Australia moves to upskill Pacific trainers

AUSTRALIA: The Australian manufacturers’ group, AREMA, and UNEP are helping Pacific Island Countries improve their training capacity on good servicing practices of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. 

The project, which is supported by the Australian Government, recently saw 13 trainers from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Palau and Samoa visit Melbourne-based training provider Box Hill Institute to improve their training capacity on good servicing practices of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

This training was further enhanced by the construction of 14 training pods, which are being provided to Pacific Island Countries to help deliver high quality training in their countries. The training pods include both a split system air conditioner and a refrigeration display cabinet. By choosing this equipment – which is in use throughout the Pacific in increasing numbers – the training also focuses on how to safely work with flammable refrigerants, both R32 and hydrocarbons.

AREMA members Daikin and Danfoss provided the equipment at no cost to ensure trainees worked on new, high efficiency equipment. “Our other industry partners also came forward to help,” said AREMA president Mark Padwick. 

AMCA and building services company AG Coombs looked after the construction of the pods and mounting of the equipment. 

“Australia industry can be proud of the efforts and successes we have in supporting countries throughout the region in phasing out HCFCs under the Montreal Protocol,” Padwick said.