Master Electricians have been receiving value for 85 years. As a national, not-for-profit organisation, we’ve been working to ensure that Master Electricians possess and retain the skills, tools, and information that keeps them at the forefront of their industry.
When an electrical contractor becomes a Master Electrician, they gain a leading business partner and knowledge source. In addition, MEA works to advocate the interests of the industry to local, State, and Federal Governments, regulators and other key stakeholders.
We are passionate about ensuring the voice of the electrical industry is heard and we actively advocate on a range of issues including:
MEA strongly advocate that Vocational Education Training (VET) in secondary schools, with equivalent weighting to Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) subjects, is the best move in a suite of solutions to Australia’s skill shortage and trade apprentice gender diversity problems. This exposes male, female, and diverse students to a variety of trades encouraging education towards a career in the industry, fostering a supportive environment where a trade career is normalised. Secondary school VET courses enable more effective competency and aptitude screening which will be a key driver towards improving completion rates. We expect this to be a long-term sustainable solution to resolving our industry’s skills shortage crisis.
Through a combination of solar Photovoltaic (solar PV), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) and Time of Use Tariffs (ToU), households and businesses are empowered to independently produce distributed clean energy, simultaneously reducing power bills which increases consumer disposable income leading to long-term economic growth. Australia’s electrical industry stands ready and waiting to install and maintain private household and business CER assets.
The current dismal economic climate with increased business inputs and persistent inflation, has highlighted the importance of protecting our members from being treated as construction project financiers by principals and head-contractors. Security of Payment (SOP) laws are necessary to protect small and medium entities (SMESs) against payment power imbalances, ensuring SMEs receive monies owed which are currently at risk of being alternatively siphoned into external projects. This will not only significantly increase protection of SMEs, but also protect the wider economy from ‘domino’ liquidations which can ultimately lead to recessionary pressures.
The lack of harmonization amongst Australian States for Electrical qualifications significantly hinders our members from working outside their residential States. Licensed electrical workers need to complete different assessments and qualifications to work in a different State, even though they have already completed the equivalent assessment locally. Administrative and economic factors prevent many of our members from completing these tasks. We are advocating for State harmonization for recognition of electrical qualifications, allowing licensed electrical workers to work across all of Australia.
Safety for employees, customers and the wider public is the foremost priority in the electrical industry. Notably, many qualifications do not require continued assessments to ensure up-to-date competent knowledge and skills are being maintained. We advocate it is essential for all licensed electrical contractors to undergo periodic assessments of all qualifications and licenses obtained.
As our members are Small and Medium Entities (SMEs), we monitor and respond to changes in the regulatory environment which impact the operational and economic functions of our members.
We respond to any changes in technical regulations and human resource (HR) laws which impact the safety, operational procedures and workplace laws of our members.
Other consultations pop up which impact our members ranging from energy prices to superannuation requirements. Have a look at the consultations we have responded to which has an impact on you and your business.