

4 6
PLUMBING CONNECTION Summer 2017
PROMOTING PLUMBING AS A
PROFESSION OF CHOICE
W
e still feel today that there is a lack of coordinated
effort to provide reference tools to schools and
online resources to give the public a far better
appreciation of the opportunities across the plumbing
industry.
The article created some very positive feedback from
industry members thoroughly agreeing with our message, as
well as examples or two of local initiatives.
But really, when you add it all up, it’s fair to say the industry
is still struggling with finding ways to improve how it promotes
itself to the next generation of plumbing (and their parents).
However, there was one ray of light that came out of
Western Australia, a plumbing contractor by the name of
George Dumitrescu, who owns EKG Plumbing Opinions in
suburban Perth.
George wrote to us:
Jeff,
“I just finished reading your ‘Who wants to be a plumber’
report in “Plumbing Connection” and I am impressed.
“I have been doing plumbing in Western Australia for about
30 years and with my European years as well, I’ve got more
than 40 years’ experience in the industry.
“Mid last year I started an offshoot business with the idea
of forming a team of ‘old plumbers’, with years and years of
experience to share their knowledge, their experience and
expertise with the younger generations coming through.
“Probably due to the novelty of this concept, it has been
fairly slow to take-off: the younger plumbers don’t readily
understand the advantages of experienced advice (before
starting out on their own) and
getting experienced plumbers to
share their time is proving more
difficult than I thought.
“Right now I am part way
through the development of
a Plumbing Business Guide
pertinent to Western Australia,
which is intended to be a business
training manual for plumbers,
taking on a licence and going out on their own.
“As part of that process, I decided to list all the sectors of
industry a plumber might be involved in. This is represented in
the form of a mosaic, to make it more readable.
“I am convinced that if the young people see the
opportunities and the challenges this trade offers them –
not just unblocking toilets – maybe they can picture a more
realistic image of plumbing and get excited about those
opportunities,” George.
In the Summer 2016 edition of
Plumbing Connection
we challenged the industry
to take a serious look at how it promotes itself, in order to attract the best people
$XVWUDOLD KDV WR RɣHU IRU DSSUHQWLFHVKLS SRVLWLRQV
PLUMBER BY PROFESSION
Underground Sewer & Wastewater Lines
Suspended Sewer Lines
Gravity, Vacuum & Pumped Wastewater Lines
Underground Sewer Lines
Manholes, Access Chambers, ETC.
Bio Systems
Septic Tanks & Leach Drains
Macerators
Pump Pits
Air Conditioners Wastes
Commercial Gas Heaters
Medical Gases
Chiller and Hot Lines
Cooling Towers
Installations
Refrigerant Lines
MECHANICAL SERVICES
Gravity
Vacuum
Pressure
SEWER SYSTEMS
SANITARY PLUMBING & DRAINAGE
DEEP SEWER INSTALLATION
ON SITE SYSTEMS
EFFLUENT SYSTEMS
AEROBIC SEWAGE SYSTEMS
ANAEROBIC SEWAGE SYSTEMS
SEWAGE TREATMENT
Petrol & oil traps
Grease traps
Chemical dilution traps
Plaster traps
INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGE
COLD
HOT
Water
Pumps
Hot W
Hot W
Circulat
Single Storey
Multi Storey
Units Development
RESIDENTIAL
PLUMBING
Pre-Apprentice
Apprentice
Journeyman Plumber
Licensed Plumber
Plumbing Foreman
Plumbing Contractor
Plumbing Inspector
Plumbing Trainer
Plumbing/Hydraulic Consultant
CAREER PATHS IN PLUMBING
Water Treatment
Chemical
Fire Suppression
Petrol & Oil
Water/Air - Cooling/Heating
Swimming Pool Water Filtration
Dairy/Food
INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATIONS
THE AUSTRALIAN PLUMBING IND
WORKINGWITHREACTIVESOILS
BATHROOMPODSMAKETHEIRMARK
THENEWTESTSBEHINDSHOWERHEADS
ESTIMATINGLABOURRATES
INSIDE:
WWW.PLUMBINGCONNECTION.COM.AUSUMMER2016
Left:
George Dumitrescu has
been instrumental in designing
the infographic.