The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) proudly joined the launch of the Powering Skills Organisation (PSO) Workforce Plan 2025, a landmark initiative aimed at addressing Australia’s critical energy sector skills shortage.
The event, held in Canberra, was attended by the Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon. Andrew Giles, who reinforced the importance of strategic workforce planning in meeting the demands of the clean energy transition.
Representing the RAC sector at a national level, ARC CEO Glenn Evans met directly with both Minister Giles and PSO CEO Anthea Middleton to discuss the growing need for skilled refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) professionals.
Evans highlighted the recent surge in RAC trainee licences, positioning ARC as a key contributor to the national workforce pipeline.
“The increase in RAC trainees is a strong signal that our sector is responding to the challenge,” Evans said. “It’s a positive step toward bridging the gap identified in the PSO Workforce Plan, which forecasts a shortfall of 42,000 qualified energy trades workers by 2030.”
According to ARC’s data, over 8,000 trainee licences were issued in the 2024–25 financial year, an encouraging trend that reflects growing interest in the sector and the success of targeted outreach. ARC has been at the centre of career promotion campaigns, working closely with training providers and supporting initiatives such as WorldSkills Australia and the NextGen ‘Top 20 under 25’ campaign.
The PSO Workforce Plan outlines nearly 40 strategic actions to boost apprentice commencements, improve diversity, and expand training infrastructure. ARC remains committed to supporting the climate control sector to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
