Two key industry groups have come together to launch a new educational trade scholarship program aimed at increasing opportunities for students studying commercial refrigeration and airconditioning through TAFE.
The Airconditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA) and the Airconditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) launched the program with the support of the ARBS Foundation.
Known as the ARBS Foundation Educational Trade Scholarship, the program was launched following a review by AREMA and AMCA of industry skill requirements.
Both organisations identified ways to upskill and prepare new and current trainees in commercial refrigeration and the airconditioning industry.
The objectives of the scholarship are to:
improve the quality of knowledge of trades people in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry
promote quality outcomes in the vocational education and training system
increase the awareness of employers and the community of the benefits of participating in further education, and
support the ARBS stakeholder industry by increasing the level of education in the industry.
In order to meet these objectives, AREMA, AMCA and the ARBS (through its Foundation) have committed to the program for three years.
AREMA president, Mark Padwick, said the scholarship aimed to increase the quality of training for tradespeople, support students who have demonstrated aptitude to successfully complete their trade training and support positive attitude and application in the workplace and off-the-job training.
“Both AREMA and AMCA have worked hard to establish this scholarship and associated charter. This has included carefully developing the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment criteria and approval process," he said.
"This will ensure the nomination and judging process is transparent and appropriate.”
ARBS chairman, Ian Hopkins, congratulated AREMA and AMCA for developing and driving this‘forward thinking’ scholarship program.
“This collaboration will achieve great outcomes for ARBS stakeholders, particularly AREMA and AMCA members. It is exciting that both organisations have committed to continually develop, and take responsibility, to unearth ambassadors of the future for our industry,” Hopkins said.
AMCA executive director, Sumit Oberoi, said this scholarship will become integral to the industry moving forward.
“It has been a commendable effort by AREMA, ARBS and AMCA. This scholarship is very promising because it is open for both apprentices and trade teachers to support their upskilling,” he said. “It will include a two week residential course at the Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence (RCCC) in Melbourne. The RCCC is a partnership between the AMCA and Box Hill Institute and will ensure that recipients of the scholarship will be exposed to the latest technological advances for HVAC&R.”
All key stakeholders in the program – including education institutes, apprentices and employers and ARBS members – will be contacted prior to Christmas. This will help inform individuals on the nomination process.
The winners of the inaugural scholarship will be announced at the ARBS dinner on May 18, 2016, during the ARBS Awards ceremony.