Plumbers

Victoria's building and construction sector

Victoria's plumbing sector employs approximately 17,465 people.

The Victorian Government is currently offering visa nominations for the following occupations:

  • General Plumbers
  • Roof Plumbers

For a description of the tasks and duties performed by Plumbers, visit the Australian Skills Recognition Information page on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's website.

Earning potential

According to the Australian Government's Job Search website, average gross weekly wages for a Plumber are A$900.

Wages will vary according to your level of skill and qualification. For more information about your wage earning potential, visit some of the specialty jobseeker sites listed below under finding a job.

Licensing and registration

To work as a Plumber in Victoria you must be licensed or registered with the Plumbing Industry Commission.

Licensed practitioners can supervise other practitioners and issue compliance certificates. It is rare that an overseas applicant will be immediately eligible for a licence.

Registered practitioners cannot supervise other practitioners or issue compliance certificates. Registered practitioners who are eligible for a licence, but who have elected not to be licensed, may apply for a Private Plumbing Work Licence, which will enable them to undertake and issue a compliance certificate for plumbing work on their own home or that of immediate family.

You should think about applying for licensing and registration before you arrive in Australia, because the process can take some time.

Employers

Over 90 percent of Plumbers in Victoria are employed in businesses with less than 50 staff.

Industry contacts

Professional bodies and industry associations are a good source of information about the building and construction sector in Victoria.

The following bodies may be relevant to Plumbers:

Tip

We strongly advise you not to apply for jobs until your visa to live and work in Australia has been issued. The visa application process can take many months, and employers are unlikely to choose you for a job if you do not know when you will arrive in Australia.

Finding a job

Specialty jobseeker sites:

To search for Victorian recruiters who specialise in construction and trade services, visit the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association’s Member Index.

For more general information on Victoria’s job market, including where and how to find jobs, and workplace culture, visit our Working & Employment section.

Migrating to Victoria

To find out about how to migrate to Australia, including information about visa nomination from the Victorian Government, visit our Visas & Immigrating section.

Skill Assessment Information

In order to migrate to Victoria, you will also need to have your skills assessed as part of the application process. For more information, see the:

Last updated: 27 July 2009

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State Government of Victoria