NECA WA wins grant to fund Ecosmart Electricians training in regional areas

NECA Western Australia, the industry body representing the interests and concerns of over 3500 electrical and communications contracting businesses across the state, was recently awarded a grant to fund its EcoSmart Electricians in regional areas of WA.

The $25,000 grant, provided by the Western Australian state government through the Sustainable Energy Development Office, is specifically to cover the costs of training in regional areas where there has been demand from industry for the program.

The EcoSmart Electricians program has been developed for electricians and contractors, providing training in energy-efficient technology, products and installations, along with accreditation for contractors who have successfully completed the training. The program has been run successfully in the metropolitan areas of Perth in 2008, with more planned for 2009 along with regional areas of the state.

Peter Tuck, NECA WA Group CEO, said the funding was welcome in that it provided more opportunities to train contractors and electricians in remote and regional areas who would otherwise not be able to participate due to the time and cost constraints of travelling to metropolitan areas.

“It is vital that we make this training as accessible as possible to contractors and electricians in regional areas, so that they, like their metropolitan-based colleagues, can pass on their higher-level knowledge and skills to their customers regarding energy-efficient products and technologies, and advise them on how to reduce energy consumption,” he said. “These issues are just as important in regional and remote areas as they are in the cities.”

Tuck said the locations were yet to be determined, however, the training was planned to be held during the first six months of 2009.