MPBAA's Industry Training Program provides the framework for competency within the pool and spa industry and supports an ongoing drive to improve knowledge, skills and safe practices.
MPBAA offers all those within the swimming pool and spa industry the opportunity to attend our unique and highly regarded training courses through our Industry Training Program.
If you are a Restricted, Pool Shop or Pool Service Member, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. prior to booking.
Invest in your business by educating and training your staff professionally through MPBAA's Industry Training Program
MPBAA courses for 2024 to be announced soon!
Institute of Research and Learning – transforming industry, meeting educational needs and building careers.
The Institute of Research and Learning (IRLearning) is a Registered Training Organisation which has firmly distinguished itself as a leader for trade related and professional qualifications.
IRLearning is also a consultancy-based industry research organisation that provides advocacy and advisory services to various industries. Our expertise allows us to participate in industry led projects and author papers impacting various sectors.
Call us on 1800 802 482 for more information.
Courses include:
This qualification reflects work undertaken by individuals who build and install swimming pools and spas. The work covers a range of trade-related skills associated with in-ground and above-ground pools and spas, as well as planning and project management skills.
This qualification provides the individual with the competencies required to routinely maintain swimming pools and spas in do
This is a qualification for people working in the swimming pool and spa service sector. It applies to pool and spa technicians in the field who apply analytic and problem-solving skills to treat water quality problems, as well as install, service and repair the key systems and components of domestic, commercial and public swimming pools and spas.
This VBA approved course specifies the skills and knowledge a person registered in the Victorian class of Building inspector (Pool Safety) requires to carry out the functions of a swimming pool and spa inspector under the Building Act.
Knowledge Increases Profit and Productivity
Everyone associated with the swimming pool and spa industry – both members and non-members - are encouraged to participate in MPBAA's Industry Training Program.
- All MPBAA training courses have been designed in consultation with leading industry experts
- Courses are delivered by knowledgeable industry specialists with years of hands-on, practical experience
- Training ensures that your employees can better navigate the ever-changing Government regulations and standards
- Our courses are an affordable and valuable investment in your business
MPBAA training is recognised as an excellent investment in your business and is utilised by the most successful employers within the pool and spa industry. As an employer, the training of your staff is vital to the success of your business and will ensure that you and your staff remain up-to-date with current industry best practice.
Why should I attend training?
Installing a swimming pool or spa involves a number of specialised trades and techniques and it is essential that industry employees attend our training courses to ensure they receive the latest industry knowledge.
The maintenance of crystal clear, sparkling water in a swimming pool or spa cannot simply be attributed to good luck. The fundamental principles of water chemistry and hydraulics can be learnt in one course. Advanced topics are available for more experienced industry participants.
Who should attend MPBAA Training?
Everyone associated with the swimming pool and spa industry will benefit from attending MPBAA Training courses.
MPBAA training is highly recommended for pool builders, aspiring pool builders, landscapers, building surveyors, engineers, architects, pool plumbers, steel fixers, concrete sprayers, excavators, pool tilers, render applicators, service technicians, retail staff, industry suppliers, sales representatives and aquatic industry personnel.
MPBAA Domestic Builder Contract Training
Find out all you need to know about MPBAA Domestic Building Contracts. Ask any questions, gain a better understanding of your rights and obligations, and limit your liability where possible.
*For Restricted and Pool Builder Members only.
Presenter: Colin Sloggett
MPBAA Hydraulics
Course includes:
a) Understanding Filtration & Circulation
b) Components of a Hydraulic System
c) Problem Solving in Relation to Pipe Work and Filtration Components
d) Filtration Filter Types and Comparison
I. Identifying Pump Components
II. Water Turnover & Its Relevance
e) Hydraulics
I. Terminology Used
II. Reading Basic Hydraulic Charts & Graphs
III. Basic Calculations for Sizing & Flow
IV. Problem Solving in the Circulation System
Learning Outcomes: Students will gain a greater technical working knowledge of:
• Pool/spa filtration systems
• The components that make up the pools/spa hydraulic system
• Problem solving techniques for mechanical and circulation issues
Students will also have a greater working knowledge of filtration and the components that make up the pool’s hydraulic system. This will benefit them when communicating options to customers, installing and problem solving of filtration & circulation issues.
There will be a written examination at the end of this course.
Presenter: Paul Jacobson
MPBAA Basic Chemistry
Course includes:
a) Knowing your customer
b) Chemical cleaners for filter media, salt cells and pool/spa surfaces
c) How to manage water balance and why
d) Chemical options to provide healthy, sparkling clear, algae free pool water
Learning Outcomes: Students will have:
• a greater understanding of pool water chemistry
• a questioning process that helps to identify their customer’s needs
• the ability to confidently communicate water chemistry options/solutions to their customers in simple terms
Presenter: Paul Jacobson
MPBAA Advanced Chemistry
Course includes:
a) Understanding the customer challenges in today’s environmental and climatic changes
b) What is the Saturation Index and how is it calculated?
c) A closer look at Sanitiser & Oxidiser options and how they work
d) Problem Solving: – Green Pools – Algae or Metal – Metal Staining – Chlorine Demand Issues – Cloudy Water
e) Testing Issues
f) Chemical Storage & Handling and Material Safety Data Sheets
Learning Outcomes: Students will have:
• A greater understanding of the types of pool chemicals available and how they perform
• A process to effectively identify and solve pool problems
• A general understanding of Chemical Storage & Handling
• A general understanding of Incident Procedures in the event of an accident
Presenter: Paul Jacobson
MPBAA Pool Construction Essentials
Course includes:
a) Contracts / Quoting / Handover
b) Permits / Inspection Schedule / Compliance to Regulations and Standards
c) Overview of the fibreglass pool industry including the manufacturing process, installation, advantages & disadvantages of fibreglass, maintenance and renovations
d) Occupational Health & Safety Obligations
e) Swimming Pool Engineering / Design, Concrete Steel Fixing, Plumbing and Spraying Considerations
f) Practitioner Q&A
Learning Outcomes: Students will have a better understanding of:
• The overall pool building environment, OH&S and compliance obligations
• The importance of design and engineering
• The importance of effective communication with all stakeholders particularly the pool owner during the contract signing, set out, installation, and the handover process
Presented by Select Industry Experts
Portable Spa Basic Training
Learn about the Spa Industry, its Customers, the Makeup of a Spa, Water Management and Product Requirements.
