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PLUMBING CONNECTION
SUMMER 2015
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
need a vast support network to assist them through
general life issues while ensuring that their training gives
them the best chance possible to become well educated,
from apprentice to contractor and to potentially run a
professional and successful plumbing business.”
In WA when students complete their apprenticeship
they apply directly to the Building Commission/Plumbers’
Licensing Board for a plumbing tradesperson licence. They
also apply to the gas regulator, the Office of Energy Safety
for their G Class gas permit (gas installation only). These
are the standard conditions to work with the supervisor of a
licensed contractor.
Should students want to become a plumbing contractor
at this point, they can commence study on the 9 units of
competency from the national training package, Certificate
IV which have defined by the plumbing regulator in WA to
achieve a contractors’ licence.
Apprentice numbers in WA have been steady with a slight
percentage decline over the last 12-18 months; however,
this is partly due to the decline in the mining sector in WA.
“The secret to maintaining student numbers is to
ensure that we are training and planning 4 years ahead to
understand the industry needs and to forecast employment
needs as best we can.
“Industry associations are best placed to do this and
the communication strategy between MPA Skills and the
MPGA is an ideal model. NSW has a similar structure to its
training delivery and it clearly works. Government should
be encouraged to research this model and assist it in the
future.”
To encourage more students to consider becoming
tradespeople, the MPGA has introduced a clever program
aimed at year 10 and 11 students. ‘Try-A-Trade’ day
programs see students spend a day being introduced to the
MPA GROUP - BUILDING SUCCESSFUL PLUMBERS
High School
Apprenticeship
Tradesperson
Licensed Plumber
MPA Skills Training & Apprentice
Employment
MPA Skills Training & Apprentice
Employment
MPA Skills Advanced Training
Master Plumbers & Gasfitters
Association Australia
¬ Pluming career advice
¬ Try A Trade Program
¬ School based Pre -
Apprenticeship program
provided by MPA Skills Training
and JFSHS/Ursula Frayne/St
Norbert College
¬ Pre-apprenticeship training
courses
¬ Careful apprentice selection
process
¬ Employed by MPA Skills
Apprentice Employment
¬ Connected into industry
¬ Employed by MPA Skills
Apprentice Employment
¬ Training and assessment
provided by MPA Skills Training
¬ Host employer and apprentice
matching
¬ Job rotation
¬ Apprentice monitoring and
support
¬ An accredited state of the
art curriculum, teachers and
equipment
¬ On-site training and
assessment
¬ Flexibility combined with less
admin
¬ Training and assessment
provided by MPA Skills Training
¬ Plumbing Contractors Licence
(PCL) Course and exams
¬ Licensed Contractor
¬ Gasfitting Permit
¬ Technical skills improvement
courses
¬ Become a member of the
Plumbers & Gasfitters
Association of WA
¬ Technical and business support
¬ Pricing information
¬ Referrals
¬ Lobbying
¬ Support network
¬ Member discounts
¬ High quality apprentice
sourcing on flexible
¬ Advanced skills training and
assessments provided by MPA
Skills
Well-informed, well prepared and
highly motivated pre apprentices
Work ready, committed, and at
work apprentices
Apprentices achieving Cert III
accreditation
Proficient plumbers working for
plumbing business
Plumbing tradesperson passing
Plumbing Contractors Licence
(PCL) course
Highly qualified and proffesional
licensed plumbers
A repected and rewarding trade
Successful plumbing business
with great apprentices
Top-notch training facilities ensure apprentices are ready
for the challenges of the real world.