The Master Painter Australia - April 2016 Vol. 1 | Page 12

THE MASTER PAINTER AUSTRALIA

012

STATE REPORTS

Australian Capital Territory
Greetings from the Nation’s Capital!

booked in for this year for our ACT members.

There’s been a renewed interest in the ACT Master Painters
Association within the last year or so, and with this we’ve had
quite a few new members join of late.

All MPA members throughout Australia need to remember
though, that for any event to be successful we need to have
people support the event by attending. I was saying to someone
recently that every time I go to an MPA event, I always come
away with a little gem. Whether it is from the speaker, or talking
to fellow tradesmen after the event, there is always something
to learn. Those members that don’t come to our events are really
missing out!

I think with consumers slowly becoming aware of the
Association and their desire for a quality job, we are gaining a bit
of momentum.
We’ve been running our Awards for Excellence for the past
3 years and they’ve been a great success. Our members are
now being formally recognised for their quality work which is
fantastic.
Our recent Awards for Excellence was a great night, with the
most nominations for Apprentices we’ve had! These nights are
also a great opportunity to catch up with fellow tradesmen on
a social level and have a laugh. I really encourage everyone to
come to these nights in their respective states. Not only for the
awards, but also for supporting the industry in general. We want
to lift the profile of our trade, and the Awards for Excellence is a
great way to do this!
We’ve already got some great members information nights,
before golf day, and of course, the 2016 Awards for Excellence

We have to remember that painting isn’t our hobby, it’s our
livelihood and puts food on our families table and pays the
bills. Is that worth protecting? I think so. The more you can learn
about the trade, have better business practices and network,
the more successful your business will be. Your State Master
Painters Association can help you along the way.
Support you local Master Painters Association!
ELTON WILLIS
President of ACT

Victoria/Tasmania
It gives me great pleasure to present this report on behalf
of our members in Victoria and Tasmania.
Master Painters Australia Victoria Tasmania was formed over
100 years ago by a group of painters that identified the need for
our industry to provide well trained and qualified painters and
decorators.
Over the years Victoria /Tasmania has been a driving force in
helping to bring about reform in the painting and decorating
industry and is still very active in the development and training
of young workers liaising with training organisations within
the two states.
The association has always been strongly supported by paint
and product manufacturers and this support continues today.
In conjunction with other Master Painter Australia states we are
the peak industry body for the painting and decorating industry
providing quality service and advice to the building industry and
consumers.
As an industry we have concerns that the quality of training
that is being provided in some sectors will create an increase in
numbers but will not reflect the quality required by consumers
and industry. It is also pleasing that the governments are
redirecting funding to established training providers but more
support and encouragement must be made to support the future
leaders in the finishing trade industry. Painters and consumers
are supported by paint manufacturers by supplying high quality
paint products and accessories.
Increased demands on small business are forcing trades people
to seek support to help them run their business. Consumers are

becoming more demanding about quality and are increasingly
likely to make a choice based on referrals, either privately or
through recognised authorities. They seek value for money, not
necessarily the cheapest quote.
Association members are offered a range of services to support
them in their business enterprise. The management and staff of
Victoria and Tasmania have a range of services and benefits for
both members and consumers which are all provided in house.
In 2007 we launched the first Industry Standard for the Surface
Coating Industry in both Victoria and Tasmania. Both launches
were attended by the relevant state ministers who supported
the Industry Standard. Due to the popularity of the Industry
Standard within the construction industry, it was updated to
comply with National WHS laws and reprinted in 2015. This
standard was developed by associated industry representatives
who identified the need for an Industry Standard. We also helped
develop an online SWMS tool for painters which is the only one
of its kind in Australia.
Master Painters Australia has also been a part of the working
group developing a new waste paint collection scheme which
will be launched in May 2016. The MPA is dedicated to educating
the public that engaging an MPA member is a sure way of
getting a fair deal when you require your property painted.
BOB DE GROOT
President of Victoria/Tasmania