Course includes:
a) Knowing the Industry
b) Knowing the Customer
c) Knowing your Spa Product Options
d) Safety Considerations
e) Handover Process
f) Professional Support
g) Water Management System
This course is essential for all employees within the portable spa sector, including sales staff, management service and most importantly - spa technicians. Participants will learn about the key stakeholders in the spa industry, spa consumer requirements, essential buying criteria - and the chemicals, devices and processes that will ensure safe, comfortable and sparkling clear spa water.
From the exterior shell to water chemistry, we will give you all the information you need to ensure that your customers enjoy a pleasant and healthy spa lifestyle. The key to keeping your customers happy is having staff that are well equipped with the latest industry knowledge to make portable spa ownership fuss-free. Send your staff to our Portable Spa Basic Training course to ensure they understand the correct use of chemicals, devices and processes that make owning and maintaining a spa an enjoyable experience.
Students will come away with a better understanding of:
• The size and key stakeholders of the spa industry
• Spa consumers’ needs and buying criteria
• The major components and equipment used in today’s spa design and manufacturing process
• Safety requirements in accordance to OHS and Australian Standards
• Best methods for handing over the spa and ensuring the spa owner receives maximum value for investment
• Who to contact for continued support and development
• The chemicals, devices and processes that will deliver safe, comfortable, sparkling clear water and the way to effectively communicate this process to the spa owner
Presenter: Paul Jacobson
What Makes the Great Retailers Great
Have you ever wondered why some businesses flourish in a poor economy despite challenges from big corporates and internet online sales giants?
Well it’s not just luck. These businesses understand:
- Sound business principles
- What customers want and how they expect these services and products to be delivered
- That customers are both internal and external and require a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the business
- Customer have choices and if your business doesn’t meet their service or shopping criteria or expectations - don’t be surprised if they go elsewhere
- People make profits, not things, so they invest heavily in education and training to give their staff the opportunity to SHINE
- They work on ways to continually improve on service levels and the shopping experience
So what type of business are you? If you are not sure - or you feel you may fall short – come and join us for a day and let us help you identify where you’re at and provide you with some insight into what you may need - or what you may need to change - to make your business GREAT!
Presenter: Paul Jacobson
HR Essentials
Is your business at risk of an unfair/unlawful dismissal claim? Are you aware of the requirements under the Fair Work Act if performance managing or dismissing an employee?
This session will demonstrate strategies to minimise your risk level, plus update you on the rise of ‘Stress Claims’, dubbed the new ‘Unfair Dismissal’. This session is not to be missed for any business owner.
Learn about:
- The performance management process – both initial and formal steps
- Explain what disciplinary action is and how to document it
- Different types of termination; Performance, Serious Misconduct, Abandonment, Redundancy; and how to manage each
- Small Business Dismissal Code
- Unfair Dismissal and how to avoid a successful claim including documentation of the issue/s
- The difference between Unfair Dismissal and Unlawful Termination and how to avoid it
- Workplace Stress Claims – the new Unfair Dismissal
Presenter: Adam Clark - Myhronline
OH&S Materials Made Easy
Action OHS Consulting is SPASA Victoria’s one-stop shop for OHS.
Our dedicated Action OHS consultant will take you through your OHS responsibilities in easy to understand terms.
Over the course of the morning, essential OHS topics such as Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), Health & Safety Co-ordination Plans and Risk Management will be discussed, as well as the recently updated and tailored suite of OHS materials available from the members Section of the SPASA Victoria website.
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss some of the common OHS issues that arise within the pool and spa industry.
Presented by Action OHS
Training must be paid for at the time of booking. Cancellations must be in writing. Any cancellations made within 14 days of course dates are non- refundable. MPBAA reserves the right to alter the training components and cancel and/or reschedule courses.
Location & Parking
Please check TryBooking links for course locations & parking information or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
What Others Are Saying
"On behalf of Chris and myself, thanks for the hydraulics course last week – well organised and great content. Paul does a fantastic job at making it interesting."
- Adrian Lewis, Business Development Manager at Bradford Products Australia
“SPASA Victoria Industry Training is important to the success of Naughtons Pools & Spas. I recently sent 15 employees to hydraulics training and I am satisfied that the tuition my staff received will be an excellent investment in my business in the long run.“
– Justin Hatfield, Registered Building Practitioner & Director of Naughtons Pools and Spas
“We highly recommend that anyone involved in the pool industry take advantage of the excellent industry training conducted by SPASA Victoria . The courses offered each year help to maintain and improve your knowledge and expertise. The training covers a range of subjects appropriate for both new-comers to the industry, as well as advanced topics for the more experienced participants. Furthermore, it is conducted by extremely skilled and capable instructors. Regardless of the number of years of your involvement in the industry, we guarantee that you will always benefit from attending these sessions… and your clients will notice.”
– Helen Strangos, Director of The Diamond Pool & Spa Company
For more information on MPBAA training contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Knowledge • Competency • Professionalism
