Welcome to NECA - National Electrical and Communications Association

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) is the peak industry body that represents the best interests of the electrical and communications contracting industry in Australia. It is the only peak body that is run by contractors for contractors. NECA provides its members with a suite of tools and member services to help make their business stronger. NECA works with all levels of government to ensure the best interests of the industry are maintained. NECA is the essential business partner for any electrical and communications contractor and will help to make your business stronger. MORE ABOUT NECA

Latest News

NECA welcomes launch of small business campaign

The peak Australian electrical industry body, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) welcomed the launch of today’s (10 April) small business campaign and said it will give the campaign its full support.

The Small Business – Too Big to Ignore campaign, which was officially launched in Western Sydney in front of an audience of more than 600 small business owners including representatives from NECA, is designed to put small business centre stage in the run up to September’s Federal Election.

As part of the launch, the campaign website www.toobigtoignore.org.au was unveiled, where small business owners, employees and the community are able to pledge their support for the campaign, donate to the fighting fund, and share their stories of business life in Australia.

NECA’s Chief Executive Officer James Tinslay, who attended the launch, said, “Most of our members are small electrical and communications contractors and they are fed-up at having their needs ignored by politicians and governments. We urge all our members to go online and support this important campaign.”

The multi-million dollar campaign, which is being organised by NECA’s peak employer organisation the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), will feature press, radio, television and online advertising, as well as a series of events in metropolitan and regional Australia between now and the Election.

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NECA plays major role in apprenticeship pilot

NECA is playing a major role in a new electrical apprenticeship pilot, which is being funded by the Federal Government, focused on improving electrical apprentice completion rates across the country.

The Mentor and Advisor Project (MAPS), which forms part of the Energy Industry Apprentice Progression Management System operated by E-Oz Energy Skills Australia, involves around 28 participating Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and will see 1,000 first year apprentices commencing in 2013 and another 1,500 apprentices in 2014.

As part of the program NECA will employ up to 39 apprentice mentor/advisers across most of Australia over a two-year period with 16 already appointed.

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NECA issues warning on apprentices’ safety and live electrical work

The National Electrical and Communications Association has issued a warning that under no circumstances should electrical apprentices ever undertake live electrical work, nor work without suitable supervision.

NECA, who is involved in the training of over 2000 electrical and communications apprentices through its group training companies across Australia, issued the warning following two separate incidents in the ACT recently where individual apprentices suffered electrical shocks while working unsupervised on metal ladders.

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New training requirements for registered cabling providers

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has amended the regulatory requirements for cabling providers who install specialised cabling within customer premises.

The ACMA’s Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs) regulate the performance of cabling work in customer premises. Under the CPRs, cabling providers must be appropriately registered by registrars appointed by the ACMA to undertake the work they perform.

The amendments to the ACMA cabling arrangements have been made to ensure cabling providers have the necessary skills required to perform specialised cabling work for the current and emerging customer cabling environment.

Under the new arrangements, cabling providers undertaking broadband, structured, optical-fibre or co-axial cabling work must have the training competencies relevant to the specialised cabling work. The new competencies only apply to cabling providers who are undertaking the relevant specialised cabling work within customer premises.

The new competency requirements will apply from 1 July 2012. Existing cabling providers who install those specialised cables, but who have not already attained the additional competencies, will be given a 2 year transition period to attain those competencies.

For more information on the new arrangements, please contact the ACMA on email address: comply.label@acma.gov.au 

If you are registered with the Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS), you will receive a letter in the coming months advising you of your current registration endorsements and explaining the requirements for you to remain compliant and appropriately registered to undertake your work.

Read NECA Publications

NECA produces numerous publications of interest to electrical and communications contractors. You can read NECA's publication online now by visiting the Publications page on the website.

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