Page 6 - Climate Control News September 2022

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Solar graduates in a class of their own
ABOVE: Women make up less than one per cent of the clean energy workforce.
pay half the salary of a female apprentice for two years, in addition to providing apprentices a tool allowance and six-monthly incentive payments.
Businesses like Total Solar Solutions are already benefiting from the program, employing two female apprentices who received subsidised training.
The government’s flagship $1.3 billion Solar Homes Program, launched in 2018, will support 5,500 clean energy jobs.
In addition to targeted support to increase the participation of women, the Growing Our Clean Energy Workforce package offers fully or par- tially subsidised programs to upskill women and men already working in clean energy.
The Solar Homes Program has helped more than 205,000 Victorian households install solar panels, solar batteries and solar hot water since 2018.
Minister for Solar Homes, Lily D’Ambrosia, said a further 25,000 Victorians have reduced their carbon footprint through rebates for heat- ing and cooling upgrades, zero emissions vehicles and solar for business.
“We’re supporting women to take advantage of the thousands of jobs created in our transition to net-zero emissions by 2050,” she said.
THE FIRST CLASS OF FEMALES HAVE GRADUATED FROM SOLAR APPRENTICESHIPS AS PART OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S SUITE OF MEASURES TO ADDRESS GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE RENEWABLES SECTOR.
WOMEN CURRENTLY MAKE up less than one per cent of the clean energy work force.
The subsidised apprenticeships are part of the Government’s $11 million Growing Our Clean Energy Workforce Training and Workforce Development package, which is aiming to meet future industry demand through diversification and maintain Victoria’s reputation as the national leader in solar safety standards.
Victorian solar installers have just six more months to receive the government’s subsidy to
Mechanical services licence for NSW
Mark Buttigieg, MLC.
A NEW LICENSING system for mechanical services is being introduced in New South Wales.
The Building Amendment (Mechanical Services and Medical Gas Work) Bill 2020 covers medical gas licensing and will impact mechanical
two tragic accidents at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in 2016.
Medical gases were incorrectly piped in one of the operating theatres, leading to two babies being administered nitrous oxide instead of oxy- gen. One of the babies died and one was left with severe brain damage.
Introducing the bill to the legislative council, opposition whip, Mark Buttigieg, said the bill is long overdue.
“It is hard to believe but there is no requirement
in NSW to have a qualification to work with medi- cal gas in both installation and maintenance. The main risks associated with medical gas work include contamination of pipelines and then the cross-connections of gas delivery outlets,” he said.
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) is liaising with the NSW government seeking clari- fication on the scope of the licence.
ARC has also suggested reduced or no fees for ARC licence holders applying for the new licence in the first 12 months.
LEFT:
The Bankstown- Lidcombe Hospital.
services workers across refrigeration, air condition- ing and plumbing.
The Bill amends the Home Building Act 1989 to provide for the licensing of contractors, and the certifying of supervisors and tradespersons who carry out mechanical services including medical gas systems work.
It covers “the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of a mechanical heat- ing, cooling or ventilation system in a building, which is associated with the heating, cooling or ventilation of that building.”
The new licence will be administered by NSW Fair Trading and was introduced in response to
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