About 50 years ago, scientists reported that the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were contributing to the thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer, which protects us from harmful radiation. At the time, CFCs were the refrigerants used in fridges and air conditioners, aerosol spray cans, blowing agents for foam and packaging materials, and as solvents. The damage to the ozone layer couldn’t be ignored - by the 1990s the concentration of ozone over Antarctica had dropped to less than half the level measured in 1979.
Are you ready for a career that offers heaps of variety, constant challenges and exciting opportunities?
As a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician, or fridgie, you’ll be working in an active job solving different problems every day, protecting the environment and using new and developing technologies that have a real impact on day-to-day life.
Keeping refrigeration and air conditioners working in food storage facilities, hospitals, hotels and office buildings is important work. As well as supporting and maintaining systems, fridgies manage the use and disposal of refrigerant gases in equipment, which has a positive impact on the ozone layer and the environment.
It’s not a stretch to say that refrigeration and air conditioning is vital to mankind’s survival.
When you consider surgical operations can’t happen without refrigeration facilities, or that there’d be no transport of meat without refrigeration – then you start to understand how important the role refrigeration and air conditioning technicians play in society.
The refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) industry is:
On top of this, a record number of air conditioning units are being installed in homes and buildings each year, meaning demand for services are rapidly increasing.
Kickstart your career straight from school with a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) course that you can complete in just three to six months.
For people thinking of doing an apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship programs are available for refrigeration and air conditioning which enable students to ‘dip their toes’ into the climate control industry and prepare them for employment as an apprentice. Pre-apprenticeship programs are a great way to start your career in the climate control industry.
Our Career Success Stories celebrate the inspiring journeys of professionals in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. Discover the diverse paths to success taken by industry leaders, innovators, and dedicated tradespeople who have made significant impacts in their fields.
From apprentices rising to become master technicians to entrepreneurs building thriving businesses, each story highlights the dedication, skill, and passion that drive the refrigeration industry in Australia.
Every 2 years young refrigeration and air conditioning apprentices and tradespersons compete in regional and national competitions, with major sponsorship from Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA), Kirby (Beijer Ref), ARBS, Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) and TAFE. The national winner is then usually selected by WorldSkills Australia to compete at the international competition.
The Australian Refrigeration Council provides information and resources to people thinking of entering the climate control industry, apprentices and industry professionals. We take pride in the profession, promoting the climate control industry as a sector “in demand”, as well as partnering with stakeholders to ensure the level of training in the sector is of a high standard.
Find your nearest training provider.
