The country’s first digital printing training course has been launched at an industry event at Look Print, Sydney, with 18 pathway modules on offer to young people.
Created by ACFIPS and available through any RTO including TAFE the new training programme offers Cert II and Cert III qualifications in digital printing.
David Leach, CEO, Look Print says, “This is a major milestone for digital print communications. Digital print came of age some time ago but training has been machine or company focused and often not transferrable. The 18 digital pathway modules now available are workplace focused and give a formal agenda to better skilled, multi skilled and cross skilled opportunities to all who choose this rapidly changing and exciting sector. Everyone can now achieve Government recognised Certificate II and Certificate III certification to fast-track them and carry forward in their careers. Fantastic.”
The ACFIPS government-supported Training Package covers the digital sector and is supported by 20 competencies which were developed after close and extensive industry consultation, reflecting on the growth of the sector and the future of the industry.
Garry Knespal, executive officer, GASAA says, “It is tremendous to see the hard work put in the lead group supported by the government resulting in the release of the much needed training package for the fast growing print market.”
The Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package caters for new and emerging technologies and addresses current and future skill needs, Max Wilson, executive director, ACFIPS says, “Job opportunities in areas like digital production are expanding exponentially. The Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package details 34 qualifications that are recognised nationally by industry and training regulators.”
The importance of highly skilled employees in the printing industry was discussed by Kathy Wilson, general manager, Ricoh Australia. She says, “There is great importance in bringing up skills in the industry and bringing people through the industry. Teaching them the required skills ensures the industry has a strong future in this fast moving technological environment.”
Wilson says, “This year we changed the tagline for Ricoh International to ‘imagine change.’ The industry that we are in, is going through massive changes and the importance of training is something we are passionate about.”
Ian Walz, national manager commercial services, Printing Industries believes now is the time to make changes with support being provided by Printing Industries to turn around institutional attitudes towards the industry and engage with students, parents and employers.
Walz says, “The launch of this set of digital training resources reflects the importance of keeping training relevant to a constantly changing environment within the print and graphic communications industry. The evolution of digital printing a number of years ago, has finally been taken seriously by industry training bodies in Australia with the Digital Print Training Resources which can be used by both Registered Training Organisations (RTO) including TAFE, as well as on-the-job trainers. More and more printing companies are investigating the opportunity to training their apprentices and trainees entirely on-the-job, and these new training aids are a welcome resource. As staff are a company’s most important investment, the up-skilling and commitment to training should be a high priority in this ever changing print environment.”
Printing Industries is encouraging printers to employ apprentices under its new $1.4m government funded Apprenticeship Mentors and Advisors program giving the industry a presence at school careers expos looking for new talent and providing support for existing apprentices to complete their training.
David Luthje, mentor, apprenticeship advisor and mentoring program, Printing Industries believes school leavers need to be shown there are other options took look at when they finish high school, with not much being done by career advisors in regards to the print industry. He says, “I don’t think pint has been promoted by the career advisors at schools and that’s why we are currently visiting schools and holding expos to promote the print industry, it gives people an option for a career in print.”
Andrew Tribute
