ECA WA has a long history that stretches back to the early 20th century. What began as a small group of pioneering electrical contractors has evolved into a cornerstone of the electrotechnology industry in Western Australia, providing vital support and advocacy for thousands of individuals and businesses across the state's electrical sector.
In the 1920s, individual electrical contractors faced significant challenges, including navigating complex government regulations, dealing with emerging trade unions, and managing safety and training standards on their own. Recognising the strength in unity, these contractors came together in 1927 to form what would eventually become ECA WA. Their goal was simple: to create a unified voice that could effectively address the industry's collective challenges and advocate for better conditions.
The organisation took a significant step forward in 1975 when the Electrical Contractors Association of Western Australia (Union of Employers) was officially registered with the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission. This formal recognition allowed ECA WA to expand its influence and offer more structured support to its members.
By the late 1980s, the industry faced a familiar challenge—a critical skills shortage. ECA WA responded by launching the Electrical & Electronic Group Apprentice Scheme (EEGAS) in 1988. Starting with just 12 apprentices, the program aimed to train the future workforce and support smaller contractors who could not hire apprentices independently.
EEGAS later became Electrical Group Training (EGT) in the mid-1990s, and in 2000, EGT was registered with ASIC. Today, EGT is one of Australia's leading Group Training Organisations and the biggest employer of electrical apprentices in WA, employing over 550 apprentices and hiring them out to hundreds of WA businesses ever year.
The 1990s also saw ECA WA members push for better industry-relevant training. This led to the creation of the Electrical Electrotechnology Training Centre (EETC), which quickly outgrew its original facility and moved to Balcatta in 1998.
By 1999, the College of Electrical Training (CET) was established, further cementing ECA WA's role in providing top-tier vocational education. CET now trains over 2,500 apprentices and offers post-trade training to more than 4,000 licensed electricians and contractors annually at two campuses in Joondalup and Jandakot.
In 2003, ECA WA aligned with NECA National to collaborate on mutual advocacy objectives.
In 2018, ECA WA Inc. was created, consolidating the business and services of EGT and CET into a single entity. This move streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery, ensuring that members received consistent and comprehensive support across all facets of the industry.
In 2022 ECA WA expanded by acquiring one of Perth's leading equipment and safety training businesses, Equip-Safe.
In early 2024, members at a Special General Meeting approved updates to the structure and constitution of ECA WA, marking the start of a new chapter for the organisation. ECA WA remained the name of the member services part of the business, and the Electrotechnology Training Institute Limited (ETI) replaced ECA WA as the parent company of EGT, CET, Equip-Safe and ECA WA.
With formal approval from ASIC in May 2024, these changes broadened ECA WA's funding and development opportunities, allowing it to enhance its offerings for WA’s electrical and communications industry. These adjustments maintained ECA WA’s strong local focus and reinforced the foundation for sustained growth and improved member services.
On 1 July 2024, ECA WA concluded its service level agreement with NECA, enabling WA’s electrical professionals to once again access membership services directly from ECA WA. This shift underscored ECA WA’s commitment to WA’s industry needs by ensuring all membership fees remained within the state, dedicated to local training, safety, and technical support.
Through its newly established parent company, Electrotechnology Training Institute Limited (ETI), ECA WA joined CET, EGT, and Equip-Safe under a unified structure, fostering collaborative support for WA’s electrotechnology sector. This independent direction reaffirmed ECA WA's commitment to serving WA members with a focused, locally managed organisation that continues to advocate for the unique interests of WA’s electrical professionals.
