Loss of CDU aircon course could lead to Territory skill shortage, says local business, amid struggle to attract interstate workers
THE Territory could face an airconditioning crisis if Charles Darwin University cuts a particular course.
Northern Territory
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THE Territory could face a vehicle airconditioning crisis if Charles Darwin University cuts an auto-electrical course.
Among the 19 courses proposed to be axed from CDU’s Vocational Education and Training sector is the Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology.
Last year when CDU announced its proposed VET cuts, auto-electrics business Prestige Automotive was devastated by the prospect of losing the Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology.
Fortunately, the course was retained.
However, now Prestige Automotive director Warren Close is fighting the same battle to keep the Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology course.
“Aircon is a massive thing up here, everyone relies on it. It’s not like this time of year you can do without it,” he said.
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“If we haven’t got the staff in Darwin available to do that, there’d be a banking of vehicles that have issues with aircons and the public will be the ones that suffer in the long run.” According to the MySkills website, the only other provider of this qualification in the NT is Taminmin College.
While CDU will help facilitate students to complete their full qualifications, Mr Close said automotive aircon technology required specialised training that a full course provided.
“It’s extremely technical. The aircon side of things is specialised to diagnose and to get that right you’ve got to be highly qualified,” he said.
Mr Close said about 30 people in the Territory were qualified for this line of work and it was a struggle to attract tradesmen from interstate.
“We don’t have tradesmen here in Darwin. We’ve been fighting for more tradesmen from down south (to come here) because they just don’t exist here at the minute,” he said.
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“If we don’t put apprentices through, we can’t rely on getting people from down south.
“The more locals we can put through an apprenticeship in that area, the more chances of keeping them in the Territory.”
Eight of the 19 qualifications proposed to be cut by CDU currently do not have any students enrolled.
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