Printing Industries Association Australia (PIAA) and the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia (GASAA) have merged and are now one organization, with GASAA to operate under the name of Graphic Arts Services Australia (GASA) as a section within the amalgamated organisation.
Bill Healey, CEO Printing Industries told Australian Printer “Both our organisations have worked co-operatively to expedite the formalities and this has greatly contributed to assisting our legal team to complete the necessary applications in compliance with Fair Work Australia requirements.”
Garry Knespal, executive officer, GASAA told Australian Printer, “This will consolidate the staff and committee resources and expertise of the two association to further assist the industry to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
“We'll operate as a section of Printing Industries under the name of Graphic Arts Services Australia (GASA with one A) and we'll keep the general look and brand of GASA while Printing industries complete their overall brand review. I will continue to manage the new GASA from our inner city office,” concludes Knespal.
“We are now looking forward to working as a fully functioning amalgamated entity that is a key part of our repositioning strategy capitalising on the opportunities being presented in the multi-channel communication world.”
He says, “Our industries are undergoing significant change and we need to adjust to and capitalise on them. We must ensure that we can firstly, provide the leadership, knowledge, services and support to help our members to reposition and, secondly, speak with one voice to represent our collective interests.”
Healey says, “The process with GASAA has been an important step for a number of reasons. It has helped us to consolidate resources, eliminate service duplication, leverage expertise from GASAA and enhanced our ability to represent the industry to government and stakeholders.”
He says, “It also signals our intent to become more relevant to the digital print and creative side of the industry and to be open to closer co-operation, consolidation or mergers with other organisations in the print, packaging, label and visual communication sectors.”
Healey says that GASA and Printing Industries staff had been working on building new websites and a website platform for both organisations. This would introduce new approaches to information distribution and access to services as well as streamlining many cumbersome administrative tasks.
“These will be rolled out in a number of phases beginning this month and culminating with the result of our rebranding exercise later in the year,” concludes Healey.
Susan Heaney, national president, Printing Insutries says, “The printing and graphic communication industry is undergoing significant change as it adjusted to the challenges of a multi-channel communication world and the impact of new technology”.
Heaney says, “There is a view that many of the traditional boundaries that have defined the ‘turf’ of industry organisations are no longer relevant. This is supported by a growing desire for a single voice to represent the interests of the industry, an industry that is at a cross roads where print markets have and will continue to change dramatically.”
“Communication has become personalised, faster and individualised, changing the value chain with new emphasis on digital, design, innovation and marketing oriented services. We must all strive for relevance, the new currency that can either buy success or consign a business to failure,” concludes Heaney.
GASAA says by the time PacPrint comes around in Melbourne in late May many of the major benefits of the amalgamation will be in place.
