MPAQ 2023-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN

MPAQ has been working closely with industry since the beginning of the year to help shape the strategic direction of our association.

MPAQ’s vision is a safe, professional, and successful plumbing industry, and our purpose is to advance plumbing businesses. We will deliver this through three key strategic areas including representation, support, and workforce

Representation

Representation and advocacy are essential components of the work we undertake as your peak body.

We know that the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is a hot topic that impacts us all, and last year we participated in the independent review by the Queensland Government. We provided our position including advocating for a return to a specialised plumbing and pipe trades model, a focus on cracking down on unlicensed work, and an increased investment in specialist staff with expert technical background.

Part of our strategic objectives includes continuing to fight for the best outcome regarding regulatory reform, and we will continue to represent you. On pages 16 and 17, you will find a summary of the results from the survey we sent to industry earlier this year. The results of this survey will be used to guide the Association’s position when advocating for the changes you want.

businesses in the plumbing and gas industry the tools to thrive. As part of this commitment, we launched MPAQ Safety in early 2023, and will continue to review existing, and introduce new, support services.

MPAQ Safety is a cloud-based workplace health and safety management system designed to provide you with a clear, quick, and compliant system to manage WHS in your business.

It is an easy-to-use platform to manage your health and safety obligations, particularly in relation to the creation of Safe Work Method Statements. Members have access to the safety system at no additional cost, which is a huge benefit and cost-saver for you and your business. MPAQ Safety is available to non-members for an annual fee. You can find out more by visiting www.mpaq.com.au/services/mpaq-safety.

We’re also excited to officially announce MPAQ’s return to conferencing in 2024 with the Australian Plumbing and Gas Conference. In March next year, we will be on the Gold Coast with a remarkable line-up of speakers, engaging workshops, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. You can expect to see a diverse range of sessions covering plumbing and gas technical topics, safety, future innovations, marketing, business best practice, technology, and more. Stay tuned for further details in the coming months.

Workforce

Our third strategic area is workforce, and MPAQ is committed to continuing to grow, upskill, and retain the workers this industry needs now and in the future. Part of this commitment includes our MPAQ Plumbing Ambassador program.

Location of respondents

North West Queensland 0.34%

Central Queensland 4.47%

Central West Queensland 0.34%

South West Queensland 6.53%

Far North Queensland 5.84%

North Queensland 3.09%

Mackay 2.75%

Wide Bay/ Fraser Coast 6.19%

South East Queensland 68.73%

Feedback

The core services provided by MPAQ to their members are top notch. the team do a great job at making sure members are abreast of any major changes in the industry and providing information and support to our members. I’m sure there are some member benefits that are not regularly engaged by our members, and we should consider stopping these services and prioritise the more popular offers.

MPAQ are doing an excellent job currently and my choices are based on their past, current and future initiatives.

Support

MPAQ wants to provide more support to you running a business by continuing to develop and expand our range of resources and services to give

Our vision

A safe, professional, and successful plumbing industry.

Our purpose

Advance plumbing businesses.

Representation

Fair regulation and strong advocacy

• Act decisively to resolve industry challenges with the QBCC.

• Advocate on important issues affecting the industry.

• Position Master Plumbers as the preferred choice.

At the core of MPAQ’s Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors program is the collaboration among plumbers themselves. The plumbing industry plays a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of Australian households. Despite ample room for industry expansion, there remains a scarcity of skilled tradespeople. The ambassadors aim to contribute to the solution by promoting plumbing as a valuable trade and career path for individuals of all ages across the state. Their primary objectives include initiating discussions to increase awareness of plumbing as a professional career among young people, encouraging businesses to support the future of plumbing by training more apprentices, and educating the community about how the growth of the plumbing sector can have a positive impact on public health and safety.

Our Values

Innovation We embrace change and innovation to help our members, our colleagues, and ourselves.

Respect We value our people, encourage their development and reward their performance.

Collaboration We work collaboratively for a common purpose and shared goal.

Integrity We build trust through responsible actions and honest relationships.

Support

Sustainable plumbing businesses

• Support for business success.

• Facilitate safe work practice and industry compliance.

• Grow an engaged and collaborative plumbing community.

Workforce

A skilled workforce

• Drive attraction and retention of quality apprentices.

• Retain the current industry workforce.

• Grow the future industry workforce.

Other 1.72%

Top 5 types of work undertaken by respondents:

Domestic Maintenance 78.54%

Commercial Maintenance 68.04%

Drainage 64.84%

Backflow and TMV Testing/Servicing 60.73%

Gasfitting 59.36%

Importance vs Effectiveness

292 survey responses

75.68% of respondents were business owners

93.56% of respondents were members vs 6.44% non-members

24.32% were employees, suppliers, and other industry individuals

Below are the activities that respondents* rated the most important and a comparison of how effective they think MPAQ is in each of these areas. These results have helped the Association to deliver a strategic plan that aligns with the needs of the industry.

Importance Effectiveness

Influence legislation that impacts the plumbing and gas industry 96% 65%

Access to online industry specific standards as part of your membership 95% 73%

Access to technical advice and support 92% 80%

Access to training and education relevant to licensing 91% 78%

Access to Workplace Health and Safety system including SWMS 90% 58%

Access to HR and IR advice and support 87% 78%

• Respondents who identified as sole operators identified double of the number of activities and important to them.

Feedback

The association should focus on tasks that individual plumbers cannot do on their own. Lobbying government is particularly important as well as providing HR/IR and WHS advice and templates. Providing ongoing education or liaising with providers is also important.

• Importance for regional vs metro respondents was fairly consistent with the results above; however, regional respondents also identified “Keeping abreast of innovative tools and systems to streamline business and productivity” and “Access to business training and education for employers” as very important.

If you would like to receive a full summary of the results of the survey, please email info@mpaq.com.au and we will send you a copy when it is available.

* Importance and Effectiveness figures obtained by adding percentage of respondents who indicated “Very Important” and “Important” “Very Effective” and “Effective”. These results are based on the responses of people who identified as working in a plumbing and related trade.