Page 33 - Climate Control News Aug-Sep 2020

BIG IMPACT
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA)
Today’s refrigeration and air conditioning apprentices are part of an industry that is growing in double digits. This isn’t a trade without a future, it is a trade that
will gain more prominence in the decades to come as the demand for cooling continues to accelerate.
That means big opportunities for everyone becoming technicians in 2020.
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association executive director, Sumit Oberoi, said apprentices across the country should be proud to be part of an exciting industry with a lot of opportunity.
“Congratulations to our Next Generation we all look forward to seeing the impact all of you will make in the future – not just in future businesses but more broadly, across the industry,” he said.
13Second year apprentice Talara to anything else he had tried previously. “It
Welling always wanted to do a trade, she just wasn’t sure which one it would be. The 22-year-old
is employed at Northern Air in Lismore, northern NSW. “I planned to be a sparky but couldn’t get an apprenticeship and then I came across refrigeration and air condition- ing,” she said. “I didn’t even know the trade ex- isted.” Talara said it was a lucky discovery be- cause now she loves it.
“I like a job that is hands-on and has plenty of variety. There is a bit of electrical, a bit of plumb- ing, it isn’t repetitive at all.” Talara is keen to learn more and enjoys working at Northern Air. “My focus now is to complete my trade then I will think about what’s next; I know I will definitely stay in the trade.”
“I ENJOY BEING OUT ON THE ROAD AND GOING OUT AND FIXING THINGS.”
– DYLAN FITSIMMONS, THIRD YEAR APPRENTICE.
14Coolmaster NT second year ap- prentice, Jesse Brown, is based in Darwin and is proudly represent- ing the Northern Territory. The
19-year-old always knew he would be a tradie.
“I had two weeks’ work experience with Coolmaster NT and really liked it; an opportu- nity to join as an apprentice opened up not long after so I started work the following year,” Jesse said. Although he gave other jobs a try, Jesse said being a RAC technician is different
certainly keeps me busy because it’s a chal- lenge, not just another job,” he said. Jesse’s plans for the future include getting a dual trade. Then he plans to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Border Force.
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Jake Docksey is a fourth year ap- prentice at JD Refrigeration in Syd- ney. He first heard about the trade through a family friend.
The 21-year-old enjoys working on new in- stalls and plans on developing his project man- agement skills further down the track. Jake agrees that RAC is an invisible trade but believes it actually benefits technicians that are working in the industry because they are in high demand. “It is the reason why we are well-paid compared to other trades,” he said. While there are a lot of people working on the air conditioning side of the industry, Jake said there are a lot less doing refrigeration because it is a bit more complicat- ed. “It’s not just connecting two pipes, there is more to it,” he said.
16M.C. Industries third year appren- tice Dylan Fitsimmons is from the Sunshine State and discov- ered the RAC trade through a mate. “It was a mate’s dad, I started working for him and really liked the trade,” Dylan said. “I enjoy being out on the road and going
out and fixing things.”
Being a technician wasn’t his first job. Be-
fore starting his apprenticeship the 20-year- old spent a few years cutting concrete. “That was hard work and definitely not as interest- ing,” he said. Dylan’s immediate goal is to com- plete his apprenticeship.
“I will definitely stay in the trade,” he said.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020
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