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There was plenty of lively discussion about the biggest challenges facing the HVACR industry at CCN Live 2018.

More than 100 participants attended last month's event in Melbourne which featured a panel discussion with Western Sydney TAFE teacher, Stephen Smith, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA) president, Kevin O'Shea and Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) general manager, Michael Bennett.

The discussion followed presentations by all three panellists with Smith providing an informative overview of trade training in Australia.

He said the trade system has been completely devalued and drop-out rates for apprentices were still at record highs.

Employers have been struggling to source skilled tradies for many years which is why the federal government is undertaking a national training review for the HVACR industry.

Industry groups participating in the review met again in early October, but Smith said attendees were unable to reach agreement on a number of issues.

RACCA president, Kevin O'Shea, said the high level of infighting within the HVACR industry has contributed to many of the sector's current problems.

“We are a very fragmented industry with too many associations that don't work together,” he said.

“The electrical trade is strong because it has one body, one voice, unlike HVACR which lacks cohesion.

“We will never progress while there is so much infighting.”

Panellists agreed that a lack of visibility is a key problem for the refrigeration and air conditioning trade.

In a bid to try and address the problem, the RRA is working on a number of projects.

Bennett said the RRA has commissioned a report to find out what the younger generation want career-wise and what steps can be taken to improve public perception of the trade.

The report, which has just been completed, was undertaken by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Bennett will examine the findings of the report in coming weeks.

At the same time, Bennett is working with the Australian National University (ANU) on the creation of a Flammability Calculator to test the flammability of refrigerants.