For Melbourne homeowners
How we verify Melbourne trades
Most directories let businesses self-claim “verified” without ever checking. Melbourne Trade HQ checks every credential against the public register that issued it — and links you to that register so you can confirm it yourself.
How does Melbourne Trade HQ verify businesses?
Melbourne Trade HQ verifies each premium listing against three categories of public register: trade licensing (VBA for plumbing and building, ESV for electrical, ARCtick for refrigerant), business registration (ABN Lookup, WorkSafe Victoria), and independent reviews (Google). Every credential we display links back to its source so you can confirm it yourself.
What we verify
Seven credential categories cover what matters when you hire a trade in Melbourne: trade licence, business registration, worker coverage, refrigerant handling, financial protection, and third-party reviews. Each one has a public register or document that proves it.
| Credential | What it proves | Where we check |
|---|---|---|
| VBA Plumbing Licence | Plumber is licensed to carry out prescribed plumbing in Victoria | VBA Find a Plumber register ↗ |
| VBA Building Practitioner | Builder is registered to carry out domestic building work | VBA Find a Building Practitioner register ↗ |
| ESV Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) | Business is licensed to install and repair electrical wiring | Energy Safe Victoria register ↗ |
| ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence | Technician is licensed to install and service refrigerant aircon | ARCtick licensee lookup ↗ |
| Australian Business Number (ABN) | Business is registered with the Australian Business Register | ABN Lookup ↗ |
| WorkCover (WorkSafe Victoria) | Workers are covered for workplace injury under Victorian law | WorkSafe Victoria ↗ |
| Public Liability Insurance | Business carries general liability coverage | Certificate of Currency (PDF on file) |
How verification works
The same five-step process runs for every premium listing. There are no shortcuts and no “trusted partner” bypasses — every credential goes through the same check before it displays publicly.
- 1
The business submits credentials
The business gives us their licence numbers and business details — VBA plumbing licence, ESV REC number, VBA Building Practitioner registration, ARCtick number, ABN, public liability certificate of currency, WorkCover registration, and any industry memberships.
- 2
We check each credential against the public register
We look up every credential at its source: ABN Lookup for ABN and GST, the VBA Find a Practitioner register for plumbing and building, the ESV register for electrical contractors, the ARCtick lookup for refrigerant licences, and WorkSafe Victoria for WorkCover.
- 3
We approve or reject each credential individually
Only credentials we have confirmed at the source display publicly. Anything we cannot confirm stays hidden — even if the business has submitted it.
- 4
Every credential links back to its public register
Verified credentials show on the listing with a "Verify ↗" link. The link goes to the source register so you can confirm the same information yourself.
- 5
We refresh time-bound credentials annually
Public liability certificates of currency, ARCtick licences, and VBA registrations all expire. We track expiry dates and re-verify before the credential lapses, or remove it from the public listing if it does.
Why we link out instead of saying “verified by us”
Public registers are the source of truth — not us. The VBA confirms whether a plumbing or building licence is current. Energy Safe Victoria confirms whether an REC is registered. ABN Lookup confirms whether a business actually exists. We are not those authorities, and pretending we are erodes trust on both sides.
Linking out is also accountability. If a register changes its mind tomorrow — cancels a registration, lapses a licence — the link still goes to the truth. A “verified by Melbourne Trade HQ” badge would lie to you the moment we miss an update. The register cannot lie because it is the register.
What this means when you hire someone
Click the “Verify ↗” link next to any credential before you book the job. The register page should show the same licence number, business name, and active status that the listing claims. If anything does not match — wrong name on the licence, expired registration, missing class — that is a real signal, and you should ask the contractor about it before signing anything.
For most jobs in Melbourne, the four credentials worth confirming yourself are the trade licence (VBA, ESV, or ARCtick depending on the work), the ABN, WorkCover registration, and the public liability certificate of currency. Each takes 30 seconds at the source — read our credentials glossary for the plain-English version of what each one means.
FAQ
How does Melbourne Trade HQ verify businesses?
Melbourne Trade HQ verifies each premium listing against three categories of public register: trade licensing (VBA for plumbing and building, ESV for electrical, ARCtick for refrigerant), business registration (ABN Lookup, WorkSafe Victoria), and independent reviews (Google). Every credential we display links back to its source so you can confirm it yourself.
Are free listings on Melbourne Trade HQ verified?
Free listings show contact details and category but no verified credentials. Credential verification is included with the Melbourne Highlight upgrade ($99/year AUD). Free listings are reviewed for accuracy before publishing — they are not unverified businesses, they are listings without paid credential verification.
What's a VBA Plumbing Licence?
A VBA Plumbing Licence is the Victorian Building Authority licence required for any plumber carrying out work covered by the Plumbing Regulations. Licensed plumbers can work independently and issue Compliance Certificates; Registered plumbers must work under supervision. You can check any plumber on the VBA Find a Plumber register.
How do I verify a Melbourne contractor's electrical licence myself?
Go to the Energy Safe Victoria register at esv.vic.gov.au and search by business name or REC number. The register shows whether the business is currently registered as an Electrical Contractor. Melbourne Trade HQ links premium listings directly to the ESV verification.
What if a credential expires?
Expired credentials stop displaying on the listing automatically. Public liability certificates of currency typically renew annually; VBA and ESV licences renew on different cycles. We email the business 30 days before any tracked credential expires, and we remove the credential from the public listing if it lapses.
Why don't all premium listings show every credential?
Different trades hold different licences. An electrical contractor holds an ESV REC licence but no VBA plumbing licence. A builder holds VBA Building Practitioner registration but typically no ARCtick. A landscape gardener may hold none of these but does hold an ABN, public liability insurance, and WorkCover. We display every credential the business actually holds and we have verified — never more.
Is Melbourne Trade HQ affiliated with the VBA, ESV, or any government body?
No. Melbourne Trade HQ is independent. We display credentials by linking back to the official Victorian government and statutory registers — we are not paid by any of them, and they are not affiliated with us. The licence data shown is pulled from the public registers and links back to the original record.
Find a verified Melbourne trade
Browse Melbourne Trade HQ to find electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, builders, and other trades — with credentials linked to the public registers that issued them.