COMMENTS
When finalising the Cert II, I would like to see the AURC251356A “read and use numbers” and AURV230864A “trim removal” removed from the course as these have little value to the vocation even though they are underpinning skills to the trades thier inclusion is at the expense of more important skills such as AURE218708A repair single electric circuits, AURE219431A Low voltage lighting and AURE219531A Ancillary Components. The later electrical units would be of greater benefit for Electrical Servicing.
In the Cert III Hybrid Vehicle modules are of little value due to the small numbers if these vehicles on the roads, and the total removal of all the eclectronic subjects from the core can only be seen as a dumbing down of the trade. Electric braking and Hybrid/Battery may be useful as optional competencies but to use them to replace the electronic subjects is outrageous. The existing Cert III course aligns closely with the trade and any deviation from it should be to strengthen not weaken the trade.
I agree with Ray’s comments above and feel of all the past training packages in Automotive, the Auto Electrical I felt required the least maintenance or changes, however, here we are reinventing the wheel. As any Auto electrician currently working in the trade would attest to, we are still fitting lighting, accessories, air-conditioning and start / charge as our core business yet their are no AC units or lighting units are embedded. Added to this is now the removal of the electronic units which have already been watered down from module form, now have been watered down again to have a unit number i.e. Use diagnostic equipment, test and replace sensors/actuators and repair exhaust after treatment were delivered in Electronic Diesel AURE321771A!
Do all the auto electricians, have their collective heads in the sand. Come on people, we need you to add your comments so a ballanced viewpoint can be achieved. Give a few minutes back to the trade and comment on the changes that are planned.
The new training package is an opportunity to restore and acknowledge the difference between trades and is most welcomed. Auto electrical requires strong diagnostic skills and knowledge in areas that were left out of the current AUR05 like DC motors, AC motors, diagnosis in areas like starting and charging systems (in other words what is different about what an auto elec knows about these systems and what a mechanic is expected to know) , discreet electronic components as well as the ability to cover emerging systems and trends: ie Hybrid and electric cars and trucks.
The key to any Training package has got to be to make available as many competencies as possible to cover the diversity within the trade (not other trades), Identifying key competencies which all auto electricians require to be deemed an auto elec and making these compulsory. A strong training package has as many as possible of it’s competencies as core without locking apprentices and employers into competencies that they just do not do. The rule of thumb for any competency to be included in the core should be, Can all AUTO ELECTRICAL employers sign these off? AUR12 at present does not accommodate this and seems to leave core competencies as electives.
Hello Richard,
Thank you for your comments and personal belief that today’s Auto Electrician must have strong diagnostic skills and knowledge of principles of operation of electrical systems including motors, starting and charging systems. I agree that these are the core job roles of an auto electrician. With new emerging technologies such as Hybrid and BEV light vehicle and heavy vehicle with self propelled or energy storage system an auto diagnostic technician will need to have a more diverse skill set to enable them to competently service and repair these complex electrical systems. This will mean that when we will need to develop a new qualifications that build a core that has more rigger and elective bank that best match industries specific needs.
Thanks for your feedback.
Regards Neil Hunichen
I agree Ray,
With the figures that Ray has suggested (1%) we need above all to introduce a safe work practice and this formost needs to be implimented straight away. I know that i would not be comfortable with 1% of Apprentices/tradesman possibly loosing their lives due to incorrect testing procedures. I think this needs to be in the (battery testing and servicing) module at least but the nitty gritty on these vehicles definatly should be an elective.
Regards Brad
Hello Brad,
I agree that any workplace accident or near misses must be taken seriously and that no one should lose their life in the workplace through poor safety awareness training.
I am currently writing the battery testing and servicing units and these units will include a robust safety component in the required skills and knowledge and critical aspects of evidence.
Regards Neil
Well said Richard, I agree totally with your thoughts on Dc motors, Ac motors and diagnoses of charging and starting systems. In fact a deeper undrstanding of AC Voltage and Current should be compulsory when undertaking charging system units of competency.
With Skill shortages we need to ensure we have more skilled workers not more workers with some skills. We need tp put the Electrical back into Automotive Electrical Training.
Hello Peter,
I totally agree with you, we most certainly have to put electrical fundamentals knowledge units into the new training package including AC, DC motors, sensors, actuators and many other electronic components that are an integral part of a contemporary vehicle including light, heavy and mining equipment. Ohms law is the building block for effective fault diagnostics and we should never forget that current flows in a circuit and voltage drops across the resistive load.
Cheers Neil
As the Apprentice Master for NSW/ACT on behalf of WesTrac we feel that some core unit competencies should move into elective unit competencies and vice versa. Per our meeting with Kurri TAFE I agree and share the same views that were portrayed by the teachers and other related industry representatives present on the day. During recent discussions with fellow WesTrac employees and in particular auto electricians, we have come to the conclusion that the Automotive Electrical Diagnostics syllabus should be separated into the two different trade types to suit the industry applicable to the apprentice; Light Automotive and Heavy Vehicle Plant and Mobile Equipment. Given the continuing growth of heavy industry we feel this would be the appropriate direction to take and believe this would be of great benefit to any apprentice training to become an auto electrician.
Hello Mitchell,
Thank you for your interest in the future national qualification review process. I understand your concerns relating to apprentices wishing to become an auto electrician employed in the mining sector. I recently returned from SA and NSW where I engaged with industry in both the Heavy Vehicle Plant and Mobile Equipment. I spent two days in the Hunter Valley where I met with many TAFE trainers and industry stakeholders. I also met with a Westrac representative.
I was taken to Mount Thorley Warkworth where I saw first hand the equipment that an Auto Electrician would be required to work on if employed in the mining industry. This further confirmed ASA’s belief that batteries, charging, starting, ignition and air conditioning systems are common in a Certificate III qualification across all vehicle sectors.
I am currently reviewing the Certificate III qualification and its core and elective choices that will represent a much stronger alignment with industry needs in light, heavy and mining plant. Once endorsed by the Auto Electrical Industry Sector Committee, I will post the new draft qualifications and their embedded units of competency onto the ASA website for wider industry review and feedback.
Regards,
Neil Hunichen
Hybred and Battery Electric vehicles have been available for some time but still account for less than 1% of new vehicle sales. Until sales reach significant levels including these as core units seems inadvised. While I agree they should be available as electives for those few who do encounter them, the majority of Auto Electricians will rarely be required to wotk on them until such time as they reach a significant market share. If current trends continue with the rapid growth of common rail diesel engines in light vehicles, it would be more appropriate to make CI engine management a compulsory competency.
Is there a self interest group pushing Hybred Technology? Modern diesel technology is providing a more economical solution with less environmental impact than the hybred when end to end environmental costs are considered.
Where are the new updates? Version 3 dates from April. Come on ASA keep up.
Ray
Hello Ray,
I understand your passion to improve the training outcomes for automotive electricians nationally, however, this has been a fully transparent national process driven by industry, who have identify the qualification structure and units of competence required to conduct current job rolls across all sectors of the auto electrical sectors.
I have been activity engaging my key industry stakeholders in the review, feedback and development of many new units of competence that will be embedded in the new AUR12 Auto Electrical qualifications.
These qualification and units will be posted onto the ASA web site on 13th July for 21 days for comment and feedback.
Click on the following link AUTO ELECT and review the new qualifications and units.
Please call if you require additional information.
Regards Neil
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