Anne Urquhart (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and I recently visited Kiely Plumbing in Burnie, in the electorate of Braddon. Thank you to Sam Kiely and his team for hosting us. Kiely Plumbing started in 1967 in Sam's pop's shed in Sulphur Creek. It has grown into a well-respected, modern, family owned and operated business. Kiely Plumbing is focused on delivering great service to customers and building a healthy and safe workplace culture with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

I was very impressed with the young apprentices I met during my visit, including Isabella, a young woman working in what is still a non-traditional trade for women. She's being encouraged and supported in her chosen trade, and the minister and I enjoyed hearing about her experience. Kiely Plumbing is the first business in Tasmania to partner with Tradeswomen Australia. This is what Sam has to say about that partnership:

We believe there is absolutely nothing more important than equality in life. It led us to partner with Tradeswomen Australia and participate in their Workplace Diversity Project. Proud to say we have employed our first woman apprentice and strive to create an inclusive workplace for future female tradeswomen.

And it's not just in the workshop that he is encouraging girls and women to meet their potential. Sam wrote Plumbing Power with Mila and Maya to show that there's no limit to what girls can do, to encourage more women into trades and, in his words, 'to show kids that trade jobs aren't just about tools; they are about superpowers.'

Congratulations to Sam and the team at Kylie Plumbing.

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