Plumbing is More… Celebrating World Plumbing Day 2025

March 11 is World Plumbing Day, a time to appreciate an industry that often works behind the scenes but is essential to our daily lives. Without plumbing, we wouldn’t have clean drinking water, safe gas connections, or reliable hot showers—and let’s be honest, life without those things would be fairly miserable.

This year’s theme set by the World Plumbing Council, Plumbing is More… highlights how plumbing goes beyond fixing taps and unblocking drains. It’s about impact, innovation, opportunity, and problem-solving. It’s an industry that protects communities, powers businesses, and creates rewarding careers—right here in Victoria and across the world.

At McCarthy Plumbing Group, we see first-hand how plumbing is constantly evolving. From heat pumps and hydrogen-ready appliances to sustainable water solutions, the industry is stepping up to tackle big challenges like climate change and resource efficiency in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

While I’m speaking predominantly from a localised perspective, sharing my own lived experiences in Victoria and through our UK plumbing industry tour, it’s important to acknowledge that Plumbing Is More… is a global message.

Access to clean water and sanitation is a basic human right, yet millions of people around the world don’t have it. A recent example is Gaza, where ongoing conflict has left water levels at less than 7% of pre-war supply, with much of the region’s sanitation infrastructure destroyed. (Source: Oxfam).

For over a decade, my family has supported Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières). Their brave medical team have treated over 500,000 million Palestinians since October 2023, including 40,652 treated for severe diarrhoea due to poor sanitation in the region because of the ongoing conflict. I encourage anyone who can to donate to Oxfam’s Gaza Crisis Appeal or Doctors Without Borders to assist in rebuilding their plumbing systems and eradicating deaths by waterborne diseases.

Plumbing is more than a trade—it’s a lifeline.

Plumbing is More Impact – Building a Sustainable Future

Plumbing isn’t just about water—it’s about energy, sustainability, and efficiency. The decisions we make today will impact how we heat our homes, power our appliances, and conserve water for generations to come.

During our UK plumbing industry study tour in 2024 (you can check out our full report here), we saw first-hand how global leaders are investing in hydrogen, heat pumps, and water-saving technologies to cut emissions and improve efficiency.

Here in Victoria, we’re starting to follow suit—but we’ve got a long way to go. If we want to see real progress, we need better standards, better training, better products—and, most importantly, better regulation.

We’re already seeing positive changes:

• More homes switching to heat pumps for energy-efficient hot water.
• A push for hydrogen-ready appliances as part of the gas transition.
• Plumbers leading the charge in water conservation and sustainability.

Plumbers are on the frontline of climate adaptation—the work we do today will shape how we live tomorrow. That’s why we need to keep advocating for our industry to have a seat at the table. The Master Plumbers Association of Victoria continues to push for State and Federal governments to include us in all discussions around gas substitution—something that directly affects our work, our customers, and our future.

Change is happening. But it’s up to us to make sure it’s done right.

Plumbing is More Possibilities – Careers Beyond the Tools

Our industry is diverse and dynamic, and not everyone in plumbing is on the tools. One of the things I love about plumbing is that there’s room for all kinds of people—whether you’re out in the field, behind a desk, or helping run the show from the office.

I’ll be the first to admit—I never expected to be in the plumbing industry, let alone co-own a plumbing business. But here I am, over a decade in, surrounded by a team of incredible people who each play a vital part in keeping our business, and the industry, running.

Plumbing is so much more than taps, pipes, and blocked drains. There are endless career paths—from hands-on trades to project management, client services, and regulation roles.

At the core of the industry are the plumbers themselves, working across the streams of water supply, sanitary, gas fitting, roofing, fire protection, drainage, and mechanical services. The training journey takes years, starting with pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships before progressing to Registered or Licensed Plumber status. There’s even a Diploma of Plumbing—although at the time of writing, no training providers are offering the course in Victoria (something that needs to change if we want to future-proof our industry).

But plumbers can’t do it alone. Every plumbing business relies on Client Services and Office Support teams to book jobs, answer calls, and keep the wheels turning. Then there’s Accounts and Finance, making sure everyone gets paid and the bills are sorted.

Larger plumbing companies often have their own Sales and Marketing teams—something we’ve chosen to keep in-house at McCarthy Plumbing Group—to build customer relationships and tell the stories that set us apart.

The industry also offers roles in Project Management, Estimating, and Compliance, plus opportunities to work in training, regulation, and governance—from teaching the next generation of plumbers to advising customers on sustainable water solutions at water authorities.

The truth is, no matter what your strengths or interests are, there’s a place for you in plumbing. And with trades in high demand, there’s never been a better time to join the industry. Plumbing offers job security, strong wages, and endless growth opportunities—all while contributing to something much bigger than yourself.

Plumbing is More Equity – Women in Trade

The plumbing industry is still very male-dominated, but that’s changing.

One of the highlights of our UK study tour was attending the Women Installers Together Conference, where we saw first-hand how more women are choosing careers in plumbing and thriving.

The biggest barriers?
– Breaking stereotypes – Plumbing isn’t just for blokes.
– Lack of visibility – More female role models are needed in the trade; you can’t be what you can’t see.
– Support & mentorship – Creating pathways for women to succeed.

In Australia, we need to do more to encourage and support women in plumbing—whether that’s through apprenticeships, networking, or simply changing the conversation around who ‘belongs’ in the trade. There is progress happening, and the momentum is growing.

If we want to tackle the skills shortage, we need to welcome everyone into the industry, especially in schools where young people are first exposed to career pathways and industry influences.

One of our key business goals is to create more opportunities for women in the trade. While we pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive workplace—with a team representing diverse cultures and backgrounds— our business remains heavily male-dominated. We know that change doesn’t happen by chance, so we’re committed to using targeted recruitment strategies to actively increase female representation in our business and, in turn, help drive change across the industry.

Celebrating World Plumbing Day 2025

So, on March 11, take a moment to appreciate the work plumbers do every single day. From keeping your water clean to helping transition to greener energy, plumbing is more than just a trade—it’s an industry that shapes the way we live.

And while I’ve spoken about plumbing in Victoria, let’s not forget that access to clean water and sanitation is a global issue. Millions of people worldwide still lack basic plumbing infrastructure, and that’s something that needs urgent attention.

If you’ve ever considered a career in plumbing, now’s the time. The opportunities are endless, and the industry is crying out for skilled people, especially as our Prime Minister has set the almost impracticable target of 1.2 million new homes to be built over the next five years.

Happy World Plumbing Day to all of my peers in the trade.