The peak industry body for plumbers has welcomed a new TAFE NSW Tamworth course aimed at giving locals a leg-up into a plumbing career and addressing a crippling skills shortage in the sector.
The fee-free Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-Apprenticeship) will kick off next month in Tamworth and will give students practical, hands-on skills and basic theory, while allowing them to earn industry recognised credentials that can lead to an apprenticeship and future employment.
Declining apprenticeship numbers, an ageing workforce, major infrastructure projects, and urban expansion have all been cited as reasons for a skills shortage in the plumbing industry. Plumbing was also on the Federal Government’s Core Skills Occupations List, released in December, which outlined the jobs where the skills shortage was so dire, imported workers were needed.
Master Plumbers NSW President Greg McElroy praised the new TAFE NSW Tamworth course, saying it would expose more people to the trade and help them decide if they wanted to make a career from plumbing.
“There’s huge demand for skilled plumbers right now and once you’ve done an apprenticeship, the world is your oyster,” Mr McElroy said.
“The days of tradies being those who failed at school are long gone. The modern plumber has to have the skills but also the smarts to potentially start their own business and be an entrepreneur.
“It’s great TAFE NSW is running this course and helping whet the appetite of students so they can determine whether it’s the right career path for them.”
Plumbing contributes 9 per cent to Australia’s GDP and supports thousands of trade jobs in Australia.
TAFE NSW Director of Teaching and Learning Iain McNiven, himself a licensed plumber, said the new pre-apprenticeship course would help attract more locals to the trade and better equip Tamworth and surrounds to deal with the construction boom.
“As our communities grow, so too does the pressure on the construction industry and this course aims to help address the skills shortage in plumbing,” Mr McNiven said.
“We want to give young people a taste of what the plumbing industry is all about and how entering the profession can lead to a long and rewarding career.
“TAFE NSW plumbing graduates are in-demand and there’s so much variety in the job.”
The course was being run in partnership with Training Services NSW as part of a special housing and constructive initiative.
Mr McNiven said the need for access to clean water and sanitation facilities meant plumbers had “a job for life”.
The Statement of Attainment in Pre-Apprenticeship in Construction will commence at TAFE NSW Tamworth on Monday 12th May.
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