In announcing a number of training opportunities for youth today, an exciting new methodology for apprentice training was released. The new methodology is a combined effort of the Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association of NSW, Master Plumber Apprentices Limited (a Group Training Organisation) and M P A Training (a Registered Training Organisation) in Sydney.
Commencing this year is a Cadetship in Plumbing Engineering which is unique to M P A Training. This Cadetship consists of 18 months full time College Based Training with the outcome of a guaranteed full time employment with the Master Plumbers Apprentices Limited for a further 18 months after which they will graduate. This takes 12 months off the normal trade training course however the Cadets will undertake over 1900 hours of training and practical assessment compared to the current 864 hours. The Cadetship is a response to current skills shortages as well as needing to attract suitable people to plumbing training. The Cadetship combines traditional classroom learning and practical workshop hand skills as well and industry experts attending to update Cadets on current or new products and also field visits which cover a wide range of activities. These may be as simple as going to Warragamba Dam to see where water starts and following its distribution, filtration and pumping stations etc. It may be going to see how hot water systems are made, toilet suites are manufactured or to water recycling plants at Olympic Park. The Cadetship is designed to deliver a much rounder set of experiences for Cadets.
Other opportunities announced today were:
- targeted plumbing training for Indigenous apprentices (20 people needed)
- pre-apprenticeships in plumbing (3 weeks duration with 75 positions available)
- traditional apprenticeships (70 positions currently open)
- School based apprenticeships (open market)
The Master Plumbers College of Excellence is an Industry owned and operated facility in Auburn NSW and delivers the traditional trade course for plumbers which included the roof plumbing skills not included by other organisations. For full details please go to the MPAL and Training sections of the website.
Comments