l-r) Colleen MacDermott (teacher), Sophie Carruthers, Gabrielle Russo, and Tony Scanlon
Business excellence and innovation award winner Scanlon Printing Company is piloting a training programme in conjunction with Southbank Institute of TAFE and Queensland Newspapers to offer local students a chance to carve out a career in the printing industry. Tony Scanlon, Scanlon Printing managing director, says the Bridging the Gap pilot programme was initiated through the board of Queensland School of Printing and Graphic Arts (QSPGA) – part of the Southbank Institute of TAFE.
“Bridging the Gap is an exciting initiative already receiving interest from teachers, parents and students at St Rita’s College and Nudgee College. This program aims to bolster industry stocks of trained people and provide local students with the chance to have solid career opportunities and individually prosper,” says Scanlon.
Starting in February 2005, selected Year 11 and 12 students will complete on-the-job training each Friday at Virginia-based Scanlon Printing or Queensland Newspapers’ operational centre in Murrarie. Students who pass set competencies will then graduate from Secondary School with a Certificate 2 in Printing and Graphic Arts.
Six applicants from Nudgee College and St Rita’s College were interviewed this week and will receive hands-on training in technical areas including graphic pre-press and multimedia, print machining, and binding and finishing as they work through the training program.
David Renouf, QSPGA director, says that Scanlon Printing Company and Queensland Newspapers are to be congratulated for their support of these young people.
Scanlon Printing’s Tony Scanlon and Queensland Newspapers Operations Manager Jim Nally both sit on the QSPGA’s Board. If Bridging the Gap is successful, further local printing operations will be encouraged to enlist and take on a total of 200 students in future years.
