Refrigeration and Air-conditioning

Training snapshot

There were approximately 7,150 program enrolments in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning related qualifications during 2018, and just under 2,230 completions. Both program enrolments and completions have decreased in 2018 after peaking at approximately 7,510 enrolments and roughly 2,330 completions in 2017.

During 2018, close to three quarters (71%) of enrolments were at a certificate III level, specifically a Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration which had the only intended occupation of an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. The majority of remaining enrolments occurred at a certificate II level (27%), primarily the Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems with the sole intended occupation of Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistant.

For enrolments during 2018, provider type varied significantly between different qualifications. For example, for the Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems most of the training was delivered by private training providers (83%), whereas for the Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration, most of the training was provided by TAFE institutes (84%).

In 2018, the funding source for subjects differed substantially by provider type. Subjects provided by TAFE institutes (91%) and Universities (100%) were predominantly Commonwealth and state funded, whereas most subjects delivered by private training providers (92%) were on a domestic fee for service basis.

Students who enrolled in 2018 were mainly from New South Wales (33%), Queensland (30%) and Victoria (17%).

Training was mainly delivered in Queensland (37%), New South Wales (31%) and Victoria (15%).

After reaching a low of approximately 970 in 2012, apprenticeship commencements increased steadily to a peak of roughly 1,660 in 2017 but have declined slightly to around 1,550 in 2018. Apprenticeship completions increased between 2011 and 2014, before declining the following year, however they have increased over the last three years to almost 730 in 2018. All apprentices in training as at December 2018 were training towards the intended occupation of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, with most of the training reported in New South Wales (44%), Queensland (24%) and Victoria (18%).

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Industry insights on skills needs

According to the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technicians were reported by employers as being in shortage during the previous 12 months. The most frequent reasons identified by employers for the shortage were as follows:

• Ageing workforce/current staff retiring
• Cost/time to achieve the required qualification
• Competition from other organisations
• Wages/salaries considered too low
• Geographic location of the vacancy.

This skills shortage has been recognised at Federal level, with the Budget 2019-2020: Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow: Skills Package Fact Sheet highlighting that Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic has been included on the list of occupations eligible for additional apprenticeship incentive payments, meaning employers and apprentices will receive monetary incentives, and for employers this is above and beyond what is currently offered as a part of existing standard employer incentives.

The Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast reports that the government started to phase down the implementation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) at the beginning of 2018, HFCs are synthetic greenhouse gases mainly used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Instead of HFCs, more environmentally friendly synthetic and natural refrigerants, will be used in new refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. These new refrigerants are potentially more flammable and toxic to humans and operate at higher pressures than HFCs, creating demand for new knowledge and skills in utilising these substances within the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning workforce.

According to the article Elevating our Education by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), the rapid advances in technological innovation has left the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Training Package in need of a thorough revision. The sheer scale of training required has been acknowledged by the sector, as workers are expected to be skilled in the operation of new and upcoming technology, as well as having the skills to maintain and work on older, outdated systems that continue to operate. This means both old and new technologies must be covered in the training package.

For an analysis of Electrotechnology IRC priority skills and job vacancy data, see the Electrotechnology industry cluster page.

Industry associations and advisory bodies

Air-conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association

ANZETA Electrotechnology Training Alliance

Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Heating

Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association

Energy Skills Queensland

Energy Skills SA

Future Energy Skills

Master Electricians Australia

National Electrical and Communications Association

National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association

NSW Utilities & Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors’ Association Australia

Regulatory bodies

Australian Refrigeration Council

Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council

Electrical Safety Office QLD

Energy Safe Victoria

NT WorkSafe

Safe Work Australia

SafeWork SA

SafeWork NSW

Worksafe Tasmania

Employee associations

Communications Electrical Plumbing Union

Electrical Trades Union

Relevant research

Budget 2019-2020: Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow: Skills Package Fact Sheet – Australian Government

Elevating our Education – Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)

Environmental scan 2015 - E-Oz Energy Skills Australia

Review of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Programme – Department of the Environment and Energy

Department of Employment 2018, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal  

• by ANZSCO, selected occupations, employment projections to May 2023
  
  • 3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018, Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 - EQ08, viewed 1 November 2018 http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202018?OpenDocument

• Employed total by ANZSCO 4 digit occupation, 2000 to 2018, May Quarter
  
  • 3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017, 2016 Census – employment, income and unpaid work, TableBuilder. Findings based on use of ABS TableBuilder data.

• Employment level by 4 digit VET-related occupations, and 2 digit level industries to identify the distribution of VET-related occupation workforce across industry sectors.

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training package or qualifications:

UEE/UEE11 Electrotechnology Training Package

• Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems
  
  • UEE20111 - Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems
  • UEE20106 - Certificate II in Air-conditioning Split Systems
  • UEE20107 - Certificate II in Air-conditioning Split Systems
• Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
  
  • UEE31307 - Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
  • UEE32211 - Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
• Certificate IV in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Servicing
  
  • UEE40511 - Certificate IV in Electrical - Air-conditioning Split Systems
  • UEE42711 - Certificate IV in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Servicing
• Certificate IV in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Systems
  
  • UEE42911 - Certificate IV in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Systems
• Diploma of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
  
  • UEE51211 - Diploma of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• Diploma of Engineering Technology - Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
  
  • UEE51111 - Diploma of Engineering Technology - Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
• Advanced Diploma of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
  
  • UEE62511 - Advanced Diploma of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering

This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.

Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:

• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 program enrolments
• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 subject enrolments
• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 program completions.

Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.

Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.

Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.

UEE/UEE11 – Electrotechnology Training Package apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:

• 2010 to 2018 commencements
• 2010 to 2018 completions
• 2018 apprentices and trainees in-training October to December 2018 collection, by qualification and state and territory of data submitter.