Plumbing Connection Summer 2016

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2 4 PLUMBING CONNECTION SUMMER 2016
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING
If you enter some search terms around plumbing careers
or being a plumber, you quite predicably end up with all sorts
responses. Some are local, others relate to the US and UK.
Up there in the ranking is
which links back to the Victorian MPA’. It has a good range
of practical information, though it doesn’t push anyone
through to further information in other States. There are
more general sites like and even
Open Universities
plumbers that informs this about Plumbers: Plumbers
repair, install and maintain plumbing systems. Plumbers
dont (yep that’s they way they spell on University websites
these days) need any formal education and can be paid
rather well, but they may work with hazardous materials
in dirty or extreme environments. Experience in the field is
required.
Another more visually inspiring website is www.skillsone.
which is supported by some Government funding. It
hosts hundreds of videos on various career options, many
of which are case studies. However, it’s a super competitive
environment that is hard to stand out in.
So, while there is quite a lot of information out there,
no one-site talks for the broad industry and gives you
everything from A-Z in a language that likely appeals to
today’s youth.
So what could/should be done to market a plumbing
industry career?
We’re not education experts or career advisers but there
are a few things that seem obvious to us we believe require
work or re-work, in order to communicate in the right way.
Some of these include:
∫ Infographics are a popular and effective way of
summarising a whole lot of information in a colourful and
communicative way. Perhaps we need an infographic that
shows the path through the career development, what
training is involved and the opportunities beyond.
∫ School involvement app: If we are trying to explain the
various roles of a plumber to kids, perhaps an app can be
developed that the kids can use to audit their own schools’
plumbing system or home. It could get them involved in
measuring water pressure, looking for backflow devices
and understanding where the water meter is etc.
∫ That data could also be converted into an app to support
other social media initiatives.
∫ The Skills TV videos are quite good but the industry needs
to provide more input. Maybe at the end of each video it
should point towards the app.
∫ There may be benefit in having one website that streams
visitors to each state and the local MPA or TAFE’s and
portrays a consistent message.
∫ The power of personal presentations at a local level
cannot be under estimated. The example earlier in this
review with the work Kevin Shinners is doing should be
taking place across Australia on a weekly basis.
∫ It is important to change the current perception of what
a career in plumbing is all about. There’s more to it than
unclogging toilets. Plumbing plays a vital role in the health
and safety and sustainability of our community. That’s a
career that should be celebrated and aspired to.
∫ To achieve that the industry needs to arm these
classroom warriors with up-to-date presentation
materials. That might even include a train-the-trainer
video, so that we have consistency of image/message
presented across the country.
∫ And if kids are going to be working at a plumbing company
for a couple of weeks, there needs to be a simple program
for the businesses to follow to present the career in the
right way.
To make these things happen, somehow the industry
needs to find the resources to fund an ongoing program that
represents the future interests of this $5+ billion industry.
Is that pool of funding sourced via a $1 levy on every invoice
coming out of merchants? Whatever the method, the
industry has to find a way of paying forward.
Plumbing: it’s not a bad industry; otherwise you wouldn’t
be in it, right?
If you have any suggestions please contact the Plumbing
Connection editor:
COVER STORY: INDUSTRY FUTURE
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