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Visas, Immigration and Refugees

Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI)

Plumber - General 4431-11


Job description

Installs and repairs water, drainage, gas and sewerage pipes and systems.

Similar occupations

Fire Services Plumber, Sanitary Plumber, Water Plumber.

Skill level

This occupation requires you to have completed formal qualifications achieved through study, training or work experience and is referred to as the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). You need to have attained AQF Certificate III or higher qualification. Registration or licensing is required. For further information on the Australian Qualifications Framework see the AQF website.
See: www.aqf.edu.au/
Note: The AQF does not provide information or advice on skills assessment. For information on skills assessment, see the relevant skills assessing authority below.

Skilled occupation information

Points awarded for General Skilled Migration purposes are shown in the table below.

The table also shows if this occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), part of the Employer Nomination Scheme and on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

Points SOL ENSOL MODL
60 Yes Yes Yes

See: Points, SOL, ENSOL, MODL

Skills assessment authority

Before you can migrate to Australia as a skilled migrant you must have your skills assessed by the relevant national assessment authority.

There is a different assessing authority depending on your country of residence.

If your country of residence is one of the following:

  • India
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • the Philippines
  • the United Kingdom

the assessment authority for your occupation is:

Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS)

VETASSESS is leading a consortium of Australian registered training organisations. Consortium members include Kangan Batman TAFE, Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Victoria University, Swan TAFE, Great Southern TAFE, South West Regional College and Central Gippsland TAFE.

There are three assessment phases:

  • a free self-assessment tool for potential applicants to gauge their suitability for the assessment process
  • a paper based pre-assessment that would take into account qualifications and work experience in the relevant trade
  • a technical interview and in-country practical assessment. A schedule of visits to each of the five countries is available.
    See: www.vetassess.com.au

For more information about having your skills assessed contact VETASSESS.

Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services
VETASSESS
GPO Box 2752
Melbourne Vic. 3001
Australia
Telephone: 61 3 9655 4801
Fax: 61 3 9654 3385
Email: vetassess@vetassess.com.au
Website: www.vetassess.com.au

Note: VETASSESS may not provide authority to work as a tradesperson. It may be necessary to obtain a licence or registration from a relevant government authority.

If your country of residence is any other country, the assessment authority for your occupation is:

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)

You must apply to TRA for assessment of your qualifications and work experience to establish whether you are capable of undertaking the full range of tasks expected of a tradesperson in Australia.

TRA’s uniform assessment criteria requires you to demonstrate skills, knowledge and experience equivalent to an Australian apprenticed-trained tradesperson.

You must be capable of performing your work in a safe and acceptable manner and demonstrate that you have adequate theoretical knowledge for the occupation.

If you are seeking to have your skills assessed as a supervisor you must first satisfy the assessment requirements for your trade and have been working as a supervisor for three or more years after becoming fully qualified in your trade.

Trades Recognition Australia
PO Box 9879
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Telephone: 61 2 6121 7456
Fax: 61 2 6121 7768
Email: traenquiries@dewr.gov.au
Website: www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Programmes/TRA

Upon arrival in Australia, you may also need to obtain national recognition of your skills. The occupation that will be shown on the Australian qualifications is that occupation that best fits your training and experience and may not necessarily match the occupation title you migrated under. Please note the Australian qualification may not provide authority to work as tradesperson. It may be necessary to obtain a licence.

Licensing or registration requirements

In many occupations you must be registered with or obtain a license from a local authority in the state or territory where you wish to practise your occupation. Select from the following state links to find out details of the local authority in your state.

  1. NSW
  2. Vic.
  3. Qld
  4. SA
  5. WA
  6. Tas.
  7. NT
  8. ACT

New South Wales

Licensing is required for all plumbing/draining/electrical/air conditioning/refrigeration work in NSW.

Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
Home Building Licensing
PO Box 972
Parramatta NSW 2124
Telephone:133 220
Fax: 61 2 9895 9956
Website: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Victoria

Licensing is compulsory.

Plumbing Industry Commission
450 Burke Road
Camberwell Vic. 3124
Postal Address:
PO Box 552
Camberwell Vic. 3124
Telephone: 61 3 9889 2211
Fax: 61 3 9889 2244
Email: mail@pic.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.pic.vic.gov.au

Queensland

Licensing is compulsory.

