TasTAFE Certificate II in Plumbing learners are making the right connections

TasTAFE Certificate II in Plumbing graduate Tiannah Leonard working on-site with Hadspen Plumbing & Gas.

Following the success of TasTAFEs’ Certificate II in Plumbing pre-apprenticeship program in Hobart in early 2025, TasTAFE ran the course at our Devonport Campus late last year. Devonport graduate Tiannah Leonard now has an apprenticeship with Hadspen Plumbing & Gas and is thriving in her new trade.

TasTAFE Plumbing teacher Sam Willan leads the Certificate II program delivery in Devonport and said that the course is a great introduction to the plumbing industry.

“It shows learners what plumbing can offer as a career by taking them through a range of plumbing skills – roofing, sanitary work, maintenance, sheet work, a little bit of gas work… It gives them an idea of what they could be doing on-site once they start working,” Sam said.

“We teach them a lot of the hand skills that employers want and give them knowledge about work safety on-site. There are also units on communication, and we try to drill home the importance of things like getting to work on time and having a good work ethic.

“A lot of young people these days don't know what they want to do – so this gives them the chance to dip their toe in the water without the full commitment of a 4-year plumbing apprenticeship,” Sam said.

But it’s not just young people who are signing up for the 16-week, full-time Certificate II in Plumbing course.

“The oldest learner we had in Devonport last year was 44, and the youngest was 17,” Sam said, “– so definitely a broad range. Some had been disengaged from school; some were looking for a career change; and some just wanted to have a crack at something new, which is great.”

On top of 3 days a week learning at TasTAFE, a key component of the program is work placement for the remaining 2 days, coordinated by TasTAFE.

“We'll put them with Reece or one of the suppliers for the first couple of weeks,” Sam said, “– so they get to learn about fittings and meet the plumbers who come into the shops. Then after that we'll get them out working on site.”

Learner Tiannah Leonard did her work placement with northern Tasmanian business Hadspen Plumbing & Gas. Committed, reliable and keen to learn, Tiannah impressed her supervisors so much during her placement that they offered her an apprenticeship – a great outcome for Tiannah, and a real success story for Sam Willan and the Certificate II in Plumbing program.

Tiannah grew up on a farm at Elizabeth Town 40km south of Devonport and travelled to Devonport for school every day – a commute that prepared her well for the daily 60km drive from her current home in Westbury to study at TasTAFE.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do after school,” Tiannah said. “I did a little bit of travelling, but I mostly worked in hospitality in Deloraine.

“After 3 years of that I still didn’t know what I wanted to do long-term – but I thought maybe a trade or some kind of apprenticeship. So, I looked on the TasTAFE website and saw that the Certificate II in Plumbing course was coming up – so I thought I'd just give it a go and ended up really liking it.”

Tiannah agreed that the skills she learned at TasTAFE enabled her to hit the ground running on her work placement.

“We learned about drainage, did some copper bending, some soldering…and just learning how to use all the basic hand tools and power tools. That was really helpful because I hadn't really dealt with much of that before.”

Now, as an apprentice, Tiannah has started her Certificate III in Plumbing at TasTAFE in Devonport and is enjoying working on a broad range of projects with Hadspen Plumbing & Gas, continuing to grow her skills.

“Working in different places is great, and I get to do lots of different things: hot water units, gas units, some drainage, a little bit of gutters and downpipes, and some general maintenance. Being hands-on is really rewarding – and continuing to learn is also really good,” Tiannah said.

“Everything that Sam taught us has been transferable into my job, and the connections that TasTAFE gives you are great. I wouldn't have this opportunity if I didn't do the Certificate II course. It's been really good.”

Interested in launching your plumbing career? TasTAFE’s Certificate II in Plumbing course is starting in March at Devonport Campus and Clarence Campus in Hobart.

A partnership between Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania and TasTAFE, with support of the Tasmanian Government's High-Vis Army Program, helped to secure Tiannah's successful placement at Hadspen Plumbing & Gas.

TasTAFE Plumbing teacher Sam Willan showing the Certificate II in Plumbing learners how it’s done at Devonport Campus.