Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre

Graduation season has officially wrapped up at PICAC – and what a remarkable few weeks it has been.

This year marked a major milestone, as we celebrated our apprentices across all three states – Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales - for the very first time.

From our first-ever Queensland graduation, to a standout evening in Melbourne and finishing strong in NSW, the series brought together apprentices, trainers, families and industry partners to celebrate an important milestone - the transition from training to career.

These evenings weren’t just about marking the end of training - they celebrated the beginning of careers in industries that play a critical role in keeping our communities safe, sustainable and functioning.

Graduations like these aren’t always common in trades.

As this tradition continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming even more graduates, families and industry partners to celebrate with us in the years ahead.

A sincere thank you to our trainers, staff, event partners and industry supporters who helped make each event such a memorable success. Your ongoing commitment continues to shape the future of our trades.

Here’s to the next generation of skilled professionals.

Reminder: Happening tomorrow at ARBS 2026

PICAC CEO, Shayne La Combe will be speaking on the panel: “The Workforce Challenge: Who Will Build the HVAC&R Workforce of the Future?” at ARBS 2026.

📅 Tuesday, 5 May
🕒 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
📍 Clarendon Room D, MCEC

With demand for skilled workers raising, this is a must-attend session for anyone thinking about the future of the HVAC&R workforce.

If you’re heading to ARBS, make sure it’s in your schedule.

Register here:
https://arbs2026.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=24

Victoria has taken an important step forward for public health in Australia.

From today - 1 May 2026, all regulated plumbing work in the state must use lead-free products - no exceptions. As the first jurisdiction in the country to implement this standard, Victoria has demonstrated that the transition is achievable, with products readily available across the market.

This leadership provides much-needed clarity for industry and reinforces what has long been understood: moving to lead-free plumbing is not a future ambition, but a current responsibility.

Against this backdrop, the decision by the Australian Building Codes Board to delay the national implementation to 2028 remains deeply disappointing.

Lead is a cumulative toxin with no safe level of exposure. The implications are clear - without a consistent national approach, Australians will not receive equal protection, depending on where they live.

This is particularly concerning given the Regulatory Impact Statement found that the public health benefits of adopting lead-free standards outweigh the transitional costs. Nothing has altered that finding or justified this delay to accessing safer drinking water.

Lead-free plumbing should be the standard for all Australians.

Every delay extends the presence of lead-containing products in the built environment - infrastructure that can remain in place for decades.

Victoria has set the benchmark.

To learn more: https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/plumbing/new-lead-free-plumbing-product-requirements

As Australia - and the world - accelerate toward a low-carbon future and buildings become increasingly complex, one question is becoming impossible to ignore: who will build the workforce to deliver it?

PICAC CEO, Shayne La Combre, will be joining industry leaders on the panel: “The Workforce Challenge: Who Will Build the HVAC&R Workforce of the Future?” at ARBS 2026.

📅 Tuesday, 5 May
🕒 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
📍 ARBS 2026, MCEC: Clarendon Room D

This session will explore the growing skills gap across HVAC&R and what industry, training providers and government must do to ensure we have the workforce needed to meet future demand. From evolving training models to strengthening talent pipelines, this is a critical conversation shaping the future of our industry.

If you're attending ARBS, this is a session you don’t want to miss.

If you haven’t registered yet, secure your spot today:
https://arbs2026.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=24
_____________________

Taking place from 5-7 May at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, ARBS is the go-to destination for connecting with industry leaders, exploring the latest technologies, and shaping the future of building services in Australia.

We proudly hosted the PICAC NSW Graduation & Awards Dinner for our 2025 The Service Trades College and Fire Industry Training apprentices at CommBank Stadium yesterday.

Held in the North Function Room overlooking the field, the evening brought together graduates, industry partners, and supporters to celebrate the achievements of our Plumbing Apprentices and Sprinkler Fitter Apprentices.

Congratulations to the graduating classes of 2025 - we look forward to seeing the impact you will make.

