The ARBS Education and Research Foundation is an independent organisation established to support education, training and research in the airconditioning and refrigeration industries.

A range of scholarships have been funded and research projects are underway with funding support from the Foundation.

Through its support of education, training and research, the Foundation aims to improve the productivity and performance of the industry.

The Foundation is proud to be supporting the AREMA/AMCA trade scholarship for a second year.

“Our commitment of $25,000 in 2017 helps to make this initiative viable,”

executive officer, David Eynon said. He added, “our commitment is $25,000 for each of 3 years.”

The training involves third or fourth year refrigeration apprentices along with their teachers spending 2 weeks at the world-class Box Hill Institute facility studying Certificate IV units. These skills will equip them for high level work in the commercial airconditioning and refrigeration industries.

2017 is the second year in a three-year funding commitment by the Foundation.

The awareness of the course has increased as too has the interest by apprentices. This year the number of applicants increased. More training places were offered in 2017.

David Eynon said the Foundation was encouraged by the quality of the apprentices who are participating.

The apprentices who are participating this year are drawn from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

The first of the 2 one-week training blocks was held in July with the second one scheduled for September.

An informal dinner was held on the evening prior to the commencement of the training to allow the participants to meet. A small number of industry people also attended.