The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia has welcomed the recent release by the Victorian Government of the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Plumbing (and building) Practitioners.

Master Plumbers has consistently advocated for the implementation of a mandatory CPD program within the plumbing industry, and argues that plumbing is a highly specialised field where CPD is essential to keep abreast of technological advancements, changing standards and best practices.

The plumbing industry provides the community with a safe and comfortable environment and a first line of defence against disease and hazards in our homes, businesses and public infrastructure.  Every day the public relies on the skills and knowledge of plumbing professionals to ensure our water is clean, our sanitation systems work to prevent disease, and that the heating, cooling and fire protection systems in our built environment are properly installed and safely maintained.

Master Plumbers CEO Peter Daly said that since 2019, Master Plumbers has been running a highly successful voluntary CPD program for the plumbing industry in which more than 4,000 plumbers are actively participating; but the industry will benefit from a mandatory scheme covering all of Victoria’s approximately 31,000 registered and licensed plumbers.

“In an industry as dynamic as plumbing – where new innovations, technologies, systems, techniques, and materials are being developed, refined, combined, and incorporated into the built environment every day, keeping abreast of changes and reinforcing knowledge is not a ‘nice to have.’  It is vital and necessary to ensure currency,” he said.

“The key to a successful scheme is to be industry led and industry driven.  The design and operation of CPD needs to be relevant and valuable to practitioners and have the right mix of technical and professional development activity.  Critically, it must get and maintain practitioner buy-in; not become a compliance driven tick-a-box exercise.”

Mr. Daly said that in preparing a comprehensive formal response to the RIS, Master Plumbers will note the stated recognition that industry associations are critical to successfully designing and executing CPD programs and the government’s commitment to phase-in of a mandatory scheme.

“While this will not be a big leap for many Master Plumbers members to whom CPD is second nature, it remains a significant change for the broader plumbing industry.  The Victorian Government needs to recognise this and support the industry as it transitions to a new level of professionalism.”