Member news New access for QLD apprentices Apprentices and plumbing businesses in Queensland will be able to access Master Plumbers Group Training in a new partnership between Master Plumbers Queensland and the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia. Following news released earlier this year that All Trades Queensland Pty Ltd had been placed into Administration, Master Plumbers formed Plumbing Apprentices Queensland, a joint venture to save as many Queensland plumbing apprentice jobs and livelihoods as possible. Master Plumbers is focused on growing the plumbing, roof plumbing and refrigeration sectors to enable talent to enter and succeed in our dynamic industry. This opportunity strengthens the long-standing relationship between Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia and Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland which represents the largest associations of plumbing employers in Australia.
Plumbing Apprentices Queensland will offer a 5% discount on the total invoice to host employers who are members of Master Plumbers and has committed to continuing the current charge out rates (with a legislated cost-based increase to apply from 1 November due to the Fair Work Commission increase in the Modern Award) but applying Supporting Apprentices and Trainees Wage Subsidies once they are received from the Department of Education and Training. Any new apprentices taken on will also be entitled to the wage subsidies.
to those in the plumbing industry and will be reaching out over coming weeks to see if PAQ can assist MPAQ members in any way. For more information, visit plumber.com.au/paq  
New PAQ staff Brett Beauchamp (PAQ Manager), Wayne Smith (Field Officer and Apprentice Mentor) and Grace Squires (OHS and Return to Work Coordinator) to Master Plumbers will be familiar
New technical advisor for Master Plumbers Master Plumbers is pleased to welcome Aaron Bridger to the Association in the role of Technical Advisor. Aaron will support our Chief Technical Advisor Gary Bath in delivering technical services and advice to Members.
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Prior to joining, Aaron ran his own plumbing business in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. He worked with Master Plumbers PAV in 2014-15 as an apprentice and has been the recipient of multiple awards including the Andrew Letten Gold Medal.
He came first place in the Apprentice Skills Competition, participated in the 2016 Community Plumbing Challenge in South Africa and India and competed in the United Association skills competition in Ann Arbor.
