Annual Report 2007-08 - Plumbing Industry Commission

Examinations conducted
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 % change
Apprentice Journeyman exams 1,223 (58% pass rate) 1,406 (55% pass rate) 1,356 (57% pass rate) – 3.5
Non-apprentice practical registration exams 254 (69% pass rate) 266 (60% pass rate) 278 (63% pass rate) + 4.5
Practical skills tests 104 (88% pass rate) 57 (91% pass rate) 11 (91% pass rate) – 80.7
Licence exams 474 (62% pass rate) 508 (62% pass rate) 497 (61% pass rate) – 2.1
Miscellaneous exams 516 (61% pass rate) 406 (61% pass rate) 369 (64% pass rate) – 9.1
Total examinations conducted 2,571 2,643 2,511 – 4.9
Source: Plumbing Industry Commission
Examining practitioners
The Commission is responsible for the
assessment of all individuals seeking
a plumbing practitioner’s licence or
registration. Examinations are held across
all plumbing classes.
While an apprenticeship is still the
traditional form of entry to the plumbing
industry, the Building Act 1993 provides for
other entry options for practitioners who
gain their plumbing skills through other
means, such as industry experience and
competence developed overseas or interstate.
The Commission offers both competencybased
practical examinations for registration
classes for apprentices and non-apprentices,
and theory-based examinations for licensed
classes to determine eligibility.
In 2007–08, there were 1,356 Journeyman
examinations conducted, and 278 nonapprentice
registration examinations, an
increase of 4.5 per cent.
Journeyman examinations were 3.5 per
cent less than the previous year, with the
decrease likely to reflect a transition to the
new national training package rather than
the beginning of a decline. The number of
apprentices examined in the past two years
has been significantly higher than in previous
years and based on plumbing apprenticeship
enrolments, this is likely to continue.
New plumbing centre of
excellence
The Commission assisted the Plumbing
Trades Employees Union, Master Plumbers
and Mechanical Services Association of
Australia, Air Conditioning and Mechanical
Contractors Association of Victoria,
National Fire Industry Association, the
Department of Innovation, Industry and
Regional Development and the Building
Commission to construct a world class
plumbing training facility at Brunswick.
Known as the Plumbing Industry Climate
Action Centre, the facility is a working
example of innovative plumbing and
sustainable design and is planned to have
a 5 Star Green Star rating. It will also
demonstrate the latest in sustainable
plumbing systems.
The Centre is designed to be a noncommercial
enterprise, providing economic,
social and environmental benefits for the
industry and the community. It will provide
post-apprentice plumbing practitioners with
the most up-to-date education and training
available in a hands-on and practical way,
including access to leading-edge technology
and innovation in plumbing.
26