When people think of the term "plumber," they are quick to associate it with professionals that connect buildings with water supply and install drains to take wastewater and sewage away. This description of a plumber is too generalised to cover what plumbing work actually involves. The number of residential and commercial buildings in Australia is increasing each year, meaning that the demand for plumbing services is always on the rise. For this reason, the future looks bright for licensed plumbers, as they should expect to continue earning good money for their services.

If you're interested in becoming a professional plumber, you should know that the plumbing industry offers a number of job specialisations. Here's a look at some major types of plumbing jobs you can opt to specialise in.

Water supply plumbers: These days, almost every new residential or commercial building requires water supply connection. Water supply plumbers handle a range of jobs relating to water supply including connecting municipal water/water from a private well to a building, installation of hot water systems, installation of rainwater harvesting systems, etc. Once water gets to a building at the main water shut-off valve, it is distributed to the various areas of the building where it is needed via a series of pipes installed within the building. 

Drainage plumbers: These plumbers can install stormwater pits, dig trenches, install sewer systems, and other work related to sewers and stormwater drains. Basically, their job is to ensure that all wastewater exiting a building as well as stormwater run-off is properly directed out of a property.

Sanitary plumbers: These are the plumbers that specialise in plumbing jobs relating to sanitation. They install toilets, sinks, bathtubs and other related fixtures but also connect these fixtures to drains and waste pipes. These plumbers can also unclog blockages in sanitary drains toilet drains, kitchen drains as well as sewer pipes. 

Gas fitters: These are gas fitting plumbers. They can install and test natural gas lines as well as LPG gas pipes. They can also install and test gas appliances such as gas furnaces, gas heaters and gas cooktops, which rely on gas to operate.

Roofing plumbers: These plumbers work outdoors and at heights because they work from rooftops. They can install roof gutters and downspouts as well as roof windows and skylights. They undergo special training on safe work procedures so as to minimise the risk of fall hazards. 

For more information on plumbing specialisations, consult a plumbing career expert.