NSW Fair Trading is planning to introduce a new Electric Vehicle repair class in its updated Motor Dealer and Repairers Regulation. This will require technicians involved in or around battery electric vehicles to hold specific training accreditation.
To become an ‘electric vehicle motor mechanic’, two qualifications pathways are proposed:
- A dedicated BEV pathway which requires the completion of a Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Vehicle Technology, including specialised units for light or heavy vehicles. This pathway is tailored for new entrants to the motor vehicle repair industry who intend to carry out motor mechanic work exclusively on BEVs.
- A BEV Bridging Pathway which requires a current motor mechanic tradesperson certificate and the completion of AURSS00064 – Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set. This pathway is tailored for existing motor mechanics seeking to upskill, or new entrants to the industry who intend to carry out motor mechanic work on both ICE vehicles and BEVs.
Tradespeople like panel beaters, vehicle painted, transmission specialists will need to complete a unit of competency for depowering and reinitialising BEVs (AURETH101) to work on these vehicles.
FCAI has provided support to these changes and will continue to liaise with NSW Fair Trading especially on the matter of OEM training recognition to minimise impacts. FCAI’s submission can be found here.
FCAI encourages other states and territories to follow NSW Fair Trading’s actions and establish common licencing regimes for the automotive repair and dismantling industries.
Considering the increasing importance of the VET framework in the context of state-based accreditation and licencing regimes, FCAI members should consider joining the automotive and mining Jobs and Skills Council AUSMASA and getting involved in its Automotive Strategic Workforce Advisory Panel (SWAP).
The matter of Skills & Training is managed under the FCAI Aftersales Committee convened by Richard Delplace, Director Emerging Technologies.