Master Plumbers has welcomed the Victorian Government’s release of the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for plumbing and building practitioners.
Master Plumbers has consistently advocated for the implementation of a mandatory CPD program within the plumbing industry.
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Master Plumbers CEO Peter Daly highlighted that Master Plumbers has been running a highly successful voluntary CPD program for the plumbing industry in which more than 4,000 plumbers are actively participating.
He – and Master Plumbers – believe that plumbing is a highly specialised field where CPD is essential in keeping up to date with technological advancements, changing standards and best practices.
The plumbing industry provides the community with a safe and comfortable environment and a first line of defence against disease and hazards in our homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
Daly said the CPD program will benefit the 31,000 registered and licensed plumbers.
“In an industry as dynamic as plumbing – where new innovations, technologies, systems, techniques, and materials are being developed, refined, combined, and incorporated into the built environment every day, keeping abreast of changes and reinforcing knowledge is not a ‘nice to have.’ It is vital and necessary to ensure currency,” said Daly.
“The key to a successful scheme is to be industry led and industry driven. The design and operation of CPD needs to be relevant and valuable to practitioners and have the right mix of technical and professional development activity. Critically, it must get and maintain practitioner buy-in; not become a compliance driven tick-a-box exercise.”
Master Plumbers encourage the acknowledgement that industry associations are critical to successfully designing and executing CPD programs, whilst highlighting the government’s commitment to phase-in a mandatory scheme.
Daly stated, “While this will not be a big leap for many Master Plumbers members to whom CPD is second nature, it remains a significant change for the broader plumbing industry. The Victorian Government needs to recognise this and support the industry as it transitions to a new level of professionalism.”