Steve Whan
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

Rose Jackson
Minister for Water
Minister for Housing
Minister for Homelessness
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Youth

MEDIA RELEASE

NSW launches subsidised training to grow non-urban water meter workforce

Monday, 5 January 2026

Tradespeople across the state can now upskill to meet the surging demand for qualified non-urban water meter installers through the new TAFE NSW Non-Urban Water Meter Installation course.

The fully-subsidised, online and self-paced microskill course, developed by TAFE NSW in collaboration with NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and WaterNSW, provides the essential skills and knowledge required for qualified tradespeople to work under the Trade Meter Installer (TMI) pathway, critical to supporting sustainable, compliant water use across NSW.

The course responds directly to the statewide shortage of accredited installers and new water regulations mandating accurate water measurement of rivers, creeks and groundwater take.

Across the state, more than 6,500 sites require approved meters to be installed and maintained, to meet national water metering standards.

On completion of the three-hour course, qualified tradespeople can apply to WaterNSW to be set up as a Duly Qualified Persons (DQPs), certified to install, validate, and maintain non-urban water meters.

Increasing the number of trained DQPs will help drive regional job opportunities, support local businesses, and strengthen responsible water management across NSW.

To find out if you are eligible to complete the microskill and work under the Trade Meter Installer pathway, or to enrol, visit Non-Urban Water Meter Installation - store.training.tafensw.edu.au.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

"TAFE NSW is delivering targeted, practical training to upskill qualified tradespeople, directly meeting industry demand and supporting job growth and stronger local economies.

"Directly responding to the needs of regional and rural communities, this short microskill is a great example of collaboration across the NSW Government to support greater compliance and local industries."

Minister for Water, Rose Jackson said:

"This course helps ensure our water resources are measured and manged properly while giving local tradespeople and small businesses new ways to grow.

"Every compliant meter installed contributes to a more transparent, sustainable, and equitable water system for our communities and industries."