The Victorian Government is growing Victoria’s renewable energy workforce with a new round of free training for plumbers and fourth-year apprentices to design and install energy-efficient heat pump hot water systems.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, has called on more plumbers and apprentices to take advantage of fully funded Upskilling for Plumbers training.
Ms D’Ambrosio said, “As demand for energy-efficient hot water systems continues to grow, it is imperative that we continue to upskill our workforce to support the growth in the renewable and clean energy sector.”
The training will equip 800 licensed and registered plumbers and fourth-year apprentices with the skills to design and install energy-efficient hot water heat pumps, supporting the industry to meet new 7-star energy efficiency building standards.
The Plumbing Industry Centre for Climate Action will deliver the half-day training on 29 October in Narre Warren, in Brunswick on 7 and 15 October, and in Geelong on 31 October. Training is available until May 2025, including in Bendigo and Gippsland, with dates to be announced.
More than 110 plumbers and apprentices have completed the training since July 2024 alone, indicating increasing household demand for heat pump hot water systems.
Water heating is a major source of household energy use in Australia, accounting for around 23 per cent of total energy use in the home. Households replacing a gas hot water system with a quality heat pump hot water system can save up to $250 per year, plus additional savings in going all-electric.
Victorian Minister for Skills and Tafe, Gayle Tierney, said, “The Upskilling for Plumbers program will help train plumbers to have the needed skills to electrify Victorian homes, which will help save on energy bills and tackle climate change with energy-efficient hot water systems.”
The Upskilling for Plumbers training supports the Victorian Government’s climate action ambitions by reducing carbon emissions, phasing out natural gas connections, and transitioning to home electrification.
The energy transition and delivering 95 per cent renewable electricity by 2035 will create 59,000 jobs in Victoria.
This training will also help plumbers understand the various incentives available through the Solar Homes and Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) programs and the Federal Government, so they can advise customers on upgrading their appliances and reducing emissions.
The Solar Homes and VEU programs offer eligible households rebates and incentives to install energy-saving hot water systems. Since 2018, the Solar Homes program has installed over 40,000 energy-efficient hot water systems across Victoria, with installations increasing by more than 500 per cent during the past financial year.
For more information, visit solar.vic.gov.au/upskilling-plumbers.
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