Plumber

Many trades are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers and plumbing is no exception. But trades offer excellent career options, something many school-leavers who overlook them in favour of university courses or private colleges, may not realise.

Michael Riccio, 24, almost became an accountant but put number crunching on the backburner to become a plumber. Riccio has now been in the industry for six and a half years. He says he loves the work and has no plans to pull the plug on his chosen career.

“It is good to have a trade because you can always fall back on it. That is why I decided to go into it. And if you travel you will always be able to find work with other plumbers,” he says.

A plumber should know all the rules and codes of the industry as well as have good general knowledge, Riccio says. Customer service skills are also important, especially when dealing directly with clients on things such as maintenance jobs.
Riccio, who has worked in residential, commercial and industrial properties, describes the job as interesting and varied.

“Your work site is not always the one place,” he says. “You are moving around, you are indoors and outdoors. It’s great.”

He also enjoys the camaraderie which comes with working with other tradesmen, such as builders, on various sites. He says: “You make friends on jobs.”
Riccio has been with his present employer, Dynamic Plumbing, for six weeks. He completed his apprenticeship with Advansly Plumbing Services but made the move to another company to gain more industry experience.

Riccio, from Ryde, completed his plumbing qualification at Meadowbank TAFE. He was awarded the medal award for plumbing by the Water Board in 2004.
“It is an award for achievement throughout the plumbing certificate,” he says.
“It was based on my marks and the work I did at TAFE.”

He says his success ultimately came down to hard work, consistent marks and his interest in the course. He also gained his licence through a course at Meadowbank which took him two years to complete, two nights a week.

He says this qualification will let him run his own business, which he plans to do in a few more years.

“It was just a job at the time I started but after doing the course I realised I could start my own business,” he says.

How to be … a plumber
You usually have to complete an apprenticeship in plumbing, gasfitting and draining. For further information contact the Master Plumbers Association of NSW, 97497881 or masterplumbers.com.au

By Erica Watson, The Daily Telegraph, February 18 2006.