Day two of the ARBS 2026 seminar program features a series of sessions dealing with the biggest workforce challenges facing the HVACR industry.
Australia’s skills shortage has never been more critical and day two of the conference program looks at ways to deal with the biggest obstacles today.
These sessions deal with training pathways for apprenticeships, increasing female representation and finding ways to attract and retain more young people.
This is in addition to a panel session on women in leadership.
Women comprise 15% of all people working in STEM jobs (as of 2024), although this number has grown by 85% over the past decade.
Moreover, women hold less than 20% of senior leadership positions and just 12% of CEO roles in STEM industries.
Another issue to address is lower wages, women in STEM industries earn 16–17% less than their male counterparts.
Apprenticeships: Lessons learned
Many organisations recognise the skills shortage facing the HVACR industry — but some are already taking action.
In this session at 10am, leading organisations from HVAC manufacturing, building services and refrigeration share real-world examples of how they are developing the next generation of professionals.
From apprenticeship programs and structured training pathways to mentoring and retention strategies, the panellists will discuss what has worked, what they’ve learned along the way, and how other organisations can strengthen their own workforce pipelines.
Women at the coalface
Women are playing an increasingly important role across the HVACR sector — from engineering and manufacturing to technical service and industry leadership.
Yet working at the “coalface” of the industry can present unique challenges, particularly in traditionally male-dominated environments.
This panel at 11am brings together professionals from across the HVACR ecosystem to share their experiences, discuss the barriers that still exist, and explore the opportunities ahead. Through practical insights and personal stories, the discussion will highlight how the industry can attract, support and retain more women in technical careers.
Leadership: Meaningful change
The HVACR industry is increasingly recognising the need to attract and retain more women across technical, engineering and leadership roles.
While many women are already contributing at the “coalface” of the industry, meaningful change also depends on the actions taken by employers, industry bodies and leadership teams.
Following on from the Women at the Coalface discussion, this panel shifts the focus to the organisational perspective.
Leaders from across the sector will share practical initiatives, lessons learned and real-world case studies on how companies and industry associations are supporting women to enter, thrive and advance in HVACR careers.
The discussion which begins at 1pm will explore what is working, what still needs improvement, and the leadership actions that can help build a stronger and more inclusive workforce for the future.
This session will be led by the president of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heating president, Mikaila Ganado.
Training: Unlocking skills
A wide range of programs and initiatives exist to support skills development, apprenticeships and workforce training across Australia — yet many businesses and individuals are unaware of what is available or how to access it.
This session at 2pm brings together organisations involved in training, industry development and workforce support to highlight key programs that can help build capability across the HVACR sector.
From apprenticeship support and industry training initiatives to professional development pathways, the discussion will explore what resources exist, how they can be accessed, and how businesses and individuals can take advantage of them to strengthen the future workforce.