Page 8 - Climate Control News March 2020

News
LEFT: TCA offered courses in electrical, air conditioning and building trades.
RAC courses cancelled
due to sub-standard training
TRADES COLLEGE AUSTRALIA (TCA) can no longer provide courses in refrigeration and air conditioning after its authority as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) was cancelled.
The cancellation follows numerous appeals and relates to the delivery of recognition of prior learning (RPL) for refrigeration and air condi- tioning (RAC) courses.
Action was taken by the industry training regula- tor, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). In a statement released today, the Australian
Refrigeration Council (ARC) said it worked with ASQA in its review of the TCA.
ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said sub-standard courses have no place in the HVACR industry.
He said that with the help of ASQA, sub- standard RAC training courses have been all but eliminated.
“Appropriate qualifications are the corner- stone of the ARCTick licence scheme and, on be- half of all licensed technicians and businesses, ARC will keep up the pressure on training bodies to help ensure quality courses are delivered for our quality industry,” Evans said.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be ap- plied if a person can demonstrate they have the relevant skills and/or experience, but first they must get an RPL assessment.
“However, RPL needs to be conducted with the same rigour as any other form of assessment, in- cluding a comprehensive quality process that
covers the content (skills and knowledge) of the qualification being assessed,” Evans said.
“The evidence used to make a decision about competence must be valid, sufficient, authentic and current. The RTO should have a system in- cluding policies and procedures to support the decision-making process.”
The RPL assessment process requires the learner to submit a significant amount of evi- dence. Assessment of RPL evidence is technical and demanding because the assessor needs to review and align a range of evidence such as ref- eree reports, resumes, photographic and docu- mentary evidence and interviews with the learn- ers, against all requirements of every competency in every unit of competency.
Evans said the assessor also needs to veri- fy that the evidence is authentic, reliable and sufficient.
“For a qualification that usually takes several years to complete, such as a Certificate III in re- frigeration and air conditioning, the documen- tary evidence for an adequately assessed RPL qualification could be hundreds of pages which must be detailed and mapped across each unit of competency,” he said.
TCA operates in the Canterbury/Bankstown area south-west of Sydney. TCA offered courses in the building and construction industry cover- ing trades such as electrical engineering, air con- ditioning and construction.
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
Beijer Ref acquires ACD Trade
GLOBAL REFRIGERATION WHOLESAL- ER Beijer Ref AB has acquired all shares in Australian HVAC company ACD Trade.
ACD Trade is a leading HVAC distribution company in Australia with around 60 em- ployees.
For nearly 20 years the company has sup- plied a wide range of well known brands, products, HVAC units, appliances and com- ponents to industry.
Sales are made through a distribution net- work of nine branches.
Annual sales amount to approximately SEK 540 million ($A83.15 million).
Beijer Ref will acquire ACD Holding Com- pany Pty Ltd. from Cliplight US Holdings, Inc. The Group is already present in Australia through Beijer Ref Australia and Kirby HVAC&R. The acquisition strengthens the Group’s presence in the Asia Pacific region and
especially in Australia.
Total sales in APAC is estimated to reach
$461 million after the acquisition correspond- ing to 20 per cent of Beijer Ref´s total sales.
In a statement, Beijer Ref Group CEO, Per Bertland, said Australia is an important market for the wholesaler.
“Australia is an important market for us, and it is pleasing that we found an opportu- nity to grow further,” he said.
“ACD Trade is a well-managed and fast- growing company that will add value to our group in the form of an expanded cus- tomer base and a broader product range within HVAC.“
ACD Trade will continue in its existing form and was included in the company’s ac- counts from February 1, 2020.
Beijer Ref Group CEO, Per Bertland
8