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Australians are increasingly turning to refrigeration and air conditioning as a career of first choice, according to the ARC.
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has applauded the release of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria’s draft guidelines for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for public consultation. “EPA Victoria’s release of these draft guidelines demonstrates a growing emphasis on the role we all play in the protection of our environment and broader community health from […]
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is urging workers to submit their applications for occupational and site supervisor licences ahead of the January 1, 2022 deadline – and to take advantage of the alternative pathway arrangements that finish this week, on September 30. According to the QBCC, assessment officers have seen an increase in […]
Queensland workers needing an occupational licence for air conditioning and refrigeration work can now apply using an alternate qualification pathway. The new pathway allows an applicant who may not have the required qualifications to use their experience instead. Employees who perform mechanical services work for a licensed contractor, including refrigeration and air conditioning, have until […]
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is seeking feedback on cases for change for various training packages and qualifications – including the Certificate III refrigeration and air conditioning qualification. Last year, the new Certificate III qualification for refrigeration and air conditioning, UEE32220, was finalised and will come online with registered training organisations by October 2022. Although the […]
A new report prepared by the Expert Group for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment lists the most common faults identified in residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It also gauges the impacts of these faults and highlights how routine maintenance could significantly reduce electricity use, refrigerant leaks and emissions. The […]
Although a new national training package for refrigeration and air conditioning has just been released, work is already starting on the next iteration. Two new units will be developed on variable refrigerant flow systems, and fire and smoke control systems. Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is looking for subject matter experts to help review and develop […]
Apprentices in South Australia will soon be able to complete both electrical and RAC qualifications concurrently, thanks to a new program. The Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician apprenticeship will run for five years. At the end of the program, graduates will have a Certificate III qualification in both electrical and RAC. “The dual-trade qualification […]
The updated UEE Electrotechnology Training Package, which includes many refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) qualifications, has now been endorsed by the skills ministers. Key components of the updated package relate to changes to UEE32220 Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration to ensure it includes the latest refrigerants, technologies, standards, codes, and work health and […]
The government has extended the instant asset write-off scheme until December 31, 2020, a move that has been applauded by The Australian Refrigeration Association (ARC). The ARC says that giving businesses six more months to immediately claim on purchases up to $150,000 represents a win for refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) contractors. The instant asset […]
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has called out Queensland for putting consumers at risk with a “sub-standard RAC licence”. The licence is part of the new mechanical services regulations that came into effect on January 1 this year. “The major issue is that one of the qualifications required for the Queensland licence does not specify […]
Leading bodies in the HVAC&R sector have made submissions to the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) to establish a dedicated Industry Reference Committee (IRC) for refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC). If successful, it would signal a new era for RAC training in Australia. The proposal was initiated by a unanimous vote of the Refrigeration and […]
The Department of the Environment and Energy has released an updated version of Cold Hard Facts, the definitive inventory of Australia’s HVAC&R industry. The 2019 edition updates the version released last year (which contained data up to 2016) with data collected during 2017 and 2018. Key points from this year’s report include: The bank of […]
A refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) contractors roundtable held in Adelaide recently highlighted a number of key issues currently facing the industry. The meeting followed on from a similar event in Sydney. The Chair of the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Michael Bennett says the sessions are a great opportunity to connect with the broader industry […]
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has been re-awarded the contract for administration of the national refrigeration and air conditioning licence scheme, for up to nine years. The ARC has administered the scheme since its inception in 2005. It is the body responsible for granting refrigerant handling licences (RHL) and refrigerant trading authorisations (RTA). These are […]
OzonAction, in cooperation with UN Women, is seeking short “stories” about women working in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector. OzonAction is launching a global initiative to raise awareness of the opportunities available to women in the industry, and to highlight the particular experiences and successes of women working in the sector. The aim […]