The peak industry body for plumbers has welcomed a new fee-free course at TAFE NSW Maitland that aims to give locals a head start in the plumbing trade and help ease the industry’s ongoing skills shortage.
Launching in May, the Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-Apprenticeship) provides practical, hands-on experience and foundational knowledge, while also offering a pathway to apprenticeships and long-term employment.
With apprenticeship numbers declining, an ageing workforce, and pressure from infrastructure projects and urban growth, the plumbing sector is facing serious workforce shortages. The Federal Government’s recent Core Skills Occupations List has flagged plumbing as a critical industry requiring urgent intervention, including skilled migration.
Master Plumbers NSW President Greg McElroy praised the new course, saying it would offer aspiring tradespeople valuable insight into the profession.
“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 currently contributes nine per cent to Australia’s GDP and supports thousands of trade jobs across the country.
TAFE NSW Director of Teaching and Learning Iain McNiven, a licensed plumber himself, said the course is part of a broader push to attract new entrants to the trade and build local capacity in a high-growth region.
“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.”
Delivered in partnership with Training Services NSW, the program is part of a targeted housing and construction initiative.
Mr McNiven added that the essential nature of plumbing services means secure, lifelong employment for those entering the industry.
The Statement of Attainment in Pre-Apprenticeship in Construction begins at TAFE NSW Maitland on Monday, 12 May.
IMAGE | (L to R) Plumbing apprentices Zack William and Levi Blundey.
