The Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association (ARMA) and the Australian Refrigeration Association (ARA) have joined forces to create a national smart card for use by the entire HVACR industry.
The smart card provides prospective employers with instant access to a technician's trade qualifications and licensing credentials.
ARMA CEO, Kim Limburg, said users simply scan the QR code to check credentials.
Limburg said it will overcome the problem of unscrupulous RTO's offering short courses in refrigeration and air conditioning which have been “dumbing down” the trade.
“Only technically competent individuals will gain access to the ARMA smart card because we have a stringent vetting process,” she said.
“Currently consumers have no access to information correctly advising them who is trade qualified to carry out refrigeration and air conditioning work but now they do.
“Cardholders retain control of who can access their information. When an employee leaves one company and commences work for another the employee simply changes authorisation.
“Licence holders throughout Australia will have a single card which allows regulators, agencies and industry bodies' instant access regardless of which state or territory they work in and regardless of different legislative requirements.”
While the smart card is currently available to ARMA and ARA members it is ready to be rolled out to the entire industry.
"The design is future-proofed to facilitate any and all technological changes, new or emerging credentials. Data collected will help all governments in policy decisions," she said.
However, to manage and administer the smart card effectively both groups believe a National HVACR Council needs to be established.
“The role of the council is to guide and coordinate the HVACR industry in Australia on behalf of all levels of government and industry and across all sectors,” Limburg said.
“The industry desperately needs greater collaboration and coordination to successfully transition to low GWP refrigerants.
“The regulatory structure of the industry, to date, has been solely focused on controlling the emissions of synthetic refrigerants. We need to guide so many other areas of the industry like standards, training, education and innovation policy.”
Limburg said Australia's current licensing body, the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), does not function as a body for coordination or change management in the HVACR industry.
“Despite the importance of the industry and the opportunity for improvements very little federal leadership has been shown beyond emissions reduction,” she said.
“The impact of transitioning from high GWP refrigerants to low GWP refrigerants cannot be understated, it is a huge task. To accomplish this the HVACR industry requires leadership across all areas of the industry it is no longer just about emissions, there has been a fundamental shift.
“This is why we need a National HVACR Council and a nationally consistent skills based licensing program for the HVACR trade.”
However, a spokesperson for the ARC rejected Limburg's claims and said there is already close collaboration across industry.
He said the ARC delivers one national, skills-based licence scheme to over 87,000 individuals and businesses Australia-wide.
“The success of the scheme, and of the campaigns and initiatives we deliver, is due to broad industry support, as well as the ARC’s collaborative foundation – the ARC’s RAC industry board and membership which is made up of all mainstream industry associations.
“This promotes high-level collaboration in all aspects of the sector.”
The spokesperson said in the past 18 months, ARC has implemented a raft of new initiatives including the Green Scheme accredition program, a RAC advocacy campaign and icareers video sent to all secondary schools Australia-wide plus working with ASQA to close down sub-par training courses, just to name a few.
In fact, ARC also has plans to introduce ‘smart card’ technology for the licence cards provided to technicians.
The spokesperson told CCN that the new smart card technology would be used in conjunction with a free phone App.
“The smart card will not only identify technicians as being licensed, it will also enable improved functionality, convenience and access to valuable technical resources,” he said.
Other benefits include real time records, simple identification for consumers as well as improved safety and compliance.