Page 12 - Climate Control News magazine April 2023

In Focus
VICTORIA UPSKILLS APPRENTICES
The Victorian government is upskilling and advancing the plumbing industry to meet the state’s growing demand for energy efficient technologies.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio launched a new training program last month in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) delivering specialised skills in designing and installing energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems.
Around 200 Victorian plumbers and fourth-year plumbing apprentices have
registered for the course which will run until November 2023. This comes after a successful pilot last year.
This is part of Solar Victoria’s $11 million training and workforce development program, which is aimed at growing Victoria’s clean energy workforce and giving them the skills to take advantage of the jobs in the booming renewables sector.
D’Ambrosio said the number of Victorians who claimed the $1000 rebate to replace their hot water systems with solar hot water or energy efficient heat pump systems almost
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.
quadrupled in 2022. As part of the move
towards cheaper and
more energy efficient
technology gas hot water
systems are no longer funded under the program.
Hot water is the second largest consumer of household energy, switching to solar or a heat pump could save up to $400 annually.
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to attract more women
An initial intake of 30 degree-level apprentices will commence in 2024.
Trade initiatives
each qualification. This will see some reduc- tions in the amount of class time expected of apprentices.
The intention is to deliver the blended pro- gram in a way that more closely resembles apprenticeship training rather than a tradi- tional university model.
The project will aim for an annual com- mencement intake of 30 degree-level appren- tices starting in 2024.
Another project being rolled out by the Ai Group is geared toward women, and is designed to help employers struggling to attract appren- tices and trainees to fill entry-level roles.
Many women do not realise an apprentice- ship or traineeship in a trade of choice can kick- start a rewarding career.
To help bridge the gap, the Women in STEM Project is helping to support female apprentices and trainees in STEM industries such as engi- neering and Industry 4.0.
The idea is to get more women into mechani- cal engineering and manufacturing instead of traditional trades such as carpentry or plumbing.
CCN EXAMINES A NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE TRADE TRAINING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023.
DESPERATE TO ADDRESS the skills shortage and increase trade apprenticeship numbers, industry groups have been working to establish new programs that could make a real difference.
For example, employer organisation, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), is
working on an innovative new project to estab- lish degree-level apprenticeships in Queensland. This project will establish a pilot to combine a degree in electrical engineering with a Certificate III electrical trade qualification, all
delivered as an apprenticeship.
This combination of the two qualifications
will provide the individual with the theoretical skills gained through an engineering degree with the practical skills gained through a hands-on Certificate III trade apprenticeship.
Ai Group will work with a university and a vocational education provider, or a dual sector provider, to develop the program.
A new blended qualification will be developed that ensures detail is only taught once, although assessed separately to meet the requirements of
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