Special congratulations to our Apprentice Award recipients:

The Service Trades College – Plumbing Apprentices
• 1st Year – Chloe Campbell
• 2nd Year – Harry Reckless
• 3rd Year – Cayden Herps

Fire Industry Training – Sprinkler fitter Apprentices
• 1st Year – Jayden Gauci
• 2nd Year – Julie Hollier
• 3rd Year – Justin McMaster

Indigenous Apprentice Award
• Cade Pincott

PICAC would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making the evening such a memorable celebration.

A sincere thank you to our major event partners, Incolink and Hutchinson Builders, for their valued support, along with all our sponsors and industry partners for their ongoing commitment to our apprentices and training programs.

Last week, we proudly hosted the PICAC VIC Fire Industry Training Graduation & Awards Dinner for our 2025 apprentice cohort at the stunning Showtime Events Centre.

Set along the Yarra River with Melbourne’s city skyline as the backdrop, the evening was a fitting celebration of the dedication, perseverance and achievements of this year’s graduates.

The night marked more than the completion of training - it recognised the beginning of our graduates’ careers in the fire protection industry.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025. Your future in the industry starts now, and we look forward to seeing the impact you will make.

Special congratulations to our award recipients:
• Apprentice of the Year - Jake Stopinski
• Runner-Up Apprentice of the Year - Ben Thomson
• VBA Excellence Award - Lyndon Woods
• Trainers Award - Shelby Meloury

PICAC would also like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a memorable celebration.

A special thank you to our event sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor - Incolink
Gold Sponsors - IAPMO & Fire Industry Alliance

Hot cross buns - the unofficial reason for a morning tea 👀

This week, teams across our Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales campuses took a well-earned break to come together over a few Easter treats.

The perfect little indulgence before the long weekend - and a great excuse to step away from the day-to-day, catch up with colleagues, and enjoy something sweet.

Safe to say… the hot cross buns didn’t last long. 🐰

Happy Easter, and we hope you have a safe and relaxing extra long weekend.

We are incredibly proud to have hosted our first ever QLD Apprenticeship Awards & Graduation Dinner at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre last night – and what a fantastic night it was.

The evening brought together graduating PICAC plumbing and fire protection apprentices from the Service Trades Collage and Fire Industry Training, celebrating not only their technical and academic achievements, but also the dedication, resilience and commitment they’ve shown throughout their apprenticeship journey.

This milestone event marks a significant moment for PICAC, as we celebrated our Queensland cohort stepping confidently into the next stage of their careers in industries that play a vital role in our communities.

A huge congratulations to all our graduates, and to our award winners:
• Jackson Bolt - Plumbing Apprentice of the Year
• Brant Lyell - Fire Protection Apprentice of the Year
• Joel Coward - Fire Protection Control Apprentice of the Year

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this inaugural Queensland graduation such a memorable celebration, and to our industry partners for your ongoing support.

Announcing the conclusion of the 2026 World Plumbing Day Apprentice Skills Contest!

What an incredible day of dedication, precision and skill from apprentices representing our Industry across Australia.

At the conclusion of this hard-fought competition, finalists were presented with their awards and prizes by PICAC CEO Shayne La Combre and Master Plumbers CEO Ashleigh Dalmau.

A huge congratulations to every competitor who stepped up and showcased the future of our industry.

The standout performers in the Plumbing Competition are:

Third Place: Harry Reckless (NSW), Boone & Willard

Second Place: Lachlan Radford (VIC), Fraser & Mountain

Winner: Andrew Tsakalofas (VIC), Kennedys Plumbing Group

In the Sprinkler Fitting Challenge, the finalists are:

Third Place: Daniel Ward (NSW), Flamesafe Fire Protection

Second Place: Anthony Cole (NSW), Goliath Fire

Winner: Jake Stopinski (VIC), Leemark

Congratulations to all finalists and competitors for an outstanding display of talent and professionalism.

PICAC would also like to thank our dedicated judges, marshals and mentors who helped make the competition possible.

A special shoutout to our sponsors Reece, for supporting the Apprentice Skills Contest, and , PICAC’s World Plumbing Day Platinum Sponsor.