Page 17 - Climate Control News magazine February 2023

NextGen 2023
Search begins for super technicians
NEXTGEN IS BACK in 2023 and the search has begun to find Australia’s Top 20 technicians under the age of 25.
CCN has partnered with the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) once again to showcase the industry’s most talented next gen- eration tradies.
Employers are invited to nominate techni- cians from all parts of Australia, especially regional areas, to showcase technical excel- lence in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning.
So what are we looking for?
The skills of a good tradie are always evolving as they stay abreast of changes in technology to meet customer expectations in a highly com- petitive market.
We want young apprentices with the poten- tial to be the best in the business.
This is a person passionate about their trade, who goes above and beyond to ensure they do a good job every time.
They work well with others and take pride in
Well paid trade
REFRIGERATION AND AIR Conditioning technicians are one of the highest paying trades in the business and the outlook for 2023 looks even more promising.
CCN did a roundup of salaries for RAC techni- cians in 2023. These figures relate to metropoli- tan roles with salaries lower in regional areas.
According to Indeed.com the average salary is $83K but senior technicians with specialist skills are earning as much as $140,631 per annum.
According to talent.com the average RAC technician salary in Australia is $82,875 per year or $42.50 per hour.
Entry-level positions start at $75,681 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $97,500 per year.
The average salary for technicians on Seek. com. ranged from $85,000 to $105,000.
ABOVE: Senior technicians are receiving six figure salaries.
their work. In addition to a high level of techni- cal skill, they have great communication skills and demonstrate a good understanding of the business from problem solving and safety awareness to trouble shooting skills.
Not only do technicians possess specialised training and expertise to repair systems, but they also work with clients to build HVAC sys- tems that provide enhanced performance and system efficiency.
A good tradie is a critical thinker capable of troubleshooting and diagnosing problems. They have a huge part to play in ensuring equipment is installed and operating to manufacturer’s standards as well as ensuring the ongoing, application, control and efficiency of systems.
They do an important job and we want to see the best and brightest rewarded for their good work.
Nominations open 1 February, 2022 and close 1 April, 2022.
To nominate go to www.climatecontrolnews. com.au/nextgen
The skills of a good tradie are always evolving.
Government overhauls training for year ahead
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT will invest $402 million over the next four years to establish Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) to help address skills shortages and broader workforce challenges.
Formerly known as Industry Clusters, the new JSCs will have a strong connection to Jobs and Skills Australia, aligning with the govern- ment’s vision for new industry engagement arrangements.
Led by industry, the JSCs will bring all parties to the table to find solutions to the workforce challenges and skills needs currently facing industry sectors across Australia.
Federal Skills & Training Minister, Brendan O’Connor, has confirmed 10 industry groupings will be operational from January 2023.
A grouping has been established for energy, gas & renewables as well as manufacturing.
There is also a grouping for building and construction.
I’m pleased to confirm the following 10 indus- try groupings, as the outcomes from Stage One of the Grant Opportunity process:
“This is an essential first step in determining job roles, skills needs and training pathways, combining industry-specific intelligence with JSA’s forecasting and modelling,” O’Connor said.
“This will be crucial in making sure industry has the right workers with the right skills that Australia needs.
“JSCs will identify skills and workforce needs for their sectors, map career pathways across education sectors, develop VET training prod- ucts, support collaboration between industry and training providers to improve training and assess- ment practice and act as a source of intelligence on issues affecting their industries,” he said. ✺
BELOW: The goal is to match workers with the right skills.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
FEBRUARY 2023
17