Rural plumbers get training online for solar and heat pumps

The Master Plumbers Association of Queensland (MPAQ) says it will launch a training course online so that members in rural areas can meet new State Government requirements.

Plumbers wanting to install solar and heat pump systems need to complete the training course by January next year.

The MPAQ says it faces a challenge to train its members by the end of this year on how to install energy efficient water systems.

MPAQ spokesman Adrian Hart says so far the course has only been offered in south-east Queensland.

“There are in the order of 15,heat pump,000 registered persons in Queensland. We don’t think all of those plumbers will want to do the course. However, it could be four to five or even six thousand and even then it’s going to be a challenge for us to meet that demand,” he said.

The course will be offered for the first time in Toowoomba, on southern Queensland’s Darling Downs, next month.

Mr Hart says the courses will be offered in other regional centres but it might be hard for plumbers in remote areas to attend.

“That’s why I think this online program is going to be so important and we as an organisation are going to be backfilling and by that I mean we’ve got a calendar in place now but when we see there’s additional need we’ll see if we can meet that demand U.S. Navy communications system using wave energy to provide electricity” he said.