Vision

We will use modern technology to operate a virtual office. Services will be listed on the website and able to be accessed without any input from the committee; e.g. printing, will be negotiated directly with service provider.

Any communication with the committee will be by email or voicemail/fax. Email all enquires to president@vaia.net.au or committee@vaia.net.au and the new voicemail/fax number is (03) 86101071.

Please note: This is not a staffed office, all enquires will be responded to by Committee members as soon as possible.

The website is being developed and expected to be running initially as a limited service with expanded services to follow shortly and will be the main focus of expenditure in the first year.

We foresee the website becoming the central hub of communication for all participants in the whitegoods industry in Victoria, with links to all service providers, be they spare parts outlets, retailers or service companies. This will allow instant communication at very low cost and frees up our limited funds for service delivery, not administration.

The technical information library will be our first priority. All fault codes and service access procedures will be listed as they become available and will be protected by an access code available only to financial members. Eventually we hope to be able to load servicing information directly onto a PDA for onsite technical assistance.

Public access to the VAIA website will allow association members to list their services or provide a direct link to their own website. We envisage a much more inclusive association, with all industry participants invited to join, including manufacturers, importers, spare parts providers and retailers. The obvious requirement will be that they agree to comply with the Victorian government regulations regarding the White Goods Repair Code of Practice (Victoria), Electrical Regulations and Consumer Protection Acts.

Training, newsletters and member meetings will continue, with more social functions being arranged as time permits. Any assistance you can give the committee will be appreciated. If you have a particular skill or an idea we can use, let us know. Contributions to the newsletter are welcome. Please send all information via email.

Interstate industry colleagues are most welcome to join the VAIA and share website information and to advertise their services.

We have already been approached by Arisit to assist with training on the Ariston brand products and provide us with technical information. We hope other manufacturers and importers will quickly follow suit, willing to see the mutual benefits in having a well-trained service network to compliment their after sales customer service.

This is an outline of the direction we will be taking. More details will be provided as we develop the website and newsletter. We apologize for the delay in getting this information to you; it has taken a lot of committee time to put all the pieces together.

Hopefully this association model may help other states to establish their own independent association that suits their particular circumstances. Each state can then share information.

We also hope to be able to provide training to regional centres in partnership with importers and manufacturers in the near future.