Plumbers and Drainers Board
Level 18, Mineral House
41 George Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Postal Address:
PO Box 27
Brisbane Albert Street Qld 4002
Telephone: 61 7 3235 4149
Email: plumbersboard@dlgp.qld.gov.au

South Australia

Licensing is required for electrical work.

Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
Business & Occupational Services
Level 3, Chesser House, 91 - 97 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Postal Address:
GPO Box 1719
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: 61 8 8204 9696
Website: www.ocba.sa.gov.au

Western Australia

Licensing is compulsory.

The Plumbers Licensing Board
Unit 4
321 Selby Street
Osborne Park WA 6017
Telephone: 61 8 9282 0478
Fax: 61 8 9282 4387
Website: http://www.plumbers.wa.gov.au

Tasmania

Licensing is compulsory.

Plumbers and Gasfitters Registration Board
Level 1, 115 Central Avenue
Derwent Park Tas. 7009
Telephone: 61 3 6233 4629
Email: mmundy@tasbuild.com.au

Northern Territory

Licensing is compulsory.

Northern Territory Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board
GPO Box 1680
Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: 61 8 8999 7152
Fax: 61 8999 8967
Website: http://www.nt.gov.au/lands/building/boards/plumbers/

Australian Capital Territory

Licensing is compulsory.

Building, Electrical and Plumbing Control
ACT Planning and Land Authority
Dame Pattie Menzies House
16 Challis St
Dickson ACT 2602
Telephone: 61 2 6207 7775
Website: www.actpla.act.gov.au

Additional training

You may require additional training in Australia before you can get your skills recognised, licensed or registered. For more information contact the relevant state or territory licensing or registration body listed above. You can also check with the Overseas Qualifications Unit in your state or territory.
See: Overseas Qualifications Unit

Industry association memberships

You may benefit from becoming a member of a relevant industry association for your occupation. This could help you with your employment prospects, networking, contact with industry and professional development and may provide you with important information and support.

  1. NSW
  2. Vic.
  3. Qld
  4. SA
  5. WA
  6. Tas.
  7. NT
  8. ACT

New South Wales

Master Plumbers Association (MPA) of NSW
3 John Street
Lidcombe NSW 2141
Postal Address:
PO Box 42
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Telephone: 61 2 8789 7000
Facsimile: 61 2 9749 7881
Email: info@masterplumbers.com.au
Website: www.masterplumbers.com.au

Master Builders Association of New South Wales
Head Office
52 Parramatta Road
Forest Lodge NSW 2037
Telephone: 61 2 8586 3555
Fax: 61 2 9660 3700
Toll Free: 1800 451 393
Email: enquiries@mbansw.asn.au
Website: www.mbansw.asn.au

Victoria

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (Victorian Branch)
525 King Street
West Melbourne Vic. 3003
Telephone: 61 3 9329 9622
Fax: 61 3 9329 5060
Email: info@mpmsaa.org.au
Website: http://www.mpmsaa.org.au

Queensland

Queensland Master Builders
417-419 Wickham Terrace
Brisbane Qld 4000
Phone: 61 7 3404 6444
Fax: 61 7 3832 2361
Email: ask@masterbuilders.asn.au
Website: www.masterbuilders.asn.au

South Australia

Master Builders Association of South Australia
Master Builders House
Level 1, 47 South Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
Postal Address:
PO Box 10014,
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: 61 8 8211 7466
Fax: 61 8 8231 5240
Email: buildsa@mbasa.com.au
Website: www.mbasa.com.au

Western Australia

Master Builders Association of WA
35 Havelock Street, West Perth WA 6005
Postal Address:
PO Box 167
West Perth WA 6872
Telephone: 61 8 9476 9800
Fax: 61 8 9476 9801
Email: mba@mbawa.com
Website: www.mbawa.com

Tasmania

Not listed at this time.

Northern Territory

Not listed at this time.

Australian Capital Territory

Master Builder's Association of the ACT
1 Iron Knob St
Fyshwick ACT 2609
Postal Address: PO Box 1211
Fyshwick ACT 2609
Telephone: 61 2 6280 9119
Fax: 61 2 6280 9118
Email: canberra@mba.org.au
Website: www.mba.org.au