Tag: Training

Australia’s automotive aftermarket has won direct representation on the national body that shapes workforce training, even as the industry confronts familiar frustrations over skilled migration policy. Lesley Yates, director of government relations and advocacy at the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), has been appointed to the 16-member Automotive Strategic Workforce Advisory Panel (SWAP) for the … Continue reading Aftermarket secures seat at national skills table as migration debate returns

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

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

Australia’s automotive aftermarket sector faces a severe and ongoing skills shortage, with nearly 40,000 technicians urgently needed across the country. Yet despite this clear demand, women hold only around 1 in 40 automotive trade roles, according to data from the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance. This underrepresentation is compounding the labour shortage, especially as demand … Continue reading Women technicians needed!

VASA members are invited to contribute to a national review of training materials for handling flammable refrigerant gases, with a survey from the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) open until 5pm on Wednesday 31 December 2025. The project is reviewing and updating key units of competency within AUR20220 Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning … Continue reading National training review seeks industry input on flammable refrigerant handling

The Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14-16 May 2026, promising more than 400 brands on display and an expanded education program under the theme ‘Driving What’s Next’. Organised by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) and co-located with the Collision Repair Expo, the three-day trade event … Continue reading Aftermarket Expo confirmed for May 2026, free registrations now open

Queensland has unveiled a pioneering automotive training initiative designed to combat the industry’s critical skills shortage, with a new academy set to provide senior secondary students with direct pathways into automotive careers from 2026. The Automotive Academy, announced on August 12, 2025, represents a collaborative effort between the Heavy Vehicle Industry Association, the Australian Automotive … Continue reading Queensland Automotive Academy to address skills shortage

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the workforce, many young Australians are pivoting away from traditional white-collar careers in favour of skilled trades. This growing trend, coined the “AIxiety Pivot”, is largely driven by concerns over job security, the cost of education and a desire for more control over career paths. According to a Zety report, … Continue reading AI-ronic skills shortage hope