Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
An Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic installs, commissions, maintains, and repairs air conditioning and refrigeration systems in Australian residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
High demand; HVACR mechanics are a persistent shortage trade across Australia's hot climate states.
Occupation list membership
Which Department of Home Affairs skilled lists this occupation currently appears on.
- MLTSSLMedium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List
Occupations eligible for permanent visas including Subclass 189 and 190.
- CSOLCombined Skilled Occupation List
The merged skilled list that consolidates previous MLTSSL and STSOL eligibility under the Skills in Demand program.
Assessing authority
The body that assesses skills for migration purposes for this occupation.
- TRATrades Recognition AustraliaVisit official site →
Visa pathways
Australian visa subclasses for which this occupation is currently eligible.
- 186Learn more →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 189Learn more →Skilled Independent visa
Permanent points-tested visa for workers not sponsored by an employer, family member, or state.
- 190Learn more →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Learn more →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 485Learn more →Temporary Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of Australian qualifications.
- 491Learn more →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Learn more →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations
States and territories that currently nominate this occupation for skilled migration.
| Code | State / Territory | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | New South Wales | View nomination → |
| VIC | Victoria | View nomination → |
| QLD | Queensland | View nomination → |
| WA | Western Australia | View nomination → |
| SA | South Australia | View nomination → |
| NT | Northern Territory | View nomination → |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory | View nomination → |
Key duties
- Install split system, ducted, and commercial air conditioning systems
- Commission refrigeration and air conditioning plant and perform start-up checks
- Diagnose and repair refrigerant circuit, electrical, and control faults
- Handle refrigerants in compliance with AIRAH and ARC authorisation requirements
Skills required
- Refrigeration and air conditioning system installation and commissioning
- Refrigerant handling and ARC licence compliance
- Electrical fault diagnosis on HVACR equipment
- Commercial refrigeration and cold room systems
Typical qualifications pathway
Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration plus ARC (Refrigerant Handling) licence. TRA assesses qualifications.
Visa & occupation list information
Listed on MLTSSL and CSOL, enabling subclasses 186, 189, 190, 482, 485, 491, and 494 For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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