Nominations are now open for the 2019 Industry Educational Trade Scholarship.
Now in its fourth year, the scholarship provide students studying commercial refrigeration and air conditioning through TAFE the opportunity to train at one of the industry’s premier educational institutions – the Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence (RCCC) in Melbourne.
The program was created by leading industry associations the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA).
It is supported by the Air Conditioning Refrigeration and Building Services (ARBS) Education and Research Foundation.
The launch of the 2019 scholarship follows the success of the program in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
In 2018, nine students and their teachers from TAFE colleges across Australia participated in a two-week residential course at the RCCC.
The aim of the Industry Educational Trade Scholarship is to:
Increase the quality of trained tradespeople in stakeholder industries
Support students who have demonstrated aptitude to successfully complete their trade training
Support a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in off-the-job training
Support the professional development of teachers.
The scholarship covers tuition, travel, meals, accommodation and training resources for both the students and their accompanying teachers.
It embodies eight key units of competency from the Master Refrigeration program developed by RCCC.
Students will be enrolled by Box Hill Institute and issued a Statement of Attainment on completion.
The 2019 two-week course will be conducted from July 1-5 and September 30 to October 4, 2019.
Applicants must be in the third year of a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration apprenticeship at the time of being awarded the scholarship.
Following a 10-week nomination period, the applications will be reviewed, and the successful recipients notified.
The idea for the scholarship followed a review of industry skill requirements by AREMA and AMCA in 2015, where both organisations identified ways to upskill and prepare new and current trainees in commercial refrigeration and the air conditioning industry.
AREMA president, Mark Padwick, said the association was delighted to continue its support for this ‘important and relevant’ program.
“Previous scholarship recipients have expressed how invaluable this training is, and how it can be applied directly in the workplace. This is a huge incentive for AREMA to keep supporting this program,” he said.
ARBS chair, Ian Hopkins, said the scholarship has achieved great outcomes for ARBS stakeholders.
“We are delighted that AMCA and AREMA continue to develop a program that is helping to unearth the future ambassadors of our industry,” Hopkins said.
AMCA executive director, Sumit Oberoi, said the scholarship continued to build momentum and encouraged all eligible students to apply.
“This program helps give something back to the industry by supporting emerging young talent. We are very proud of what’s been achieved so far and look forward to welcoming more and more students each year,” Oberoi said.
The recipients of the 2019 Industry Educational Trade Scholarship will be announced in June.