Building your Advantage

The Advantage Program provides an industry leading program that recognises and rewards superior performance in eleven key areas (modules) of an electrical contracting business.

The program focuses on Quality and Safety:

✔ It’s about best practice

✔ It’s about safety

✔ It’s about being your best

Those who successfully complete annual Advantage Gold Assessments are recognised as a Gold Master Electrician and can offi­cially use this credential to promote their business.

Benefits of Completing Annual Advantage Gold Assessments

Completing annual assessments provides your business with credibility and accountability. It ensures your business is keeping up to date with changes in the industry and safety standards. Most importantly, you will have a documented history of essential records on file for various scenarios including job tenders or if you are requested to provide documented evidence to the Regulator or other governing or legal bodies.

Other benefits include:

  • Compliance – formal recognition that your business complies with government, legislative, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
  • Quality & Safety – demonstration of your business’ dedication to delivering high quality service and safety.
  • Continuous improvement – reflects your business’ commitment to continuous quality improvements – via systems, processes, marketing, safety, and staff training.
  • Gold Master Electrician branding – use the Gold Master Electricians logo and branding to reassure customers, staff and regulatory bodies that your business is about excellence, plus high quality and safety standards.

The Advantage Gold Assessment is completed via an online self-assessment tool, designed to help you measure and benchmark your performance in the following key areas:

  • All modules have been developed to help you ensure that your business has the right safety systems, is best in practice and operates at maximum effectiveness.
  • You can access the online self-assessment tool via the MEA Business Centre.
  • The online self-assessment is scored based on bands of performance, with a minimum 60 points required to achieve & maintain Accreditation.
  • You have a maximum of two months from your annual assessment anniversary date to complete the eleven modules.

To be eligible to enter the Advantage Program you must meet the following three criteria:

have successfully completed the Master Program
have a current electrical contractor’s license
have an active Safety system (join ME Safety today if you don’t have a system)

Annual assessment modules

If you have run a contracting business or have experience in a senior contracting role, you will have an appreciation of what is required to become a Gold Master Electrician. The assessment is split into eleven modules covering the following topics, with different points weighted to each.

  1. SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM – this covers WHS management and incidents plus inspection and testing of tools, plant, vehicles and equipment.
  2. BUSINESS – this includes your business structure, planning and improvement, and external accreditation and maintaining standards.
  3. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT – your professional conduct and image will be assessed to ensure you’re improving all the time – we’ll help you focus on key points.
  4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – if you attend relevant training courses and participate in industry events, this information can be recorded in the online portal.
  5. SKILLS AND MAINTENANCE – this includes your worker compliance and apprentice compliance.
  6. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES – your record keeping and procedures will be assessed to ensure you are meeting professional standards and have a valuable library of historical documents and records.

All modules align to Australian standards where applicable. A maximum of 100 points can be awarded for successful completion of all modules. A minimum of 60 points is required to pass assessment.

Getting started on your assessment

It is expected to take 3-4 hours to complete the online self-assessment tool.
You can undertake the online self-assessment in one sitting, or several sittings as the online tool can be saved and resumed at your convenience (always hit ‘save’ – not ‘submit’ – until you are ready to provide it to MEA or your most senior staff member).
To complete the Advantage Gold Assessment:

  • Log in to the ME Safety Portal
  • Undertake the online self-assessment
  • Benchmark your progress
  • Identify where you need assistance
  • Contact MEA so we can guide you on the next steps.

Gaining the 60 points

As you complete the online self-assessment tool, you will be provided with instructions on what to do if you do not meet the requirements of a question.

If you don’t meet certain requirements, you will have 30 days to re-submit and your dedicated MEA Field Support Advisor will be able to guide you through this.

If you need help or training, contact us.

Advantage Program members must set an example of the qualities customers and the regulator desire.

Advantage Program
Benefits Include:

  • Membership, including unlimited access to the MEA Technical, Safety and Employer Advice hotlines, member benefits and exclusive member content.
  • Annual Advantage Gold Assessment

Advantage Program pricing is based on the size of your business (excluding office and part-time staff), and is available in either monthly instalments or annually.

Employees Monthly Fee Annual Fee
1-3 $187.58 $2,251.00
4-6 $228.67 $2,744.00
7-10 $277.83 $3,334.00
11-20 $354.50 $4,254.00
21-50 $477.83 $5,734.00
51-75 $764.08 $9,169.00
76+ $1,027.67 $12,332.00

** all amounts quoted INCLUDE GST

Pricing current as of 18 January 2023 and includes MEA membership and Advantage Program fees.

Advantage Plus (includes ME Safety)
Benefits Include:

  • Membership, including unlimited access to the MEA Technical, Safety and Employer Advice hotlines, member benefits and exclusive member content.
  • Annual Advantage Gold Assessment
  • Access to ME Safety including all documents, templates and tools
    Advantage Plus pricing is based on the size of your business (excluding office and part-time staff), and is available in either monthly instalments or annually.
Employees Monthly Fee Annual Fee
1 – 3 $287.00 $3,444.00
4 – 6 $345.67 $4,148.00
7 – 10 $431.42 $5,1777.00
11 – 20 $563.08 $6,757.00
21 – 50 $970.58 $11,647.00
51 – 75 $1,541.08 $18,493.00
76+ POA POA

** all amounts quoted INCLUDE GST

Pricing current as of 18 January 2023 and includes MEA membership, Advantage Program and ME Safety fees.

What is the Advantage Program?

The Advantage Program provides an industry leading program that recognises and rewards superior performance in eleven key areas (modules) of an electrical contracting business.

Who is eligible to join?

All Master Electricians who have successfully completed the Master Program.

The Advantage Program provides an industry leading program that recognises and rewards superior performance in eleven key areas (modules) of an electrical contracting business.

How does the Program work?

Advantage Program must complete an annual Advantage Gold Assessment via an online self-assessment tool, accessed via the MEA Business Centre.

A maximum of two months is allocated from your annual assessment anniversary date to complete the eleven modules.

Do I remain a Gold Master Electrician if I join the Advantage Program following completion of the Master Program?

To remain a Gold Master Electrician, you will need to complete an annual quality and safety assessment of your business.

Learn more about MEA’s Industry Recognition Program.

Is the Advantage Program the same as the Industry Recognition Program?

No. The Industry Recognition Program recognises your commitment to safety (system, processes and procedures) and tenure, and the Advantage Program is a holistic business support program providing quality tools to lift and protect your business. This includes a benchmarking tool and annual assessment. Upon completion of the assessment you will become a Gold Master Electrician.

Need Employer Advice?

As a Master Electrician you have unlimited Employer Advice support when you need it.
It’s all included as part of your membership with no hidden costs.