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The Plumber

The Plumber

Plumbers are responsible for designing, planning and installing plumbing equipment and plumbing systems for the home.

A good plumber must enjoy being hands-on. They also need to be excellent at troubleshooting issues and managing customer expectations with a smile.

Plumbers in Australia: key statistics

Employed

53,400

Median age

32

Female share

1%

What a plumber does

Reviews building plans to design the layout of plumbing trenches, pipes and fixtures.

Installs and sets up both hot and cold water systems and any related equipment.

Installs fire protection systems that use water in commercial buildings. These include hose reels and sprinklers.

Designs and installs plumbing systems for sewerage, water supply, waste pipes and fixtures.

May install guttering and rainwater systems to move water off the roof.

Repairs and replaces existing plumbing systems and fixtures.

How to get qualified

 

As a licensed trade, plumbers must hold the qualifications required by the licensing authority in their state or territory. There are different classes of licence which permit plumbers to undertake specific types of work. Completion of a Certificate III in Plumbing as an apprenticeship is typically the minimum training requirement. Licensing authorities require plumbers to complete advanced training (e.g. Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services, Diploma of Hydraulic Services Design) to undertake more complex and higher risk work. 

Meet the plumber: Jasmine Turnball
Jasmine Turnball, Licensed Plumber - QPlum and Gas

Jasmine Turnball is a maintenance plumber, primarily in the residential sector. ‘I help resolve problems for people every day,’ she says. ‘Whether it’s a blocked drain, no hot water, low water pressure or a water leak, I get to finish my day knowing I’ve helped someone. I enjoy problem solving and creating solutions,’ she states.

The hands-on nature of the gig is what spoke to Jasmine. ‘I knew an office job wasn’t for me from a young age,’ she says. ‘I have quite a few electricians in the family, so I had to be a little different,’ she laughs. ‘Plumbing covers such a broad scope I knew I wouldn’t be bored.’

Jasmine’s advice for young female apprentices? ‘Always try to anticipate your tradie’s needs. Have the next tool out ready to hand over before they’ve turned around to grab it, she says. ‘Every apprentice will make mistakes but that’s how we learn, it’s better to learn from a mistake than not to have tried.’

Jasmine's top 5 tips

Find something you’re passionate about.

Being passionate about what you’re doing will enforce a drive in yourself to do and be better.

Keep a good mindset.

We can easily say ‘I wasn’t taught this’ and ‘nobody showed me.’ These excuses may be valid, but they’re going to keep you in a state of blaming others. Instead, step back and ask yourself: how can I alter what I’m doing to learn more? Maybe it’s requesting to work with a specific tradie who’s more inclined to help. It could be asking more questions at TAFE or following people online who do the same work.

Have a good work ethic.

People notice when you stay off your phone and are happy to get in and get the job done. Keep busy with cleaning or getting tools ready instead of standing there looking at your shoes waiting to be told what to do. Word of mouth goes a long way. If you plan on having a business one day this is especially important.

Have a positive outlook.

It won’t make you successful, but you’ll enjoy your work. There’s absolutely no point being successful if you’re not enjoying it.

Take pride in your work.

Focus on getting the job done properly, speed will come with time.
HIA | MiTek

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