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The second biennial ARCtick Environment Award for Exemplary Refrigerant Management in the mobile sector will be presented at the Wire & Gas 2026 convention in Brisbane on 1 August. Nominations for the award are made by Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) field officers based on their field engagement visits to thousands of Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) Continue reading Wire & Gas 2026 to host presentation of ARCtick Environment Award for Exemplary Refrigerant Management – Mobile

automotive air-conditioning technnician

VASA members and others in the automotive air-conditioning sector have until Sunday 10 May to provide feedback on draft units of competency that will shape how the industry trains for flammable refrigerant handling. The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) has released a first draft of updated training products from the Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Continue reading Have your say on flammable refrigerant training units

From left - VASA directors Casey Swain and Brendan Sorensen with award winner Dion Carle and REDARC's David Schneiders

Leading Australian electronic equipment manufacturer REDARC is offering a $5,250 prize for the 2026 REDARC Young Technician of the Year Award, to be announced at Wire & Gas in Brisbane. Nominations are now open, and the winner will also receive a fully funded ticket to Wire & Gas, to be staged by VASA and The Continue reading Nominate now for REDARC Young Technician of the Year – $5250 prize!

Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) technical and training manager Noel Munkman has been confirmed as a panellist for the refrigerant stewardship session at Wire & Gas 2026 on Sunday, 2 August. Mr Munkman will join Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) general manager Kylie Farrelley and Refrigerants Australia executive director and ARC chair Greg Picker for a panel Continue reading ARC technical expert Noel Munkman confirmed for Wire & Gas panel session

The 2026 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14–16 May with a technical training program headlined by international diagnostic specialists, a new on-floor discovery zone and more than 400 exhibiting brands across the aftermarket. Co-located with the Collision Repair Expo and sponsored by Repco, the biennial event is Continue reading What to expect at this year’s Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo in May

The Australian government has listed hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and some HFC alternatives on the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) workplan for 2026-27, signalling that new restrictions on refrigerant use – including in pre-charged equipment – could be finalised by 1 July 2027. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) confirmed the Continue reading Australia flags new HFC restrictions, lists refrigerants on 2026-27 IChEMS workplan

Longstanding VASA corporate member JAS Oceania has joined forces with Baxters and Federal Batteries to create the JAS Auto Electrical Group, forming a single national supplier across automotive electrical, air-conditioning, lighting, battery and heavy-duty categories. The consolidation brings together JAS Oceania’s 39 branches and its strength in automotive electrical, air-conditioning and lighting products, Baxters’ 11-location Continue reading JAS Oceania, Baxters, Federal Batteries merge to form JAS Auto Electrical Group