Page 34 - Climate Control News Aug-Sep 2020

REPORT
17Darwin is home to some impressive apprentices, certainly the most en- thusiastic. Sims Refrigeration & Air Conditioning first year apprentice, Ethan Fielder-Izzillo, cannot think of another trade that even compares with RAC. “Our job is never the same and when I arrive at work I don’t know what to expect and that keeps it interest-
ing,” Ethan said.
”I also really enjoy Oxy/Acet Welding. Al-
though I haven’t done a lot of it and I am still try- ing to perfect my flames for different pipe sizes, I really enjoy trying to perfect my welds.”
The 20-year-old wants to stay in the trade and to be working at Sims “for many moons”. Any goals? “When my time comes and I finish my trade I want to have the most awesome Ute set up ever seen,” Ethan said.
“SINCE I BEGAN MY APPRENTICESHIP I HAVE LEARNT SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY.” – SIMS REFRIGERATION APPRENTICE, ZAC BATES.
18The second Sims Refrigeration & Air Conditioning apprentice to make the Top 20 is Zac Bates. The 19-year-old apprentice has a real thirst for knowledge and is keen to continue learning about refrigeration long after he com-
pletes his trade.
Zac knew he wanted to be a RAC technician
while he was still in high school and completed his work experience at Sims. “I was lucky I knew a tradesman that was already employed at Sims,” Zac said. “Since I began my apprenticeship I have
learnt something new every day and that is the best part of the job. The only long term plans I have right now is to keep learning and to become a knowledgeable tradesman.” What a noble goal!
the business more than air conditioning so I plan on learning more in the future.”
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switch to refrigeration and air conditioning. “Be- ing a technician is a lot more hands-on than be- ing a sparky plus there is a lot more thinking in- volved,” he said. The 19-year-old didn’t even know the trade existed until he began his apprentice- ship. “I had an injury when I was a sparky and was off work for months,” he said. “When I returned to work I did 10 weeks in air conditioning and de- cided I liked it better,” he said. “There is more va- riety we are never in one spot we go all over Syd- ney.” We already knew which trade was better but it’s always good to get confirmation. ✺
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Cool Cats Air Conditioning and Refrigeration apprentice, Henry Cunningham, spent three years
as a sparky before making the
Joseph Pringle is a second year ap- prentice at MP Commercial Refrig- eration in Adelaide.
The 19-year-old said the best part of the job is investigating problems and
solving them.
“I also enjoy being out and about, not sitting
behind a desk,” Joseph said.
Prior to commencing his apprenticeship, Jo-
seph was working in the nearby vineyards as a labourer and did that for almost two years.
“This job is so much better, I will definitely be staying in the trade,” he said.
“I prefer the commercial refrigeration side of
LABOUR MARKET REPORT
A report released last month by the National Skills Commission (NSC) shows that while the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market has been significant, some data indicates early signs of stabilisation and a small increase in the number of employers looking to hire.
The NSC is a critical new part of Australia’s economic infrastructure, providing expert advice and national leadership on the Australian labour market, current and future skills needs and workforce development issues.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash said there is a need to accurately understand what is happening in the labour market, the structural shifts that will
occur and the skilling and re-training needed to get people into jobs.
The report ‘A snapshot in time: the Australian labour market and COVID-19’ makes clear the scale of the economic challenge facing Australian workers and businesses planning a COVID-19 recovery.
The report details some of the work already available by the NSC to improve and consolidate Australia’s skills forecasting capability with the future in mind – that is, with an eye to the new and emerging jobs and skills workers will need.
“Skills are fast becoming the new currency of labour market activity, able to provide employers,
LEFT: Minister for Employment and Skills, Michaelia Cash.
workers, students and policymakers with a wealth of useful guidance,” Senator Cash said.
“Now more than ever, we need to understand what is happening in the labour market. The jobs lost during the
pandemic will not be the same jobs Australians will return to in the COVIDSafe economy.
“That is why the work of the National Skills Commission is so important. Detailed and timely skills analysis and data will allow education providers to offer VET courses better tailored to current and future workforce needs of employers.”
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