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To be a technician in today's Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) industry it takes plenty of multi-skilling to meet the diverse requirements of a demanding trade.

Australian Refrigeration Association (ARA) president, Ian Tuena, said practitioners need the skill of a motor mechanic to rebuild compressors, the skill of a fitter to replace bearings and repair shafts, the skill of an electrician to diagnose electrics, the skill of a programmer to tackle an array of human/machine interface issues as well as the skill of a plumber for those installing copper pipe.

“This is in addition to the skill of a boiler maker/welder for those installing steel pipe, the skill of a sheet metal worker for duct work, the skill of a chemist to understand all of the chemical properties of the refrigerants we use, the skill of a mathematician to do the calculus involved and the skill of an engineer to do the design work,” he said.

“Our trade involves a host of skills and we can rightfully be proud of the skill sets we have in order to do our trade in a professional manner.

“The unfortunate side-effect is that by crossing so many trades, there are so many techies who have come to believe that they too should have the right to our trade.

“Like an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle or the refrigeration system attached to the mechanical services of a building – all and sundry raise their hands for a slice of the action.

“This has led to motor mechanics, electricians and plumbers believing it is their right to also be qualified as a refrigeration mechanic.”

It is this crossover that has led to the deskilling of the RAC industry via Certificate II, according to Tuena.

“We are dumbing down our industry to the point of no return,” he said.

What needs to be done to strengthen the trade? Feedback to sandravandijk@yaffa.com.au