Aspiring plumbers train for in-demand jobs at new Broadmeadows facility

More than 160 apprentices in Melbourne’s northern corridor are training for a career in plumbing, close to home thanks to Kangan Institute’s Trades + Skills Centre at Broadmeadows.

Opened less than two years ago, the centre heralded the introduction of Certificate III in Plumbing (CPC32420) apprenticeship training at Kangan Institute’s Broadmeadows campus.

With plumbing on the 2022 National Skills Commission skills shortage list, the trade qualification prepares individuals for in-demand careers as plumbers in residential, industrial and commercial workplaces.

Currently a second-year apprentice employed at Plumb-it Services in Glenroy, Owen Whelan said there have been many positives to training at Kangan Institute’s Trades + Skills Centre.

“It’s a quick train ride and the station’s just around the corner. It’s pretty close and it’s probably the main reason why I came here,” Owen said.

“(It’s) all new tools... so it’s really good. There are a lot of tools that we can grab, and a lot of supplies and fittings… everything we need is here.”

(Plumbing apprentice Owen Whelan)

A third generation tradie from a family of electricians, Owen says his day-to-day work in plumbing includes maintenance work from fixing burst pipes to blockages.

“I did work experience in all different trades and decided that plumbing was what I liked most,” Owen said.

“I’ve been doing it for about a year now. Hard work, but it’s fulfilling. I see myself doing it for the rest of my life.”

A plumbing family business in operation for over 40 years in Glenroy, Plumb-it Services has had a long history of servicing customers across the northern suburbs, with owner Anthony Prout thrilled that his apprentices can now train locally.

“Kangan now having a trade school for plumbing has made a significant difference for our apprentices being based in the northern suburbs,” Anthony said.

“The standard of training and facilities is excellent. I am regularly informed with updates of progress in training. I know personally the facility is first class.

“Having a quality training facility and program is essential to the future of plumbing; Kangan will play a significant role with plumbing training into the future.”

Developed with the support of the Victorian Government, the $6.8 million Trades + Skills Centre currently trains approximately 1,200 students across trades like plumbing, carpentry, electrical and engineering.

The centre features a ‘plumbing tower’, that simulates plumbing and sewer systems to give students of different disciplines the chance to apply their skills in a real-life situation, and a supersized sandpit for domestic and commercial drainage and pipework training.

It also sports pneumatics and hydraulics facilities, a specialist gas equipment fitting training room and various workshop and learning spaces.

(Plumbing apprentices in Kangan Institute's Trades + Skills Centre in Broadmeadows)

Kangan Institute’s Chief Executive Officer Sally Curtain said the ongoing revitalisation of Broadmeadows campus is positioning the TAFE to meet emerging skill demands in Melbourne’s north.

“We’ve had a strong interest in our Certificate III in Plumbing since launching the program at our new Trades + Skills Centre, and we are pleased to be currently providing more than 160 plumbing apprentices with access to vital training and modern facilities right here in Broadmeadows,” Sally said.

“It’s giving locals an opportunity to study locally while generating a pipeline of skilled workers for an industry that is experiencing a national skills shortage.

“We look forward to continuing to revitalise our Broadmeadows campus to meet the growing demands of Melbourne’s rapidly expanding northern corridor, with the construction of our new $60 million Health and Community Centre of Excellence the next big thing for this campus.”

Along with the rest of the nation, Kangan Institute is celebrating the specialist skills of its students during National Skills Week from 21 August – 27 August 2023. Now in its thirteenth year, the week celebrates the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia.