A new pilot is providing practical education and on-site support for independent Refrigerant Handling Licence (RHL) holders involved in heat pump installation and commissioning.
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has launched the pilot, with field engagement visits to be carried out in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia to support RHL holders not affiliated with a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA).
The visits will see ARC field officers answer questions about licence conditions, clarify refrigerant handling requirements, identify and resolve knowledge gaps, and share practical tips and best-practice guidance.
Three RHL licences have initially been selected, including RSS03 for restricted heat pump installations and decommissioning, RAC01 for full refrigeration and air conditioning, and AAC02 for automotive air conditioning.
ARC general manager – technical and training Taha Taouti said the visits are designed to help licence holders better understand their obligations, with the goal of improving refrigerant handling practices and building confidence in meeting licence conditions.
“By focusing on education rather than compliance, the initiative aims to strengthen industry capability,” Taouti said. “Better refrigerant handling helps reduce avoidable emissions and supports positive environmental outcomes across the sector.”
The pilot follows an industry survey conducted by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) earlier last year, where many RHL licence holders asked for more education, guidance and direct engagement.
Learn more about the pilot here.
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