Page 29 - Climate Control News Aug-Sep 2020

WORTHY PRAISE
There was plenty of praise from industry groups for our Top 20.
They also had plenty to say about why HVACR is such a great industry. Here’s what Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA) president, Kevin O’Shea, had to say.
“Plumbers and electricians have bragged for a long time about how they are in the best trades.
While there is a certain skill level required for these jobs, the skill range of refrigeration and air conditioning technicians requires those skills and more.
“Plus, our technicians get to travel and earn good money. It is incredible that despite these attractive attributes, the RAC industry continues to deal with
a skills shortage which has been made worse by the global coronavirus pandemic.
RACCA president, Kevin O’Shea
The industry remains invisible despite the impact it has touching people’s lives every single day.”
5Jayson James of Technichill in South Australia, will be a fully qualified techni- cian by the time the NextGen Report is published.
Jayson completed his apprenticeship this year but says he always had a technical bent and in- terest in problem solving.
A career in refrigeration and air condition- ing wasn’t a big discovery for Jayson, he simply followed in his father’s footsteps. He did try a few jobs after completing high school but wanted to work with his hands so a trade seemed the best option.
“I really enjoy a job where I can use my knowledge of a refrigeration system, getting all the different system readings to figure out exactly what is happening in each area of the system and then coming up with the correct solution to get it running successfully,” he said. “It is a good feeling leaving a job knowing the system won’t break down and the problem is solved.”
Future plans? “I would like to learn more about controls of air conditioning and refrigera- tion systems. Also to work on different types of systems I haven’t worked on yet.”
6Tom Clancy is a third year apprentice at Central West Refrigeration in Perth.
The 18-year-old apprentice had a bit of a head start because he grew up around the business and now works for his fa- ther, Chris Clancy.
While Tom is still working on install at the moment, he definitely leans towards ‘service’.
Chris said his son always planned on doing a trade and is glad that he chose RAC.
Tom said he loves the trade and the free tools are an added bonus.
“It really is unfortunate that it is such an ‘in- visible trade’ because it’s a great job,” Tom said.
“I LOVE THE COMPLEXITY
OF MY WORK I ACTUALLY ENJOY FIXING REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS WHEN THEY BREAK DOWN.”
– ALPHACOOL APPRENTICE, JARED TESCH.
7Jared Tesch is a third year apprentice at AlphaCool in Cairns, Queensland. The 19-year-old said he first heard about the trade through his father.
“I got into my trade by spending my two weeks school holidays doing work experience. I then be- came a TA for a couple of months before starting my apprenticeship,” Jared said.
“AlphaCool was the third company I did work experience for and felt it was the best option for me. “I love the complexity of my work I actually enjoy fixing refrigeration systems when they break down.” Jared has big career plans and is keen to travel around Australia so he can work on as many systems as pos- sible. “One day I hope to complete a Degree in Refrig- eration Engineering, so I can be a site supervisor or
project manager for a big business or mining site. “
8AJ Baker & Sons fourth year apprentice, Michael Sadler, is the son of a fridgie. “My father always worked in the trade,” Michael explains. “He still works in it today.” In fact, Michael’s father worked at AJ Baker & Sons before Michael joined the compa- ny. “He helped me get work experience here be- fore I started my apprenticeship,” Michael said.
Michael’s father has since moved on and is now working at Woolworths.
Asked what he likes most about the trade, the 21-year-old said it is a job with a variety of chal- lenges. “We actually get to think and every day is new, it is never the same,” he says. “Plus, I enjoy being out on the road.”
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020
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