The ACA Progresses Advocacy for Recognition of Industrial Painters and Blasters at the Corrosion & Prevention Conference in Cairns During the C&P Conference in Cairns and post the NAVSEA and Defence Forum on Wednesday 13 November 2024, the ACA invited senior members of the Navy and Defence agencies, strategic alliance partner AMPP, and industry representatives, to discuss plans to raise the standards of training and certification of industrial painters and blasters working on Navy vessels and the industry more broadly. Investigations are now underway to consider how to recommend the harmonisation of training and certifications required to work on Australian Navy ships and visiting US ships. The meeting was also useful for considering the certification and training of workers that may be required by the AUKUS partnership in the future. A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement to advocate for the recognition of Industrial Painters and Blasters as a recognized trade. Currently, a tradesperson can be trade qualified to paint a house or car, but no trade is required to paint some of our most critical assets and national infrastructure to protect them from corrosion. Kingsley Brown, the Chair of the ACA stated “we need to raise awareness of the essential nature of these skilled workers and how they protect our critical assets from corrosion, and ensure they operate effectively and safely. We want to be able to attract and supply skilled industrial painters and blasters into the sector over the next five years to meet the increasing demands in shipbuilding and protecting other critical infrastructure assets. That means we have to offer a career that is defined, structured, recognised and offers career progression.” The ACA would like to thank the ongoing efforts of the Applicator Technical Group represented by Chair, Tim Billing, to continue to improve the standards of training and recognition of skilled workers in this field. For more information about this work contact Maree Tetlow, CEO at Maree.tetlow@corrosion.com.au
Adam Levi
3mo
This is a great initiative could we also send this out to the state committees to feed into this market sounding initiative. There is also already businesses such as AIMPOINT that has all the defence capabilities and MSM30216 Certificate III in Surface Preparation and Coating Application on scope.
Bruno Dumont
3mo
Brilliant, and it is about time too for this to be recognized!
Franklin Beck
2mo
Babcock Marine Australia has already implemented very high standards for Blaster/Painters on all Anzac Class Ships. 👍
Charles Murray
3mo
...good to see you finding your voice Bruno and more importantly, sharing the wisdom of your many years of industry experience...
Terri Piccioli
3mo
Great opportunity!
Consultant/Owner at Blast It Clean It Paint It
3moHow is this going to be viewed if we have been doing this for the past 30 years & others (companies) in the same position. Recognition of Prior Knowledge?