Diploma of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology (Mechanical Services Drafting)
National code: 51964
State code: 1792

Prerequisites:
Well developed communication and highly developed mathematics skills, see entrance requirements http://swan.tafe.wa.edu.au/requirements
Duration: 4 semesters
Offered at: Carlisle

In response to an identified industry need, Swan TAFE, in partnership with the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has developed this Diploma of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Mechanical Services Drafting).

An initial pilot of fifteen places for this diploma has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the Alternative Pathways program. The target groups for this program are people who are working in drafting for Mechanical Services contractors or consultants, those who are in need of a formal nationally recognised qualification in drafting that will articulate to further studies, those who are in need of training in mechanical services engineering, and/or those who may be just starting out in their career and need to be quickly brought “up to speed” as they develop their skills.

As an incentive to participate, employers will be offered a training grant of $3,000. $1,500 will be paid on successful completion of the first semester of training and the other $1,500 will be paid on successful completion of the qualification.

This course provides the learner with the drafting skills and knowledge required in a mechanical services environment at the paraprofessional level of a draftsperson. Knowledge acquired includes CAD skills, Communication skills, HVAC equipment & systems validation/evaluation skills and skills to enable learner to provide technical advice.

The pilot of this program is employment-based where skills recognition (RPL) is offered to all participants and individual training plans is developed in conjunction with the employer. Participants would already have varied skills, qualifications and competencies bring into this qualification and it is envisaged that the course could be offered to institutional based students with training and work experience adapted for individual needs. There will be a mix of “on the job” delivery and assessment, flexible delivery and “face to face, off the job” delivery to develop and reinforce the skill base.

There will be regular industry and student evaluation to ensure that the required qualification outcomes and workplace competencies are being met. A course development steering committee of industry practitioners, educators and industry associations has been used to develop the competencies that make up the qualification, this committee will be utilized to monitor the delivery program and validate assessment tools. Students will be surveyed at the end of each term and the survey results will also be evaluated by the steering committee and any required change or improvement forwarded to the course coordinator. The course coordinator will visit the workplace of the participants once a term to discuss the progress of the participant and gather feedback from the workplace mentor.

The packaging rules from the UEE07 training package have been used to construct this qualification so that it meets the requirements of an AQF five (Diploma) qualification and will therefore articulate into Advanced Diploma and other higher qualifications.

Enrolment fees should be approximately $400 – $450 per semester.

For further information or to register an expression of interest please contact
Seth Lam on 9267 7500 or Seth.Lam@swantafe.wa.edu.au

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the Alternative Pathways program.