Connecting industry with the future of work

TAFE Queensland recently hosted an Emerging Plumbing and Construction Industry Night to connect industry members with the suppliers and businesses making technological advancements that will change the way they work.

With more than 35 exhibitors on the night ranging from robotic bricklayers to 3d building scanners and revolutionary wastewater systems, more than 125 attendees were treated to a night of exploration into the future of their industries.

Many of the innovations on show had a major focus on increasing worker safety in the plumbing and construction sectors, including displays from leading power tool manufacturers Makita and Milwaukee, who showcased attachments to manage dust in demolition and other risk-mitigating products.

One business owner in the construction industry, Kurt Whittaker of Whittakers, said he loved the opportunity to hear from exhibitors and from TAFE Queensland on the night, but also talking to other attendees in his industry about problems they are facing and solutions they have found.

“The technology on show was very impressive, I barely made it through the front door before I stopped at the Aptella exhibit to learn about their latest scanning equipment – it could make a big difference to how I work,” Mr Whittaker said.

“I brought two employees with me and we each tried the augmented reality welder that TAFE Queensland had on show. I was surprised that they both showed promise in welding, so I’m going to book them for some hands-on training and they can start using those skills at work.”

“I got chatting to Kris from Armstrong Bricklaying about how they are using a robotic bricklayer to help keep productivity high during a skills shortage, and it was a side of the conversation I hadn’t heard before – using new technology to support workers rather than replace them,” he said.

TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech Executive Director of Education and Training John Hawthorne said the night was an example of the nation’s top training provider’s connections with industry leaders.

“TAFE Queensland is proud of its connections with industry, and this was one of the key attributes that led us to being crowned the Large Training Provider of the Year at the Australian Training Awards in 2023,” Mr Hawthorne said.

“Events like this are a clear demonstration of the work TAFE Queensland is constantly undertaking with industry leaders to ensure our 140,000 students across the state are training in the latest skills in their industry. Many of the exhibitors at this event have supplied invaluable technical knowledge in emerging technology that support our training development,” he said.

This event was the second of its kind at TAFE Queensland’s Greater Brisbane campuses, following the success of the Engineering and Emerging Industry Night at the TAFE Queensland Eagle Farm campus in November 2023, and is part of a planned series of Emerging Industry Nights at various campuses across different industries.