strong interest in the program from fourth-year apprentices looking to upskill and gain accreditation in natural refrigerant system technology. Scholarship recipients undertake two units of training – CO₂ safety and CO₂ system repair and service – delivered in conjunction with Superior Training Centre (RTO ID: 41122).

So far in 2025, there have been 20 fourth-year apprentices to graduate from the program across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, the NT and SA, with a further 20 to receive CO₂ training in the September intake.

Whilst the scholarship covers many costs for the apprentice and employer, Kirby thanks employers for supporting the apprentices by providing time from work to undertake the training and covering expenses outside of what the scholarship covers.

“This program is helping to address the skills gap still prevalent in the industry with regards to the safe handling and servicing of CO2 system technology,” says Kirby Apprentice Fund Manager Elizabeth Paparo, M.AIRAH.

The program will take place from Tuesday September 23 to Thursday September 25.

Scholarship recipients

The following fourth-year apprentices are taking part in the program:

R Sutton – Woolworths Facilities Management, NSW
J Booth – Woolworths 360, VIC
J Abela – Value Added Engineering NQ, QLD
T Thompson – Specific Refrigeration and Mechanical Services, VIC
A Chand – Woolworths, NSW
A Kumar – Elite Refrigeration, QLD
A Burnell – Premiair, VIC
M Durand – Ultra Refrigeration, NSW
J Hughes – TSR Refrigeration, QLD
L Haggerly – Award Refrigeration, NSW
S De Wilde –Control Air, SA
M Crawford – Matthew Bedelph, TAS
O Lepp – Thermal Care, QLD
M Perry – Mackie Electric & Refrigeration, NSW
J Burgess – Sims Refrigeration, NT
T Riordan – TVH, NSW
A Book – O’Connors
L Sims – Sims Refrigeration, SA
M Stitz – Alpine Refrigeration, QLD
M Mutkins – ARA Mechanical Services Pty Ltd, NSW.

For more information, visit the Kirby website.

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