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
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