Have your say on flammable refrigerant training units

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 Technology (AUR20220) for public consultation.

VASA president Brett Meads has contributed to the technical committee responsible for drafting the updates, which include six revised units of competency, two revised skill sets and the qualification itself, with changes focused on incorporating A2L and A3 refrigerant handling requirements, updated safety procedures and current code of practice references.

AUSMASA is looking for input from working technicians and workshop owners who understand the practical realities of handling flammable refrigerants on the workshop floor.

The six units under review cover installing air-conditioning systems, recovering refrigerants, servicing and diagnosing AC and HVAC systems, overhauling compressors and retrofitting systems. Each has been revised to address flammable refrigerant safety classifications, oxygen-free nitrogen use and updated legislative references.

With the transition from R-134a to R-1234yf well underway and newer vehicles arriving with A2L refrigerants, Australia’s training framework needs to keep pace. The units under review will directly influence the skills and knowledge requirements for technicians entering the trade through the Cert II pathway, so your contribution to this consultation has implications for every workshop that will eventually employ or work alongside these graduates.

The survey takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. A summary of aggregated feedback will be published on the AUSMASA website once the consultation process concludes. The more industry feedback AUSMASA receives, the stronger the final training products will be.

AUSMASA is also holding a drop-in session on Tuesday 28 April from 2:00pm to 3:00pm AEST (12:00pm to 1:00pm AWST) where participants can discuss the consultation with the project team and ask questions.

To review the draft training products, download the consultation documents and complete the survey, visit: https://ausmasa.org.au/projects/projects-in-progress/handling-automotive-flammable-refrigerant-gases/consultation/

Questions can be directed to AUSMASA at projects@ausmasa.org.au.